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Public high schools in New South Wales, ranked

Every list here comes from a published government dataset, and each one measures a different thing. Results track family advantage closely, so read every position next to its ICSEA, and treat small cohorts as indicative only.

Top 10% by HSC top-band results, 2025

Band 6 / E4 results (count). Section 18A of the Education Act 1990 (NSW) permits publishing only the top 10% of schools, based on NESA's merit lists. The cut-off is the top 10% of all NSW schools, government and non-government, on NESA's 2025 Distinguished Achievers list; 34 public schools fall inside it. No other NSW results ranking is calculated.

#SchoolSuburbBand 6 / E4 results (count)ICSEAStudents
1James Ruse Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalCarlingford7051,222857
2North Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyNorth Sydney6641,195933
3Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyMoore Park6531,1891,202
4Baulkham Hills High SchoolFullyBaulkham Hills6231,2031,222
5North Sydney Girls High SchoolFullyCrows Nest5491,203911
6Sydney Girls High SchoolFullySurry Hills4421,193929
7Normanhurst Boys High SchoolFullyNormanhurst4331,207752
8Merewether High SchoolFullyBroadmeadow4031,2061,071
9Cherrybrook Technology High SchoolCherrybrook3911,1462,097
10Penrith High SchoolFullyPenrith3821,186928
11Chatswood High SchoolPartiallyChatswood3681,1372,146
12Hornsby Girls High SchoolFullyHornsby3631,209720
13Fort Street High SchoolFullyPetersham3611,176916
14Gosford High SchoolFullyGosford3361,1571,058
15Hurlstone Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalGlenfield3061,147934
16Girraween High SchoolFullyGirraween3031,199782
17Caringbah High SchoolFullyCaringbah3011,172900
18Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly CampusFullyNorth Curl Curl2981,217765
19Cheltenham Girls High SchoolBeecroft2761,1421,432
20Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay CampusPartiallyGlebe2651,094787
21Castle Hill High SchoolCastle Hill2541,1211,842
22St George Girls High SchoolFullyKogarah2491,148908
23Sydney Technical High SchoolFullyBexley2341,136906
24Carlingford High SchoolCarlingford2191,1111,772
25Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior CampusFreshwater2191,098646
26Epping Boys High SchoolEastwood2171,1171,491
27Sefton High SchoolPartiallySefton2061,0331,121
28Parramatta High SchoolPartiallyParramatta1981,1321,128
29Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys CampusBalgowlah1951,1151,099
30Killara High SchoolKillara1921,1471,800
31Rose Bay Secondary CollegePartiallyDover Heights1901,1071,125
32Willoughby Girls High SchoolWilloughby1891,1521,035
33Newtown High School of Performing ArtsNewtown1891,1271,144
34Smiths Hill High SchoolFullyWollongong1851,186735

Attendance rate

Share of school days attended by enrolled students in the latest published year. Attendance tracks engagement and wellbeing, not academic results. Top 50 of 449 schools with data.

