Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School vs St Bernadette's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 17 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School
Chatswood · Catholic primary · K-6
355 students · ICSEA 1144
St Bernadette's Primary School
Castle Hill · Catholic primary · K-6
479 students · ICSEA 1145
| Measure | Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School Chatswood NSW | St Bernadette's Primary School Castle Hill NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 75 Top 10% | 81 Top 5% |
| State rank (type) | #146 of 1,619 | #36 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #550 of 4,908 | #156 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 355 | 479 |
| Girls / boys | 214 / 141 | 230 / 249 |
| Foundation intake | 49 | 69 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +11% | -3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1144 | 1145 |
| ICSEA percentile | 94th | 94th |
| Top SEA quarter | 58% | 58% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 17.3 | 15.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 20.5 | 31.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.5 | 6.9 |
| Language background other than English | 82% | 53% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 1% |
| Suburb | Chatswood 2067 | Castle Hill 2154 |
| Council area | Willoughby | The Hills |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.olddbb.catholic.edu.au | www.stbernadetteschill.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Bernadette's Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (80.9 vs 74.8).
- •St Bernadette's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1145 vs 1144), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Bernadette's Primary School has fewer students per teacher (15.1 vs 17.3).
- •St Bernadette's Primary School is the larger school with 479 students compared with 355.
- •Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School has grown faster over five years (11% vs -3%).
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 Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School better than St Bernadette's Primary School?
On the Success Index, St Bernadette's Primary School ranks higher (80.9 vs 74.8 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 Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School and St Bernadette's Primary School?
About 17 km in a straight line, between Chatswood and Castle Hill in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School has 17.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Bernadette's Primary School has 15.1.
How do Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School and St Bernadette's Primary School rank in NSW?
Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School is 146th of 1,619 and St Bernadette's Primary School is 36th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.