Penrith Valley School vs St Marys Senior High School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Penrith Valley School
Werrington · Government special · U
39 students · ICSEA 873
St Marys Senior High School
St Marys · Government high school · 11-12
926 students · ICSEA 1052
| Measure | Penrith Valley School Werrington NSW | St Marys Senior High School St Marys NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 62 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #184 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | – | #463 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | U | 11-12 |
| Students | 39 | 926 |
| Girls / boys | 8 / 31 | 564 / 362 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 463 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -5% | +2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 873 | 1052 |
| ICSEA percentile | 7th | 69th |
| Top SEA quarter | 9% | 22% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 64% | 17% |
| Students per teacher | 3.5 | 13.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 11.0 | 67.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.4 | 13.0 |
| Language background other than English | 3% | 73% |
| Indigenous students | 41% | 2% |
| Suburb | Werrington 2747 | St Marys 2760 |
| Council area | Penrith | Penrith |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | Penrithvlc-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | stmaryssen-h.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •St Marys Senior High School has the higher ICSEA (1052 vs 873), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Penrith Valley School has fewer students per teacher (3.5 vs 13.7).
- •St Marys Senior High School is the larger school with 926 students compared with 39.
- •St Marys Senior High School has grown faster over five years (2% vs -5%).
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 Penrith Valley School better than St Marys Senior High 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 Penrith Valley School and St Marys Senior High School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Werrington and St Marys in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Penrith Valley School has 3.5 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Marys Senior High School has 13.7.
How do Penrith Valley School and St Marys Senior High School rank in NSW?
Penrith Valley School is unranked and St Marys Senior High School is 184th of 539 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.