Question 1

How do I find what school catchment my Sydney address is in?

Accepted Answer

Enter your full Sydney address into Sydney School Scout. The tool shows your catchment-zoned NSW public primary and secondary schools first, then nearby Catholic and independent options. Always double-check the result against the official NSW School Finder before making enrolment decisions.

Question 2

What is ICSEA and why does it matter when comparing Sydney schools?

Accepted Answer

ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is a scale developed by ACARA that represents the educational advantage of students at a school. The Australian average is 1000. It is one input among many — it does not measure school quality directly, but it gives useful context when comparing student cohorts.

Question 3

Is Sydney School Scout affiliated with the NSW Department of Education or My School?

Accepted Answer

No. Sydney School Scout is an independent, parent-built tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NSW Department of Education, ACARA, or My School. School data is sourced from publicly available datasets under open licences.

Question 4

How much does Sydney School Scout cost?

Accepted Answer

It is completely free for the first 100 users, with lifetime access locked in. After that, full access is a one-time AUD $19 — never a subscription.

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