About the school
Shell Cove Public School, established in 2005, is located next to the picturesque Killalea State Park on the South Coast of NSW. It serves as a beacon of excellence among the 20 Public Private Partnership schools in the state. The school community rallies around its motto, "Sailing the Seas of Excellence," which encapsulates their commitment to high expectations and aspirations.
Currently, 446 students thrive within 18 mainstream classes, with Shell Cove Public School excelling in 12 elements of the School Excellence Framework (SEF). The school boasts exceptional attendance rates and a commendable teaching staff who inspire students to be active participants in their learning journeys. Their educational approach combines explicit teaching, effective feedback, data-informed practices, thorough assessments, and a strong focus on positive wellbeing.
Shell Cove Public School's dedication to continuous self-reflection and improvement is reflected in the insights gleaned from their situational analysis, particularly towards fostering growth in literacy and numeracy for students at the top academic bands. The school has taken strides to enhance its support systems for a growing number of students from English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) backgrounds, emphasising the value of diversity within their learning environment.
Overall, the community comes together at Shell Cove Public School to navigate the seas of excellence, striving for the best outcomes for every student.
Mission
At Shell Cove Public School, our vision is to cultivate a dynamic learning environment where evidence-based practices and innovative approaches drive student engagement and achievement. We are committed to striving for excellence in education, empowering every student to reach their full potential.
Location & Catchment Area
- Shell Cove Public School
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A Flinders Public School 1.5 km
- B Illawarra Environmental Education Centre 1.7 km
- C Shellharbour Public School 2.1 km
- D Minnamurra Public School 3.3 km
- E Warilla High School 3.6 km
- F Barrack Heights Public School 4.1 km
- G Warilla Public School 4.3 km
- H Oak Flats High School 4.4 km
- I Peterborough School 4.4 km
- J Balarang Public School 4.5 km
- K Mount Warrigal Public School 4.7 km
- L Oak Flats Public School 5.0 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 463 (224 girls, 239 boys)
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 463
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 1049 (percentile 68)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 16% / 30% / 30% / 25%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 67
- Indigenous students
- 7%
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 20%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 25.4
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 3.8
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 61 |
| Year 1 | 66 |
| Year 2 | 66 |
| Year 3 | 64 |
| Year 4 | 78 |
| Year 5 | 55 |
| Year 6 | 73 |
| Total | 463 |
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 | 463 | 224 | 239 | - | 1049 | 25.4 |
| 2024 | 444 | 203 | 241 | 90.9 | 1051 | 24.1 |
| 2023 | 459 | 217 | 242 | 92.6 | 1054 | 25.6 |
| 2022 | 478 | 221 | 257 | 87.5 | 1050 | 25.8 |
| 2021 | 493 | 234 | 259 | 93 | 1039 | 26.9 |
| 2020 | 519 | 245 | 274 | - | 1034 | 29 |
| 2019 | 535 | 256 | 279 | 92.8 | 1038 | 28 |
| 2018 | 535 | 260 | 275 | 93.6 | 1034 | 28.1 |
| 2017 | 560 | 287 | 273 | 92.8 | 1044 | 29.8 |
| 2016 | 572 | 286 | 286 | 94.3 | 1046 | 29.3 |
| 2015 | 580 | 308 | 272 | 93.3 | 1045 | 30.5 |
| 2014 | 561 | 303 | 258 | 95.6 | 1055 | 29.4 |
| 2013 | 510 | 274 | 236 | 95 | 1048 | 25.1 |
| 2012 | 495 | 257 | 238 | 94.6 | 1042 | 24.9 |
| 2011 | 483 | 251 | 232 | 93.3 | 1044 | 23.7 |
| 2010 | 417 | 204 | 213 | - | 1043 | 20.9 |
| 2009 | 367 | 186 | 181 | - | 1072 | 18.7 |
| 2008 | 293 | 149 | 144 | - | 1072 | 14.8 |
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.