Lakeside School vs St Mary's Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Lakeside School
Gateshead · Government special · U
58 students · ICSEA 910
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
| Measure | Lakeside School Gateshead NSW | St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 73 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #75 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | – | #211 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | U | 7-12 |
| Students | 58 | 989 |
| Girls / boys | 16 / 42 | 497 / 492 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 206 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 125 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +26% | +15% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 910 | 1062 |
| ICSEA percentile | 13th | 73th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 29% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 55% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 5.0 | 12.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 11.6 | 82.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 11.6 | 22.5 |
| Language background other than English | 5% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 22% | 8% |
| Suburb | Gateshead 2290 | Gateshead 2290 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | lakeside-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | gatesheadsm.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1062 vs 910), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Lakeside School has fewer students per teacher (5.0 vs 12.0).
- •St Mary's Catholic College is the larger school with 989 students compared with 58.
- •Lakeside School has grown faster over five years (26% vs 15%).
- •Lakeside School is a government school while St Mary'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.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring Belmont
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakeside School better than St Mary's Catholic College?
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 Lakeside School and St Mary's Catholic College?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Gateshead and Gateshead in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Lakeside School has 5.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's Catholic College has 12.0.
How do Lakeside School and St Mary's Catholic College rank in NSW?
Lakeside School is unranked and St Mary's Catholic College is 75th of 539 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.