The 2025 NSW HSC results are officially out, and for thousands of students across the state, the long wait is finally over. With ATARs released in December, families are once again asking the same big questions: How did students perform overall this year? And which schools stood out?
Below, we break down the key trends from the 2025 HSC results and take a closer look at the top-performing schools in NSW, based on consistent academic outcomes across their cohorts.
KIS Summary:
- Overview of the HSC 2025 ATAR results
- Ranks top schools based on the 2025 HSC ATAR result.
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How did NSW students perform in the 2025 HSC?
Overall, the 2025 results point to another strong and competitive year for NSW students.
Across the state:
- Around 12% of all results achieved a Band 6 (or E4)
- Roughly 42% of results fell within the top two bands
- Nearly three quarters of all results were in the top three bands
More than 20,000 students achieved at least one Band 6, highlighting just how competitive top results have become in the modern HSC.
What this tells us: Band 6 outcomes are no longer rare — but earning them consistently across multiple subjects still sets students (and schools) apart.
How are “top schools” actually ranked?
Most published HSC rankings don’t focus on a handful of very high ATARs. Instead, they use a measure called HSC success rate, which looks at:
The proportion of a school’s exam entries that achieved a Band 6 or E4
This rewards schools that deliver consistent high-level performance across their entire cohort, rather than those with only a few standout students.
That said, rankings don’t capture everything — factors like student growth, wellbeing, subject diversity, and cohort size all matter too. Rankings are useful, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle.
Top performing schools in NSW – HSC 2025
Based on publicly available data and Band 6 success rates, here are the top 20 performing schools in NSW for the 2025 HSC.
| School | Band 6 / E4 Success Rate | Exam Entries | Band 6 / E4 Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Sydney Boys High School | 71.60% | 926 | 663 |
| 2 | James Ruse Agricultural High School | 70.43% | 1001 | 705 |
| 3 | Sydney Grammar School | 60.99% | 1251 | 763 |
| 4 | North Sydney Girls High School | 60.46% | 908 | 549 |
| 5 | Normanhurst Boys High School | 57.73% | 750 | 433 |
| 6 | Sydney Boys High School | 54.19% | 1205 | 653 |
| 7 | Baulkham Hills High School | 51.53% | 1209 | 623 |
| 8 | Hornsby Girls High School | 51.05% | 711 | 363 |
| 9 | St Aloysius’ College | 48.03% | 1016 | 488 |
| 10 | Reddam House | 46.99% | 830 | 390 |
| 11 | Abbotsleigh | 45.58% | 1086 | 495 |
| 12 | Ascham School | 45.43% | 634 | 288 |
| 13 | Sydney Girls High School | 44.24% | 999 | 442 |
| 14 | Ravenswood School for Girls | 42.68% | 806 | 344 |
| 15 | Conservatorium High School | 42.55% | 235 | 100 |
| 16 | Presbyterian Ladies’ College Sydney | 42.41% | 922 | 391 |
| 17 | Penrith Selective High School | 41.66% | 917 | 382 |
| 18 | Pymble Ladies’ College | 40.63% | 1585 | 644 |
| 19 | Roseville College | 40.58% | 690 | 280 |
| 20 | Fort Street High School | 40.20% | 898 | 361 |
Selective Public Schools (NSW) – HSC 2025
| Rank (Overall) | School | Band 6 / E4 Success Rate | Exam Entries | Band 6 / E4 Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Sydney Boys High School | 71.60% | 926 | 663 |
| 2 | James Ruse Agricultural High School | 70.43% | 1001 | 705 |
| 4 | North Sydney Girls High School | 60.46% | 908 | 549 |
| 5 | Normanhurst Boys High School | 57.73% | 750 | 433 |
| 6 | Sydney Boys High School | 54.19% | 1205 | 653 |
| 7 | Baulkham Hills High School | 51.53% | 1209 | 623 |
| 8 | Hornsby Girls High School | 51.05% | 711 | 363 |
| 13 | Sydney Girls High School | 44.24% | 999 | 442 |
| 15 | Conservatorium High School | 42.55% | 235 | 100 |
| 17 | Penrith Selective High School | 41.66% | 917 | 382 |
| 20 | Fort Street High School | 40.20% | 898 | 361 |
Independent (Private) Schools – HSC 2025
| Rank (Overall) | School | Band 6 / E4 Success Rate | Exam Entries | Band 6 / E4 Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sydney Grammar School | 60.99% | 1251 | 763 |
| 9 | St Aloysius’ College | 48.03% | 1016 | 488 |
| 10 | Reddam House | 46.99% | 830 | 390 |
| 11 | Abbotsleigh | 45.58% | 1086 | 495 |
| 12 | Ascham School | 45.43% | 634 | 288 |
| 14 | Ravenswood School for Girls | 42.68% | 806 | 344 |
| 16 | Presbyterian Ladies’ College Sydney | 42.41% | 922 | 391 |
| 18 | Pymble Ladies’ College | 40.63% | 1585 | 644 |
| 19 | Roseville College | 40.58% | 690 | 280 |
What patterns stand out in 2025?
Selective schools continue to dominate the top of the rankings, particularly in Sydney’s North Shore and inner-city areas. Their strength comes from depth — strong performance across English, maths and sciences, not just a narrow set of subjects.
That said, independent schools remain highly competitive, with several placing comfortably inside the top 20. These schools tend to perform well across a broad mix of humanities, sciences and extension subjects.
Most importantly, the rankings show that consistency matters more than a single headline ATAR. Schools that convert a high percentage of exam entries into Band 6 results rise to the top year after year.
What students can take away from top-performing schools
You don’t need to attend a top-ranked school to achieve a strong ATAR. What really makes the difference is adopting the habits these schools promote:
- Starting exam-style practice early
- Using marking criteria to guide study
- Building strong essay and problem-solving frameworks
- Treating Year 12 as a structured, long-term project — not a last-minute sprint
At KIS Academics, we help students apply these strategies to their own subjects and school context, whether they’re aiming for a Band 6, a scholarship, or simply a calmer and more confident HSC year.
For more study tips and resources, check out these KIS Academics articles:
Manoj Arachige
Manoj Arachige
Manoj ArachigeFAQs
Where can I find more information about ATAR results?
- The NSW government website
- For more HSC study guides, check this out.
How hard is it to get a 99.95 ATAR?
Only the top 0.05% of students get the perfect ATAR of 99.95, so it is definitely difficult, but not impossible. Find out how this KIS Academics tutor achieved this feat in this article.
How do I choose the best school for me?
Consider factors like how far away the school is from you, school fees, the facilities the school has to support your passions and interests etc.
Talk to your parents, friends, teachers, and perhaps students from the schools you're interested in too! Make a pros and cons list and make your decision then!
