Newcastle East Public School vs St Joseph's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 1.8 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Newcastle East Public School
Newcastle · Government primary · K-6
260 students · ICSEA 1112
St Joseph's Primary School
Merewether · Catholic primary · K-6
387 students · ICSEA 1141
| Measure | Newcastle East Public School Newcastle NSW | St Joseph's Primary School Merewether NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 68 Top 25% | 69 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #369 of 1,619 | #361 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #1175 of 4,908 | #1155 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 260 | 387 |
| Girls / boys | 134 / 126 | 189 / 198 |
| Foundation intake | 42 | 48 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -2% | -1% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1112 | 1141 |
| ICSEA percentile | 87th | 94th |
| Top SEA quarter | 48% | 57% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 6% | 2% |
| Students per teacher | 16.1 | 18.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 16.1 | 20.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.4 | 5.9 |
| Language background other than English | 30% | 15% |
| Indigenous students | 3% | 2% |
| Suburb | Newcastle 2300 | Merewether 2291 |
| Council area | Newcastle | Newcastle |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | newcastlee-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | merewether.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (68.3 vs 68.5).
- •St Joseph's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1141 vs 1112), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Newcastle East Public School has fewer students per teacher (16.1 vs 18.5).
- •St Joseph's Primary School is the larger school with 387 students compared with 260.
- •Newcastle East Public School is a government school while St Joseph's 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 Newcastle East Public School better than St Joseph's 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 Newcastle East Public School and St Joseph's Primary School?
About 1.8 km in a straight line, between Newcastle and Merewether in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Newcastle East Public School has 16.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Joseph's Primary School has 18.5.
How do Newcastle East Public School and St Joseph's Primary School rank in NSW?
Newcastle East Public School is 369th of 1,619 and St Joseph's Primary School is 361st of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.