New South Wales
2,184 public schools. Senior certificate: HSC. 48 selective and 87 opportunity-class schools.
Top 10% of public high schools by HSC results, 2025
The Education Act 1990 (NSW) allows only a top-10% list based on NESA's merit lists; no other NSW ranking is shown. Band 6 / E4 results per Year 12 student.
| # | School | Suburb | Band 6 / E4 results per Year 12 student | ICSEA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Ruse Agricultural High SchoolAgricultural | Carlingford | 4.46 | 1,222 |
| 2 | North Sydney Boys High SchoolFully | North Sydney | 4.12 | 1,195 |
| 3 | North Sydney Girls High SchoolFully | Crows Nest | 3.47 | 1,203 |
| 4 | Normanhurst Boys High SchoolFully | Normanhurst | 3.38 | 1,207 |
| 5 | Sydney Boys High SchoolFully | Moore Park | 3.08 | 1,189 |
| 6 | Hornsby Girls High SchoolFully | Hornsby | 2.95 | 1,209 |
| 7 | Baulkham Hills High SchoolFully | Baulkham Hills | 2.92 | 1,203 |
| 8 | Sydney Girls High SchoolFully | Surry Hills | 2.65 | 1,193 |
| 9 | Conservatorium High School | Sydney | 2.50 | 1,194 |
| 10 | Penrith High SchoolFully | Penrith | 2.42 | 1,186 |
Selective, OC & HPGE classes
Selective high schools (48)
- Alexandria Park Community School Partially
- Armidale Secondary College PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Auburn Girls High School PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Aurora College PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Baulkham Hills High School Fully
- Blacktown Boys High School Partially
- Blacktown Girls High School Partially
- Bonnyrigg High School PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Caringbah High School Fully
- Chatswood High School Partially
- Elizabeth Macarthur High School Partially
- Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School Agricultural
- Fort Street High School Fully
- Girraween High School Fully
- Gorokan High School Partially
- Gosford High School Fully
- Grafton High School PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Granville Boys High School PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Hornsby Girls High School Fully
- Hurlstone Agricultural High School Agricultural
- James Ruse Agricultural High School Agricultural
- Karabar High School Partially
- Kooringal High School PartiallyGifted class: HPGE extension class
- Macquarie Fields High School Partially
- Merewether High School Fully
- Moorebank High School PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Normanhurst Boys High School Fully
- North Sydney Boys High School Fully
- North Sydney Girls High School Fully
- Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus Fully
- Parramatta High School Partially
- Peel High School Partially
- Penrith High School Fully
- Prairiewood High School Partially
- Richmond High School PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Rose Bay Secondary College PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Ryde Secondary College Partially
- Sefton High School Partially
- Smiths Hill High School Fully
- St George Girls High School Fully
- Sydney Boys High School Fully
- Sydney Girls High School Fully
- Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus Partially
- Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus PartiallyGifted class: Gifted class
- Sydney Technical High School Fully
- Tempe High School Partially
- Yanco Agricultural High School Agricultural
Opportunity class schools (87)
- Alexandria Park Community School
- Alstonville Public School
- Armidale City Public School
- Artarmon Public School
- Ashfield Public School
- Aurora CollegeGifted class: Gifted class
- Balgowlah Heights Public School
- Balmain Public School
- Bathurst West Public School
- Beecroft Public School
- Biraban Public School
- Blacktown South Public School
- Blacktown West Public School
- Blaxcell Street Public School
- Blaxland East Public School
- Bradbury Public School
- Brookvale Public School
- Camden South Public School
- Caringbah North Public School
- Casula Public School
- Cessnock West Public School
- Chatswood Public School
- Colyton Public School
- Coonabarabran Public School
- Cudgegong Valley Public School
- Dubbo West Public School
- Dural Public School
- Earlwood Public School
- Ermington Public School
- Georges Hall Public School
- Glenbrook Public School
- Goonellabah Public School
- Gosford Public School
- Goulburn West Public School
- Greenacre Public School
- Greystanes Public School
- Harrington Street Public School
- Holsworthy Public School
- Hurstville Public School
- Illaroo Road Public School
- Ironbark Ridge Public School
- Jewells Primary School
- Kingswood Public School
- Leumeah Public School
- Lindfield East Public School
- Lithgow Public School
- Maroubra Junction Public School
- Maryland Public School
- Matthew Pearce Public School
- Miranda Public School
- Mona Vale Public School
- Moree Public School
- Moss Vale Public School
- Neutral Bay Public School
