Balarang Public School
Strong connections build a sense of belonging.
About the school
Balarang Public School is located on an attractive landscaped four-hectare site at Oak Flats in the city of Shellharbour. Established in 1968, the school provides educational services primarily for local students, with about 70% of its enrolment from the immediate area and 30% from the wider Shellharbour area. The school aims to deliver a happy, safe, and challenging learning environment where students develop respect for others and a positive attitude towards lifelong learning.
Unique Features
Balarang Public School offers several unique features, including a chaplaincy program and an annual production that attracts audiences of over 2000 students. The school boasts diverse sporting programs and provides Active After School activities. Overnight excursions further enhance students' living skills and social development.
Educational Philosophy
The school is regarded by the community as a high-achieving and caring establishment, committed to providing opportunities for all students. Balarang Public School embraces the values of excellence, trust, care, responsibility, fairness, and courage, committing to the personal growth and success of each student. The focus on engaging students in a varied curriculum strengthens their academic foundation, nurturing them as learners and responsible citizens.
Mission
Our vision is that strong connections build a sense of belonging. Our community works in partnership to support student learning and safety, fostering responsibility, courage and resilience. We engage students, embrace challenge, and celebrate our passions, individual histories, and cultures. We strive for improvement and success, as lifelong learners.
Location & Catchment Area
- Balarang Public School
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A Oak Flats High School 272 m
- B Oak Flats Public School 1.3 km
- C Barrack Heights Public School 1.4 km
- D Mount Warrigal Public School 1.4 km
- E Warilla Public School 2.1 km
- F Peterborough School 2.2 km
- G Warilla North Public School 2.5 km
- H Warilla High School 2.5 km
- I Lake Illawarra High School 2.7 km
- J Flinders Public School 3.0 km
- K Albion Park Rail Public School 3.1 km
- L Lake Illawarra South Public School 3.4 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 268 (117 girls, 151 boys)
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 268
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 974 (percentile 35)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 39% / 32% / 20% / 9%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 100
- Indigenous students
- 16%
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 11%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 16.1
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 2.6
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 39 |
| Year 1 | 36 |
| Year 2 | 38 |
| Year 3 | 39 |
| Year 4 | 50 |
| Year 5 | 38 |
| Year 6 | 28 |
| Total | 268 |
Year by year
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.
| Year | Enrolments | Girls | Boys | Attendance % | ICSEA | Teaching staff (FTE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 268 | 117 | 151 | - | 974 | 16.1 |
| 2024 | 253 | 112 | 141 | 89 | 969 | 14.8 |
| 2023 | 265 | 126 | 139 | 90.7 | 970 | 16 |
| 2022 | 250 | 122 | 128 | 89.3 | 954 | 15.9 |
| 2021 | 263 | 130 | 133 | 92.9 | 955 | 15.3 |
| 2020 | 255 | 126 | 129 | - | 954 | 14.2 |
| 2019 | 266 | 135 | 131 | 94.2 | 950 | 15.3 |
| 2018 | 270 | 128 | 142 | 94.6 | 950 | 15.4 |
| 2017 | 274 | 135 | 139 | 95.8 | 962 | 15.4 |
| 2016 | 304 | 145 | 159 | 94.6 | 960 | 16.4 |
| 2015 | 349 | 162 | 187 | 94.8 | 952 | 18.6 |
| 2014 | 357 | 163 | 194 | 95.5 | 959 | 18.7 |
| 2013 | 374 | 169 | 205 | 95.1 | 961 | 19.6 |
| 2012 | 374 | 175 | 199 | 93.7 | 956 | 19.5 |
| 2011 | 376 | 179 | 197 | 94.3 | 958 | 19.6 |
| 2010 | 386 | 177 | 209 | - | 961 | 19.5 |
| 2009 | 383 | 186 | 197 | - | 988 | 19.4 |
| 2008 | 384 | 184 | 200 | - | 988 | 19.5 |
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.