Kotara South Public School vs St James' Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 533 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Kotara South Public School
Kotara · Government primary · K-6
309 students · ICSEA 1069
St James' Primary School
Kotara South · Catholic primary · K-6
334 students · ICSEA 1104
| Measure | Kotara South Public School Kotara NSW | St James' Primary School Kotara South NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 62 Top 50% | 62 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #557 of 1,619 | #556 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #1708 of 4,908 | #1704 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 309 | 334 |
| Girls / boys | 138 / 171 | 169 / 165 |
| Foundation intake | 36 | 48 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -11% | -15% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1069 | 1104 |
| ICSEA percentile | 75th | 85th |
| Top SEA quarter | 31% | 40% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 14% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 14.9 | 16.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 20.7 | 20.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.3 | 8.2 |
| Language background other than English | 15% | 11% |
| Indigenous students | 6% | 3% |
| Suburb | Kotara 2289 | Kotara South 2289 |
| Council area | Newcastle | Newcastle |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | kotarasth-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | kotarasouth.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (62.3 vs 62.4).
- •St James' Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1104 vs 1069), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Kotara South Public School has fewer students per teacher (14.9 vs 16.2).
- •St James' Primary School is the larger school with 334 students compared with 309.
- •Kotara South Public School is a government school while St James' Primary School is a catholic school, so fees and enrolment rules differ.
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Kotara South Public School better than St James' Primary School?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index. Differences in sector, size, year range and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are Kotara South Public School and St James' Primary School?
About 533 m in a straight line, between Kotara and Kotara South in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Kotara South Public School has 14.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St James' Primary School has 16.2.
How do Kotara South Public School and St James' Primary School rank in NSW?
Kotara South Public School is 557th of 1,619 and St James' Primary School is 556th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.