- New Lambton South Public School
- Newbridge Heights Public School
- North Rocks Public School
- Penrith Public School
- Picnic Point Public School
- Port Macquarie Public School
- Quakers Hill Public School
- Queanbeyan South Public School
- Richmond Public School
- Rutherford Public School
- Ryde Public School
- Smithfield Public School
- Soldiers Point Public School
- South Grafton Public School
- St Andrews Public School
- St Clair Public School
- St Johns Park Public School
- Sturt Public School
- Summer Hill Public School
- Sutherland Public School
- Tahmoor Public School
- Tamworth Public School
- Tamworth South Public School
- Tighes Hill Public School
- Toongabbie Public School
- Toormina Public School
- Wahroonga Public School
- Waitara Public School
- Wentworth Falls Public School
- Wilkins Public School
- Wollongong Public School
- Woollahra Public School
- Wyong Public School
Gifted and accelerated programs in public schools
HPGE Extension Classes (8)
The NSW Department of Education runs High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) extension classes in selected comprehensive public high schools, so that high-potential students can be grouped together without moving to a selective school. Source list ↗ · About this data
- Chifley College Dunheved Campus North St Marys
- Elderslie High School Narellan
- Georges River College, Peakhurst Campus Peakhurst
- Hunters Hill High School Hunters Hill
- Kooringal High School Kooringal
- Lisarow High School Lisarow
- Port Hacking High School Miranda
- Riverstone High School Riverstone
School-run gifted and extension classes (133)
Many comprehensive public high schools run their own class or program for high-ability students, under names such as Gifted and Talented, Academic Extension, Academic Excellence (common in Queensland), Enrichment or SEAL. These are not a department program: each school sets its own entry (often a test or application in Year 6) and class size. Listed only where the school's own website describes a dedicated class; check details with the school. Source list ↗ · About this data
- Albion Park High School Albion Park
- Armidale Secondary College Armidale · Years 7–8
- Arthur Phillip High School Parramatta · Years 7–10
- Ashfield Boys High School Ashfield · Years 7–8
- Asquith High School Asquith · Years 7–10
- Auburn Girls High School Auburn · Years 7–10
- Aurora College Lindfield
- Ballina Coast High School Ballina
- Bankstown Girls High School Bankstown · Years 7–8
- Banora Point High School Banora Point
- Bellingen High School Bellingen · Years 7–8
- Blaxland High School Blaxland · Years 7–8
- Bombala High School Bombala
- Bonnyrigg High School Bonnyrigg · Years 7–10
- Bulli High School Bulli · Years 7–10
- Cabramatta High School Cabramatta
- Cambridge Park High School Cambridge Park · Years 7–10
- Camden High School Camden · Years 7–8
- Campbelltown Performing Arts High School Campbelltown · Years 7–10
- Canley Vale High School Canley Vale · Years 7–10
- Canterbury Boys High School Canterbury · Years 7–8
- Canterbury Girls High School Canterbury · Years 7–8
- Cardiff High School Cardiff · Years 7
- Carlingford High School Carlingford · Years 7–10
- Castle Hill High School Castle Hill · Years 7–8
- Cheltenham Girls High School Beecroft · Years 7
- Cherrybrook Technology High School Cherrybrook · Years 7–8
- Coffs Harbour High School Coffs Harbour · Years 7–8
- Colyton High School St Marys · Years 7
- Concord High School Concord · Years 7–10
- Cootamundra High School Cootamundra
- Corrimal High School Corrimal · Years 7
- Cranebrook High School Cranebrook
- Cronulla High School Cronulla · Years 7–10
- Dapto High School Dapto · Years 9–10
- Denison College of Secondary Education, Bathurst High Campus Bathurst · Years 7
- Denison College of Secondary Education, Kelso High Campus Kelso · Years 7
- Doonside High School Doonside
- Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design Dulwich Hill
- Endeavour Sports High School Caringbah · Years 7–10
- Engadine High School Engadine · Years 7–10
- Epping Boys High School Eastwood · Years 7–8
- Erina High School Erina
- Erskine Park High School Erskine Park · Years 7
- Fairfield High School Fairfield · Years 7–10
- Figtree High School Figtree · Years 7–8
- Francis Greenway High School Woodberry · Years 7
- Georges River College, Hurstville Campus Hurstville
- Gledswood Hills High School Gledswood Hills · Years 7
- Glen Innes High School Glen Innes · Years 7
- Glendale Technology High School Glendale · Years 7
- Goulburn High School Goulburn · Years 7–8
- Grafton High School Grafton · Years 7–10
- Granville Boys High School Granville · Years 7–9
- Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School Guildford · Years 7–10
- Greystanes High School Greystanes · Years 7–8
- Gundagai High School Gundagai · Years 7–10
- Gunnedah High School Gunnedah · Years 7–8
- Gymea Technology High School Gymea
- Hawkesbury High School Freemans Reach · Years 7–10
