Lake Macquarie High School vs St Paul's Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in New South Wales, 633 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Lake Macquarie High School
Booragul · Government high school · 7-12
435 students · ICSEA 925
St Paul's Catholic College
Booragul · Catholic high school · 7-12
636 students · ICSEA 1026
| Measure | Lake Macquarie High School Booragul NSW | St Paul's Catholic College Booragul NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 41 Lower 50% | 59 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #335 of 539 | #217 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #935 of 1,472 | #546 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 435 | 636 |
| Girls / boys | 193 / 242 | 340 / 296 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 101 | 118 |
| Year 12 cohort | 45 | 74 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +10% | -25% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 925 | 1026 |
| ICSEA percentile | 17th | 58th |
| Top SEA quarter | 4% | 15% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 55% | 19% |
| Students per teacher | 8.2 | 9.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 52.7 | 64.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 17.8 | 17.0 |
| Language background other than English | 8% | 13% |
| Indigenous students | 19% | 9% |
| Suburb | Booragul 2284 | Booragul 2284 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | lakemacqua-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | booragul.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Paul's Catholic College scores higher on the Success Index (58.8 vs 40.9).
- •St Paul's Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1026 vs 925), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Lake Macquarie High School has fewer students per teacher (8.2 vs 9.9).
- •St Paul's Catholic College is the larger school with 636 students compared with 435.
- •Lake Macquarie High School has grown faster over five years (10% vs -25%).
- •Lake Macquarie High School is a government school while St Paul's Catholic College 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 Lake Macquarie High School better than St Paul's Catholic College?
On the Success Index, St Paul's Catholic College ranks higher (58.8 vs 40.9 out of 100). The index measures community advantage and momentum from ACARA data, not teaching quality, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Lake Macquarie High School and St Paul's Catholic College?
About 633 m in a straight line, between Booragul and Booragul in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Lake Macquarie High School has 8.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Paul's Catholic College has 9.9.
How do Lake Macquarie High School and St Paul's Catholic College rank in NSW?
Lake Macquarie High School is 335th of 539 and St Paul's Catholic College is 217th of 539 among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.