St Mary's is a Catholic secondary college with a strong pastoral culture and structured, traditional approach to learning.
NAPLAN in line with national year-level averages; the result is a B overall.
St Mary's is a Catholic secondary college with a strong pastoral culture and structured, traditional approach to learning. The school runs a dedicated learning support unit to help students with additional needs. Sport is central to school life, with well-established programs across the curriculum. Located in Gateshead, it suits families seeking a co-ed environment grounded in Catholic values and looking for solid pastoral care alongside academic and athletic development.
St Mary's Catholic College is also known as SMCC and SMCC Gateshead.
St Mary's Catholic College has an overall SchoolRank score of 54.6/100, rated "Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, programs, and value for money. Academically, the school grades B (Average) against other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1062 (73rd percentile; the national average is 1,000).
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at St Mary's Catholic College, Year 7 students averaged 542 across the tested NAPLAN domains, in line with the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 579, above the national average of 569 for that year level. Relative to national year-level averages, the school's strongest domain is Writing. 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.
St Mary's Catholic College is a medium-sized Catholic secondary school with approximately 989 students. It offers education for years 7-12. As a Catholic school, enrolment typically involves an application process. Contact the school directly for enrolment criteria, waiting lists, and open day information.
St Mary's Catholic College has approximate annual tuition fees of $4,379. Actual fees may vary by year level, and additional costs for uniforms, camps, and extracurricular activities typically apply. The school grades B (Average) for value for money, which weighs academic results against the cost of attendance.
St Mary's Catholic College has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1. This is below the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning students generally receive more individual attention. Support staff make up 21% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 89%, which is good.
In the HSC, 1 student at St Mary's Catholic College was an all-round achiever, with results in the top band across 10 or more units. The Year 12 completion rate is 94%.
St Mary's Catholic College is located in Gateshead, NSW, in a major city. Its ICSEA is 1062 (73rd percentile; the national average is 1,000). ICSEA measures the advantage of a school's community, from its parents' education and occupation, not the school's quality. A school with a lower ICSEA and strong academic results may be teaching particularly effectively.