Lake Illawarra High School vs Peterborough School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.6 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Lake Illawarra High School
Lake Illawarra · Government high school · 7-12
542 students · ICSEA 894
Peterborough School
Warilla · Government special · U
115 students · ICSEA 938
| Measure | Lake Illawarra High School Lake Illawarra NSW | Peterborough School Warilla NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 25 Lower 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #480 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #1317 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Special |
| Year range | 7-12 | U |
| Students | 542 | 115 |
| Girls / boys | 260 / 282 | 29 / 86 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 87 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 53 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +2% | +6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 894 | 938 |
| ICSEA percentile | 10th | 21th |
| Top SEA quarter | 2% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 67% | 52% |
| Students per teacher | 10.1 | 4.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 53.6 | 23.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 17.7 | 21.0 |
| Language background other than English | 10% | 15% |
| Indigenous students | 23% | 16% |
| Suburb | Lake Illawarra 2528 | Warilla 2528 |
| Council area | Shellharbour | Shellharbour |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | lakeillawa-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | peterboro-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Peterborough School has the higher ICSEA (938 vs 894), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Peterborough School has fewer students per teacher (4.9 vs 10.1).
- •Lake Illawarra High School is the larger school with 542 students compared with 115.
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 Lake Illawarra High School better than Peterborough 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 Lake Illawarra High School and Peterborough School?
About 1.6 km in a straight line, between Lake Illawarra and Warilla in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Lake Illawarra High School has 10.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Peterborough School has 4.9.
How do Lake Illawarra High School and Peterborough School rank in NSW?
Lake Illawarra High School is 480th of 539 and Peterborough School is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.