New data reveals the most crowded schools across the Central Coast

The most crowded schools across the Central Coast have been revealed with new data on student-teacher ratios. See if your school makes the list.

Wyong Creek Public School is among the most crowded on the Central Coast for student/teacher ratios but its students have plenty of room to roam. (File picture: Sue Graham)

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

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

The figures show in 2023 in the Central Coast region there were more students per teacher at Our Lady Star of The Sea 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 — Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School had 19.7 students for every teacher, the highest in the area.

It had 568 students enrolled and 28 full-time equivalent teachers.

The second highest student-teacher ratios were at Avoca Beach Public School where there was an average of 19.1 students for every teacher at the school. It had 453 students enrolled and 23 full-time equivalent teachers.

At Brisbania Public School there were 18.9 students for every teacher, the Central Coast region’s third highest.

Gosford Public School ranked fourth for student-teacher ratios on the Central Coast but the kindergarten class KC of 2023 didn’t mind at all. (File image: Sue Graham)

It had 386 students enrolled and 20 full-time equivalent teachers.

While Our Lady Star of the Sea is currently the most crowded according to ACARA data, it might not be for very long.

Last year the primary school was one of several Broken Bay Catholic schools to have development applications approved for multimillion dollar capital works and renovation projects.

Under the $7m plans, Our Lady Star of the Sea will build a new “Block F” that will feature seven new classrooms and associated outdoor learning areas.

An artist’s impression of the $7m capital works project including a new “Block F” and seven new classrooms. Picture: supplied

In its planning documents the school said it had 551 students and 32 full time equivalent teachers as of 2022.

However with its new classrooms the school is looking to expand its students to 630 by 2025 with 35 FTE teachers — a ratio of 18 students for every teacher.

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.

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 Central Coast region’s least crowded classroom was at Darkinjung Barker where there was an average of 5.4 students for every teacher at the school.

It had 37 students enrolled and 6 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 Central Coast:

• Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School: 19.7 students per teacher

• Avoca Beach Public School: 19.1 students per teacher

• Brisbania Public School: 18.9 students per teacher

• Gosford Public School: 18.5 students per teacher

• Point Clare Public School: 18.5 students per teacher

• Wyong Creek Public School: 18.5 students per teacher

• Warnervale Public School: 18.5 students per teacher

• Woodport Public School: 18.5 students per teacher

• Blue Haven Public School: 18.4 students per teacher

• Terrigal Public School: 18.4 students per teacher