#SchoolSuburbAttendance rateYearICSEAStudents
1James Ruse Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalCarlingford96.3%20241,222857
2Conservatorium High SchoolSydney95.6%20241,194153
3North Sydney Girls High SchoolFullyCrows Nest95.2%20241,203911
4Penrith High SchoolFullyPenrith95.2%20241,186928
5Girraween High SchoolFullyGirraween94.8%20241,199782
6Hornsby Girls High SchoolFullyHornsby94.7%20241,209720
7Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyMoore Park94.5%20241,1891,202
8Fort Street High SchoolFullyPetersham94.3%20241,176916
9Sydney Girls High SchoolFullySurry Hills94.1%20241,193929
10Sydney Technical High SchoolFullyBexley94.1%20241,136906
11Baulkham Hills High SchoolFullyBaulkham Hills93.9%20241,2031,222
12Normanhurst Boys High SchoolFullyNormanhurst93.9%20241,207752
13North Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyNorth Sydney93.9%20241,195933
14Caringbah High SchoolFullyCaringbah93.6%20241,172900
15Hurlstone Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalGlenfield93.5%20241,147934
16St George Girls High SchoolFullyKogarah93.5%20241,148908
17Gosford High SchoolFullyGosford93.4%20241,1571,058
18Cheltenham Girls High SchoolBeecroft93.0%20241,1421,432
19Willoughby Girls High SchoolWilloughby93.0%20241,1521,035
20Carlingford High SchoolCarlingford92.8%20241,1111,772
21Merewether High SchoolFullyBroadmeadow92.8%20241,2061,071
22Cherrybrook Technology High SchoolCherrybrook92.6%20241,1462,097
23Parramatta High SchoolPartiallyParramatta92.6%20241,1321,128
24Chatswood High SchoolPartiallyChatswood92.3%20241,1372,146
25Strathfield Girls High SchoolStrathfield92.2%20241,0771,061
26Canley Vale High SchoolCanley Vale91.7%20249541,651
27Killara High SchoolKillara91.7%20241,1471,800
28Tullibigeal Central SchoolTullibigeal91.7%202495833
29Epping Boys High SchoolEastwood91.6%20241,1171,491
30Melonba High SchoolMarsden Park91.5%20241,073704
31Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly CampusFullyNorth Curl Curl91.3%20241,217765
32Smiths Hill High SchoolFullyWollongong91.0%20241,186735
33Killarney Heights High SchoolKillarney Heights90.9%20241,132969
34Lindfield CollegeLindfield90.9%20241,152802
35St Ives High SchoolSt Ives90.8%20241,1251,750
36Yanco Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalYanco90.8%20241,009319
37Mosman High SchoolMosman90.4%20241,1261,086
38Cammeraygal High SchoolCrows Nest90.3%20241,135905
39Kirrawee High SchoolKirrawee90.2%20241,0921,185
40Pennant Hills High SchoolPennant Hills90.2%20241,1091,130
41Burwood Girls High SchoolCroydon89.9%20241,0861,080
42Marsden High SchoolMeadowbank89.9%20241,0501,295
43Tempe High SchoolPartiallyTempe89.9%20241,096984
44Crestwood High SchoolBaulkham Hills89.8%20241,1031,021
45Sefton High SchoolPartiallySefton89.7%20241,0331,121
46Ariah Park Central SchoolAriah Park89.6%2024947123
47Cabramatta High SchoolCabramatta89.5%20249341,622
48Glenwood High SchoolGlenwood89.5%20241,0901,506
49Turramurra High SchoolSouth Turramurra89.5%20241,118986
50Castle Hill High SchoolCastle Hill89.4%20241,1211,842

Most improved attendance

Change in attendance rate over three years, in percentage points. Top 25 of 443 schools with data.

#SchoolSuburbMost improved attendanceICSEAStudents
1Boggabilla Central SchoolBoggabilla+18.2 pts67079
2Woodenbong Central SchoolWoodenbong+14.8 pts848159
3Five Islands Secondary CollegePort Kembla+10.1 pts983272
4Mungindi Central SchoolMungindi+6.9 pts79562
5Lake Cargelligo Central SchoolLake Cargelligo+3.7 pts858227
6Oaklands Central SchoolOaklands+2.9 pts96236
7Richmond High SchoolPartiallyRichmond+2.2 pts987750
8Moree Secondary CollegeMoree+2.0 pts771359
9Coonamble High SchoolCoonamble+1.8 pts733161
10Bankstown Girls High SchoolBankstown+1.3 pts964551
11Punchbowl Boys High SchoolPunchbowl+1.2 pts923472
12Airds High SchoolCampbelltown+1.0 pts875542
13Galston High SchoolGalston+0.6 pts1,044570
14Gulargambone Central SchoolGulargambone+0.5 pts693104
15Tullibigeal Central SchoolTullibigeal+0.5 pts95833
16Bowraville Central SchoolBowraville+0.4 pts861206
17Holsworthy High SchoolHolsworthy+0.4 pts1,000693
18Bankstown Senior CollegeBankstown+0.3 pts847544
19Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High SchoolNorthmead+0.2 pts1,0691,239
20The Rivers Secondary College, Lismore High CampusLismore+0.2 pts934438
21Emmaville Central SchoolEmmaville+0.1 pts88694
22J J Cahill Memorial High SchoolMascot+0.1 pts987298
23Hastings Secondary College, Westport CampusPort Macquarie0.0 pts919611
24Canterbury Boys High SchoolCanterbury-0.1 pts1,018422
25Eden Marine High SchoolEden-0.1 pts956536

Fastest growing enrolments

Change in total enrolments over the last five years. Growth usually follows new housing or a change in reputation; check the profile's history. Top 30 of 432 schools with data.

