Forbes Primary School vs St John the Baptist Catholic School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in South Australia, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Forbes Primary School
South Plympton · Government primary · U, R-6
235 students · ICSEA 1002
St John the Baptist Catholic School
Plympton · Catholic primary · R-6
361 students · ICSEA 1081
| Measure | Forbes Primary School South Plympton SA | St John the Baptist Catholic School Plympton SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 52 Top 50% | 72 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #170 of 348 | #49 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | #2583 of 4,908 | #875 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | U, R-6 | R-6 |
| Students | 235 | 361 |
| Girls / boys | 96 / 139 | 171 / 190 |
| Foundation intake | 43 | 58 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -18% | +12% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1002 | 1081 |
| ICSEA percentile | 48th | 79th |
| Top SEA quarter | 15% | 30% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 28% | 7% |
| Students per teacher | 14.0 | 14.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 16.8 | 25.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 8.8 | 10.8 |
| Language background other than English | 53% | 26% |
| Indigenous students | 11% | 2% |
| Suburb | South Plympton 5038 | Plympton 5038 |
| Council area | Marion | West Torrens |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.forbesps.sa.edu.au | www.stjohnpl.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St John the Baptist Catholic School scores higher on the Success Index (71.5 vs 51.5).
- •St John the Baptist Catholic School has the higher ICSEA (1081 vs 1002), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St John the Baptist Catholic School is the larger school with 361 students compared with 235.
- •St John the Baptist Catholic School has grown faster over five years (12% vs -18%).
- •Forbes Primary School is a government school while St John the Baptist Catholic 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 Forbes Primary School better than St John the Baptist Catholic School?
On the Success Index, St John the Baptist Catholic School ranks higher (71.5 vs 51.5 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 Forbes Primary School and St John the Baptist Catholic School?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between South Plympton and Plympton in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Forbes Primary School has 14.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John the Baptist Catholic School has 14.3.
How do Forbes Primary School and St John the Baptist Catholic School rank in SA?
Forbes Primary School is 170th of 348 and St John the Baptist Catholic School is 49th of 348 among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.