Manly West Public School vs St Kieran'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 Kieran's Catholic Primary School
Manly Vale · Catholic primary · K-6
141 students · ICSEA 1122
| Measure | Manly West Public School Balgowlah NSW | St Kieran's Catholic Primary School Manly Vale NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 73 Top 25% | 74 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #202 of 1,619 | #183 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #716 of 4,908 | #663 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 761 | 141 |
| Girls / boys | 394 / 367 | 66 / 75 |
| Foundation intake | 96 | 22 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -12% | -44% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1147 | 1122 |
| ICSEA percentile | 95th | 90th |
| Top SEA quarter | 60% | 46% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 2% |
| Students per teacher | 19.0 | 13.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 40.1 | 10.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.7 | 2.1 |
| Language background other than English | 25% | 20% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 0% |
| Suburb | Balgowlah 2093 | Manly Vale 2093 |
| Council area | Northern Beaches | Northern Beaches |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | manlywest-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.skmvdbb.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (73.2 vs 73.7).
- •Manly West Public School has the higher ICSEA (1147 vs 1122), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Kieran's Catholic Primary School has fewer students per teacher (13.1 vs 19.0).
- •Manly West Public School is the larger school with 761 students compared with 141.
- •Manly West Public School has grown faster over five years (-12% vs -44%).
- •Manly West Public School is a government school while St Kieran'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 Kieran's Catholic Primary 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 Manly West Public School and St Kieran's Catholic Primary School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Balgowlah and Manly Vale 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 Kieran's Catholic Primary School has 13.1.
How do Manly West Public School and St Kieran's Catholic Primary School rank in NSW?
Manly West Public School is 202nd of 1,619 and St Kieran's Catholic Primary School is 183rd of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.