#SchoolSuburbFastest growing enrolmentsICSEAStudents
1Inner Sydney High SchoolSurry Hills+690%1,1041,160
2Oran Park High SchoolOran Park+466%1,0021,579
3Lindfield CollegeLindfield+120%1,152802
4Riverstone High SchoolRiverstone+114%979861
5Moree Secondary CollegeMoree+98%771359
6Pendle Hill High SchoolWentworthville+75%1,001692
7Granville Boys High SchoolPartiallyGranville+68%961832
8Corrimal High SchoolCorrimal+61%940569
9St Ives High SchoolSt Ives+58%1,1251,750
10Portland Central SchoolPortland+57%845203
11Chifley College Dunheved CampusNorth St Marys+55%870586
12Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer CampusCromer+55%1,0561,156
13Gulargambone Central SchoolGulargambone+55%693104
14Seven Hills High SchoolSeven Hills+51%969480
15Cumberland High SchoolCarlingford+51%1,0601,172
16Marsden High SchoolMeadowbank+48%1,0501,295
17Arthur Phillip High SchoolParramatta+47%9941,636
18Alexandria Park Community SchoolPartiallyOCAlexandria+44%1,0521,312
19Belmore Boys High SchoolBelmore+43%953614
20Rouse Hill High SchoolRouse Hill+42%1,0671,314
21Matraville Sports High SchoolChifley+41%930486
22Bass High SchoolBass Hill+41%927871
23Chatswood High SchoolPartiallyChatswood+37%1,1372,146
24Blacktown Girls High SchoolPartiallyBlacktown+35%1,0461,079
25Boorowa Central SchoolBoorowa+35%934240
26Yanco Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalYanco+35%1,009319
27Marrickville High SchoolMarrickville+33%1,052624
28Orara High SchoolCoffs Harbour+32%896856
29Sir Joseph Banks High SchoolRevesby+32%949945
30Eagle Vale Sports High SchoolEagle Vale+31%932662

Largest schools

Total enrolments in the latest published year. Top 30 of 468 schools with data.

#SchoolSuburbLargest schoolsICSEAStudents
1The Ponds High SchoolThe Ponds2,3181,1182,318
2Chatswood High SchoolPartiallyChatswood2,1461,1372,146
3Cherrybrook Technology High SchoolCherrybrook2,0971,1462,097
4Castle Hill High SchoolCastle Hill1,8421,1211,842
5Killara High SchoolKillara1,8001,1471,800
6Carlingford High SchoolCarlingford1,7721,1111,772
7St Ives High SchoolSt Ives1,7501,1251,750
8Canley Vale High SchoolCanley Vale1,6519541,651
9Bonnyrigg High SchoolPartiallyBonnyrigg1,6419621,641
10Arthur Phillip High SchoolParramatta1,6369941,636
11Cabramatta High SchoolCabramatta1,6229341,622
12Oran Park High SchoolOran Park1,5791,0021,579
13Westfields Sports High SchoolFairfield West1,5389671,538
14Glenwood High SchoolGlenwood1,5061,0901,506
15Epping Boys High SchoolEastwood1,4911,1171,491
16Ryde Secondary CollegePartiallyRyde1,4861,1021,486
17Randwick High SchoolRandwick1,4601,0711,460
18Cheltenham Girls High SchoolBeecroft1,4321,1421,432
19Wadalba Community SchoolWadalba1,4129411,412
20Rutherford Technology High SchoolRutherford1,4059221,405
21Elizabeth Macarthur High SchoolPartiallyNarellan1,3991,0141,399
22Endeavour Sports High SchoolCaringbah1,3781,0401,378
23Cecil Hills High SchoolCecil Hills1,3409861,340
24Fairvale High SchoolFairfield West1,3209121,320
25Rouse Hill High SchoolRouse Hill1,3141,0671,314
26Alexandria Park Community SchoolPartiallyOCAlexandria1,3121,0521,312
27Marsden High SchoolMeadowbank1,2951,0501,295
28Prairiewood High SchoolPartiallyPrairiewood1,2849781,284
29Casula High SchoolCasula1,2809571,280
30Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High SchoolNorthmead1,2391,0691,239

Highest ICSEA

ICSEA measures the educational advantage of the families a school serves. It is not a performance measure; it explains much of what results lists show. Top 50 of 468 schools with data.