- Heathcote High School Heathcote · Years 7–10
- Henry Kendall High School Gosford · Years 7–8
- Holsworthy High School Holsworthy
- Hornsby High School Hornsby · Years 7
- Hoxton Park High School Hinchinbrook · Years 7–10
- Hunter River High School Heatherbrae · Years 7
- Hunter Sports High School Gateshead · Years 7–10
- Illawarra Sports High School Berkeley · Years 7–10
- Kariong Mountains High School Kariong · Years 7–8
- Keira High School Fairy Meadow · Years 7–8
- Killara High School Killara · Years 7–8
- Kingscliff High School Kingscliff · Years 7
- Kingsgrove High School Kingsgrove · Years 7
- Kingsgrove North High School Kingsgrove · Years 7
- Kingswood High School Kingswood · Years 7–10
- Kirrawee High School Kirrawee · Years 7–8
- Kogarah High School Kogarah · Years 8–10
- Kotara High School Adamstown · Years 7–10
- Kurri Kurri High School Kurri Kurri · Years 7–10
- Lake Illawarra High School Lake Illawarra · Years 7
- Lake Munmorah High School Lake Munmorah · Years 7
- Lambton High School Lambton · Years 7
- Liverpool Boys High School Liverpool
- Liverpool Girls High School Liverpool · Years 7–8
- Macintyre High School Inverell · Years 7
- Maclean High School Maclean
- Maitland High School East Maitland
- Menai High School Menai · Years 7–8
- Model Farms High School Baulkham Hills · Years 7
- Monaro High School Cooma North · Years 9–10
- Moorebank High School Moorebank · Years 7
- Morisset High School Morisset
- Moruya High School Moruya · Years 7–10
- Mount View High School Cessnock · Years 7–8
- Muirfield High School North Rocks · Years 7–10
- Mullumbimby High School Mullumbimby · Years 7
- Narara Valley High School Narara · Years 7
- Narrabeen Sports High School North Narrabeen · Years 7
- Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Emu Plains · Years 7–8
- Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School Northmead · Years 7
- Nowra High School Nowra
- Oran Park High School Oran Park
- Orara High School Coffs Harbour · Years 7
- Parkes High School Parkes · Years 7–10
- Pendle Hill High School Wentworthville · Years 7–10
- Pennant Hills High School Pennant Hills · Years 7–8
- Picnic Point High School Picnic Point · Years 7–10
- Punchbowl Boys High School Punchbowl · Years 7–8
- Quakers Hill High School Quakers Hill · Years 7
- Randwick High School Randwick · Years 7–10
- Richmond High School Richmond · Years 7–8
- Robert Townson High School Raby · Years 7–10
- Rose Bay Secondary College Dover Heights
- South Grafton High School South Grafton · Years 7–10
- South Sydney High School Maroubra · Years 7–10
- Strathfield South High School Enfield
- Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus Rozelle · Years 7–10
- Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus Leichhardt
- Sylvania High School Sylvania · Years 7–10
- Terrigal High School Terrigal · Years 7–8
- The Ponds High School The Ponds · Years 7
- Tomaree High School Salamander Bay · Years 7–10
- Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Berkeley Vale Campus Berkeley Vale · Years 7–8
- Vincentia High School Vincentia · Years 7–10
- Wagga Wagga High School Wagga Wagga · Years 7–10
- Warners Bay High School Warners Bay · Years 7–8
- Warrawong High School Warrawong
- West Wallsend High School West Wallsend · Years 7
- Willoughby Girls High School Willoughby · Years 7–10
- Woolgoolga High School Woolgoolga · Years 7
- Woolooware High School Woolooware
- Woonona High School Woonona · Years 7–10
- Wyong High School Wyong
Reported gifted classes (1)
Gifted classes reported by other public sources and by people who know the school, which the school's own website does not currently describe. Confirm entry and availability with the school. Source list ↗ · About this data
- Crestwood High School Baulkham Hills
Browse by region
Largest public schools
| School | Suburb | Type | Students | ICSEA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ponds High SchoolGifted class: Gifted class | The Ponds | Public high school · 7-12 | 2,318 | 1,118 |
| Chatswood High SchoolPartially | Chatswood | Public high school · 7-12 | 2,146 | 1,137 |
| Cherrybrook Technology High SchoolGifted class: Gifted class | Cherrybrook | Public high school · 7-12 | 2,097 | 1,146 |
| Riverbank Public School | The Ponds | Public primary · K-6 | 2,030 | 1,141 |
| Castle Hill High SchoolGifted class: Gifted class | Castle Hill | Public high school · 7-12 | 1,842 | 1,121 |
Guides for NSW families
- NSW opportunity classes explained
How NSW opportunity classes work in Years 5 and 6, how the placement test and equity places work, and where to find one. - NSW selective high schools explained
The difference between fully and partially selective schools, agricultural high schools, Aurora College and how the Year 7 test works. - NSW public school catchments and intake areas explained
How NSW local enrolment areas work, when out-of-area applications are possible, and what proof of address you'll need.