Lakeside School vs The Crescent School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 268 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Lakeside School
Gateshead · Government special · U
58 students · ICSEA 910
The Crescent School
Goulburn · Government special · U
77 students · ICSEA 911
| Measure | Lakeside School Gateshead NSW | The Crescent School Goulburn NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 58 | 77 |
| Girls / boys | 16 / 42 | 21 / 56 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +26% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 910 | 911 |
| ICSEA percentile | 13th | 13th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 6% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 55% | 60% |
| Students per teacher | 5.0 | 3.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 11.6 | 20.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 11.6 | 15.8 |
| Language background other than English | 5% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 22% | 18% |
| Suburb | Gateshead 2290 | Goulburn 2580 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Goulburn Mulwaree |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Inner Regional |
| Website | lakeside-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | crescent-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •The Crescent School has the higher ICSEA (911 vs 910), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •The Crescent School has fewer students per teacher (3.8 vs 5.0).
- •The Crescent School is the larger school with 77 students compared with 58.
- •Lakeside School has grown faster over five years (26% vs 7%).
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 The Crescent 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 Lakeside School and The Crescent School?
About 268 km in a straight line, between Gateshead and Goulburn in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Lakeside School has 5.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The Crescent School has 3.8.
How do Lakeside School and The Crescent School rank in NSW?
Lakeside School is unranked and The Crescent School is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.