#SchoolSuburbHighest ICSEAICSEAStudents
1James Ruse Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalCarlingford1,2221,222857
2Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly CampusFullyNorth Curl Curl1,2171,217765
3Hornsby Girls High SchoolFullyHornsby1,2091,209720
4Normanhurst Boys High SchoolFullyNormanhurst1,2071,207752
5Merewether High SchoolFullyBroadmeadow1,2061,2061,071
6Baulkham Hills High SchoolFullyBaulkham Hills1,2031,2031,222
7North Sydney Girls High SchoolFullyCrows Nest1,2031,203911
8Girraween High SchoolFullyGirraween1,1991,199782
9North Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyNorth Sydney1,1951,195933
10Conservatorium High SchoolSydney1,1941,194153
11Sydney Girls High SchoolFullySurry Hills1,1931,193929
12Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyMoore Park1,1891,1891,202
13Penrith High SchoolFullyPenrith1,1861,186928
14Smiths Hill High SchoolFullyWollongong1,1861,186735
15Fort Street High SchoolFullyPetersham1,1761,176916
16Caringbah High SchoolFullyCaringbah1,1721,172900
17Gosford High SchoolFullyGosford1,1571,1571,058
18Lindfield CollegeLindfield1,1521,152802
19Willoughby Girls High SchoolWilloughby1,1521,1521,035
20St George Girls High SchoolFullyKogarah1,1481,148908
21Hurlstone Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalGlenfield1,1471,147934
22Killara High SchoolKillara1,1471,1471,800
23Cherrybrook Technology High SchoolCherrybrook1,1461,1462,097
24Cheltenham Girls High SchoolBeecroft1,1421,1421,432
25Chatswood High SchoolPartiallyChatswood1,1371,1372,146
26Sydney Technical High SchoolFullyBexley1,1361,136906
27Cammeraygal High SchoolCrows Nest1,1351,135905
28Killarney Heights High SchoolKillarney Heights1,1321,132969
29Parramatta High SchoolPartiallyParramatta1,1321,1321,128
30Newtown High School of Performing ArtsNewtown1,1271,1271,144
31Mosman High SchoolMosman1,1261,1261,086
32St Ives High SchoolSt Ives1,1251,1251,750
33Castle Hill High SchoolCastle Hill1,1211,1211,842
34The Ponds High SchoolThe Ponds1,1181,1182,318
35Turramurra High SchoolSouth Turramurra1,1181,118986
36Epping Boys High SchoolEastwood1,1171,1171,491
37Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys CampusBalgowlah1,1151,1151,099
38Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls CampusManly Vale1,1151,1151,021
39Riverside Girls High SchoolGladesville1,1141,114660
40Sydney Secondary College Balmain CampusPartiallyRozelle1,1121,112854
41Carlingford High SchoolCarlingford1,1111,1111,772
42Pennant Hills High SchoolPennant Hills1,1091,1091,130
43Bradfield CollegeSt Leonards1,1081,108292
44Rose Bay Secondary CollegePartiallyDover Heights1,1071,1071,125
45Hunters Hill High SchoolHunters Hill1,1041,104789
46Inner Sydney High SchoolSurry Hills1,1041,1041,160
47Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt CampusPartiallyLeichhardt1,1041,104784
48Crestwood High SchoolBaulkham Hills1,1031,1031,021
49Ryde Secondary CollegePartiallyRyde1,1021,1021,486
50Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior CampusFreshwater1,0981,098646

Most language diversity

Share of students with a language background other than English. Top 30 of 426 schools with data.

#SchoolSuburbMost language diversityICSEAStudents
1Bankstown Senior CollegeBankstown100%847544
2Belmore Boys High SchoolBelmore98%953614
3Auburn Girls High SchoolPartiallyAuburn97%966853
4Girraween High SchoolFullyGirraween97%1,199782
5James Ruse Agricultural High SchoolAgriculturalCarlingford97%1,222857
6Parramatta High SchoolPartiallyParramatta97%1,1321,128
7Canley Vale High SchoolCanley Vale96%9541,651
8Granville Boys High SchoolPartiallyGranville96%961832
9Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High SchoolGuildford96%855733
10Punchbowl Boys High SchoolPunchbowl96%923472
11Wiley Park Girls High SchoolPunchbowl96%954588
12Beverly Hills Girls High SchoolBeverly Hills95%1,0031,003
13Birrong Boys High SchoolBirrong95%937366
14Cabramatta High SchoolCabramatta95%9341,622
15North Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyNorth Sydney95%1,195933
16Sydney Technical High SchoolFullyBexley95%1,136906
17Bankstown Girls High SchoolBankstown94%964551
18Baulkham Hills High SchoolFullyBaulkham Hills94%1,2031,222
19Fairfield High SchoolFairfield94%8781,123
20Hornsby Girls High SchoolFullyHornsby94%1,209720
21North Sydney Girls High SchoolFullyCrows Nest94%1,203911
22Penrith High SchoolFullyPenrith94%1,186928
23Sefton High SchoolPartiallySefton94%1,0331,121
24St George Girls High SchoolFullyKogarah94%1,148908
25Chester Hill High SchoolChester Hill93%9121,056
26Fairvale High SchoolFairfield West93%9121,320
27Sydney Boys High SchoolFullyMoore Park93%1,1891,202
28Condell Park High SchoolCondell Park92%936876
29Homebush Boys High SchoolHomebush92%1,043891
30Macarthur Girls High SchoolParramatta92%1,071997