New data reveals Illawarra’s most crowded classrooms

The schools with Illawarra’s most crowded classrooms have been revealed. See if your school makes the list.

Student-teacher ratios have revealed the most crowded schools across the Illawarra.

The schools with Illawarra’s most crowded classrooms have been revealed.

An analysis of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has revealed the schools where teachers have the most students in their classes.

The figures show in 2023 in the Illawarra region there were more students per teacher at St Columbkille’s Catholic Primary School than any other school.

According to the 2023 data – the most up to date that includes all state and private schools nationally – St Columbkille’s Catholic Primary School had 19.5 students for every teacher, the highest in the area.

It had 359 students enrolled and 18 full-time equivalent teachers.

The second highest student-teacher ratios were at Woonona Public School where there was an average of 19.2 students for every teacher at the school. It had 578 students enrolled and 30 full-time equivalent teachers.

At Shellharbour Public School there were 18.5 students for every teacher, the Illawarra region’s third highest.

It had 414 students enrolled and 22 full-time equivalent teachers.

According to ACARA the national average student teacher ratio in 2023 was 12.6 students for every teacher, a drop from the 13.3 ratio in 2021.

At a primary school level it is sitting at 13.6 and in secondary it’s 11.8.

Catholic schools have the highest national ratio for primary schools with a 14.1 ratio, followed by 13.5 for Government schools and 12 for independent schools.

St Columbkille’s Catholic Primary School.

Catholic schools also have the highest national ratio for secondary schools with 12 students for every teacher, followed by 11.9 for state schools and 11.5 for Independent schools.

Meanwhile, the Illawarra region’s least crowded classroom was at Five Islands Secondary College where there was an average of 6.7 students for every teacher at the school.

It had 249 students enrolled and 37 full-time equivalent teachers.

Student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in Illawarra:

• St Columbkille’s Catholic Primary School: 19.5 students per teacher

• Woonona Public School: 19.2 students per teacher

• Shellharbour Public School: 18.5 students per teacher

• Nazareth Catholic Primary School: 18.5 students per teacher

• Keiraville Public School: 18.4 students per teacher

• Thirroul Public School: 18.4 students per teacher

• Stella Maris Catholic Primary School: 18.3 students per teacher

• Kiama Public School: 18.3 students per teacher

• St Michael’s Catholic Primary School: 18.2 students per teacher

• Mount Kembla Public School: 18.2 students per teacher