Manly West Public School vs St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 1.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Manly West Public School
Balgowlah · Government primary · K-6
761 students · ICSEA 1147
St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School
Balgowlah · Catholic primary · K-6
232 students · ICSEA 1168
| Measure | Manly West Public School Balgowlah NSW | St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Balgowlah NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 73 Top 25% | 77 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #202 of 1,619 | #107 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #716 of 4,908 | #394 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 761 | 232 |
| Girls / boys | 394 / 367 | 146 / 86 |
| Foundation intake | 96 | 43 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -12% | -15% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1147 | 1168 |
| ICSEA percentile | 95th | 98th |
| Top SEA quarter | 60% | 65% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 1% |
| Students per teacher | 19.0 | 16.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 40.1 | 13.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.7 | 4.0 |
| Language background other than English | 25% | 14% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 0% |
| Suburb | Balgowlah 2093 | Balgowlah 2093 |
| Council area | Northern Beaches | Northern Beaches |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | manlywest-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.scbdbb.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (77.0 vs 73.2).
- •St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1168 vs 1147), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School has fewer students per teacher (16.8 vs 19.0).
- •Manly West Public School is the larger school with 761 students compared with 232.
- •Manly West Public School is a government school while St Cecilia's Catholic 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 Manly West Public School better than St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School?
On the Success Index, St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School ranks higher (77.0 vs 73.2 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 Manly West Public School and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Balgowlah and Balgowlah in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Manly West Public School has 19.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School has 16.8.
How do Manly West Public School and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School rank in NSW?
Manly West Public School is 202nd of 1,619 and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School is 107th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.