Mortdale Public School vs St Declan's Catholic Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 1.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Mortdale Public School
Mortdale · Government primary · K-6
350 students · ICSEA 1096
St Declan's Catholic Primary School
Penshurst · Catholic primary · K-6
539 students · ICSEA 1108
| Measure | Mortdale Public School Mortdale NSW | St Declan's Catholic Primary School Penshurst NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 66 Top 25% | 71 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #456 of 1,619 | #278 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #1368 of 4,908 | #942 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 350 | 539 |
| Girls / boys | 167 / 183 | 247 / 292 |
| Foundation intake | 48 | 92 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -14% | +27% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1096 | 1108 |
| ICSEA percentile | 83th | 86th |
| Top SEA quarter | 36% | 41% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 8% | 5% |
| Students per teacher | 17.7 | 16.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 19.8 | 31.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.9 | 8.3 |
| Language background other than English | 58% | 69% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 1% |
| Suburb | Mortdale 2223 | Penshurst 2222 |
| Council area | Georges River | Georges River |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | mortdale-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | stdpenshurst.syd.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Declan's Catholic Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (70.9 vs 66.1).
- •St Declan's Catholic Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1108 vs 1096), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Declan's Catholic Primary School has fewer students per teacher (16.9 vs 17.7).
- •St Declan's Catholic Primary School is the larger school with 539 students compared with 350.
- •St Declan's Catholic Primary School has grown faster over five years (27% vs -14%).
- •Mortdale Public School is a government school while St Declan'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 Mortdale Public School better than St Declan's Catholic Primary School?
On the Success Index, St Declan's Catholic Primary School ranks higher (70.9 vs 66.1 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 Mortdale Public School and St Declan's Catholic Primary School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Mortdale and Penshurst in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Mortdale Public School has 17.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Declan's Catholic Primary School has 16.9.
How do Mortdale Public School and St Declan's Catholic Primary School rank in NSW?
Mortdale Public School is 456th of 1,619 and St Declan's Catholic Primary School is 278th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.