Lucas Heights Community School is a K–12 government school serving Barden Ridge with a genuine commitment to pastoral care and community connection.
NAPLAN 14 points below national year-level averages; the result is a B- overall.
Lucas Heights Community School is a K–12 government school serving Barden Ridge with a genuine commitment to pastoral care and community connection. It runs a dedicated Inspire program for high-potential and gifted learners, alongside strong additional support for students with diverse learning needs. Music is a significant strength, with regular performances and programs woven through school life. The school also offers VET pathways for senior students. Tight-knit and inclusive, it suits families wanting a combined primary-secondary setting where individual students are known well and supported across their journey.
Lucas Heights Community School is also known as LHCS and LHCS Barden Ridge.
Lucas Heights Community School draws students from the Lucas Hts CS (and 2 more zones).
Lucas Heights Community School has an overall SchoolRank score of 46.4/100, rated "Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 50/100, indicating moderate performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1038, above the national average of 1,000.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Lucas Heights Community School, Year 3 students averaged 359 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well below the national average of 407 for that year level, and Year 5 students averaged 484, in line with the national average of 490 for that year level, and Year 7 students averaged 537, in line with the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 570, in line with the national average of 569 for that year level. National averages are specific to each year level, because NAPLAN scores are scaled so older year levels score higher, a school-wide average can't be compared with a single national figure.
Lucas Heights Community School is a medium-sized government combined school with approximately 796 students. It offers education for years K-12. As a government school, enrolment is generally available to students living within the school's designated catchment zone. Families outside the zone may apply for out-of-area placement subject to availability.
Lucas Heights Community School is a government school, so there are no tuition fees. Families may be asked to contribute to voluntary school fees covering materials, excursions, and activities. The school has a value score of 53/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Lucas Heights Community School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1. This is below the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning students generally receive more individual attention. Support staff make up 22% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 89%, which is moderate.
The Year 12 completion rate is 97%.
Lucas Heights Community School is located in Barden Ridge, NSW, classified as a major cities school. With an ICSEA of 1038 (63th percentile), the school community's socio-educational advantage is around the national average. ICSEA measures the educational advantage of a school's community, not the school's quality, a lower ICSEA school with strong academic scores may indicate particularly effective teaching.