Nowra Public School vs Shoalhaven River College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 2.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Nowra Public School
Nowra · Government primary · K-6
517 students · ICSEA 904
Shoalhaven River College
Bomaderry · Independent special · 9-12
48 students · ICSEA 931
| Measure | Nowra Public School Nowra NSW | Shoalhaven River College Bomaderry NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 23 Lower 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #1517 of 1,619 | – |
| National rank (type) | #4607 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | K-6 | 9-12 |
| Students | 517 | 48 |
| Girls / boys | 260 / 257 | 31 / 17 |
| Foundation intake | 75 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 3 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -11% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 904 | 931 |
| ICSEA percentile | 12th | 18th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 7% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 54% | 41% |
| Students per teacher | 13.4 | 7.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 38.5 | 6.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 12.4 | 6.8 |
| Language background other than English | 9% | 0% |
| Indigenous students | 33% | 38% |
| Suburb | Nowra 2541 | Bomaderry 2541 |
| Council area | Shoalhaven | Shoalhaven |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | nowra-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | shoalhavenrivercollege.org.au/ |
The verdict
- •Shoalhaven River College has the higher ICSEA (931 vs 904), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Shoalhaven River College has fewer students per teacher (7.6 vs 13.4).
- •Nowra Public School is the larger school with 517 students compared with 48.
- •Shoalhaven River College has grown faster over five years (7% vs -11%).
- •Nowra Public School is a government school while Shoalhaven River College is an independent 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 Nowra Public School better than Shoalhaven River College?
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 Nowra Public School and Shoalhaven River College?
About 2.3 km in a straight line, between Nowra and Bomaderry in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Nowra Public School has 13.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Shoalhaven River College has 7.6.
How do Nowra Public School and Shoalhaven River College rank in NSW?
Nowra Public School is 1517th of 1,619 and Shoalhaven River College is unranked among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.