Muswellbrook South Public School vs St James' 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.
Muswellbrook South Public School
Muswellbrook · Government primary · K-6
439 students · ICSEA 819
St James' Primary School
Muswellbrook · Catholic primary · K-6
345 students · ICSEA 952
| Measure | Muswellbrook South Public School Muswellbrook NSW | St James' Primary School Muswellbrook NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 19 Lower 50% | 30 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #1593 of 1,619 | #1345 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #4820 of 4,908 | #4147 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 439 | 345 |
| Girls / boys | 203 / 236 | 155 / 190 |
| Foundation intake | 48 | 52 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -13% | +28% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 819 | 952 |
| ICSEA percentile | 3th | 26th |
| Top SEA quarter | 1% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 79% | 44% |
| Students per teacher | 12.6 | 16.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 34.8 | 21.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 11.8 | 6.9 |
| Language background other than English | 6% | 7% |
| Indigenous students | 46% | 17% |
| Suburb | Muswellbrook 2333 | Muswellbrook 2333 |
| Council area | Muswellbrook | Muswellbrook |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | muswellbrs-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | muswellbrook.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St James' Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (29.8 vs 19.0).
- •St James' Primary School has the higher ICSEA (952 vs 819), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Muswellbrook South Public School has fewer students per teacher (12.6 vs 16.2).
- •Muswellbrook South Public School is the larger school with 439 students compared with 345.
- •St James' Primary School has grown faster over five years (28% vs -13%).
- •Muswellbrook South Public School is a government school while St James' 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 Muswellbrook South Public School better than St James' Primary School?
On the Success Index, St James' Primary School ranks higher (29.8 vs 19.0 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 Muswellbrook South Public School and St James' Primary School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Muswellbrook and Muswellbrook in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Muswellbrook South Public School has 12.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St James' Primary School has 16.2.
How do Muswellbrook South Public School and St James' Primary School rank in NSW?
Muswellbrook South Public School is 1593rd of 1,619 and St James' Primary School is 1345th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.