St Mary's Catholic College vs Windale Public School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
Windale Public School
Windale · Government primary · P-6
252 students · ICSEA 793
| Measure | St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead NSW | Windale Public School Windale NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 73 Top 25% | 23 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #75 of 539 | #1527 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #211 of 1,472 | #4627 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | 7-12 | P-6 |
| Students | 989 | 252 |
| Girls / boys | 497 / 492 | 127 / 125 |
| Foundation intake | – | 39 |
| Year 7 cohort | 206 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 125 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +15% | +38% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1062 | 793 |
| ICSEA percentile | 73th | 3th |
| Top SEA quarter | 29% | 1% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 13% | 86% |
| Students per teacher | 12.0 | 11.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 82.6 | 22.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 22.5 | 8.1 |
| Language background other than English | 6% | 9% |
| Indigenous students | 8% | 46% |
| Suburb | Gateshead 2290 | Windale 2306 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | gatesheadsm.catholic.edu.au | windale-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic College scores higher on the Success Index (73.0 vs 23.0).
- •St Mary's Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1062 vs 793), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Windale Public School has fewer students per teacher (11.1 vs 12.0).
- •St Mary's Catholic College is the larger school with 989 students compared with 252.
- •Windale Public School has grown faster over five years (38% vs 15%).
- •St Mary's Catholic College is a catholic school while Windale Public School is a government 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.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring Belmont
Frequently asked questions
Is St Mary's Catholic College better than Windale Public School?
On the Success Index, St Mary's Catholic College ranks higher (73.0 vs 23.0 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 St Mary's Catholic College and Windale Public School?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Gateshead and Windale in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
St Mary's Catholic College has 12.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Windale Public School has 11.1.
How do St Mary's Catholic College and Windale Public School rank in NSW?
St Mary's Catholic College is 75th of 539 and Windale Public School is 1527th of 1,619 among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.