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Sydney’s Best High Schools: Public, Private & Selective Rankings (UPDATED 2025 ✅)

Explore the best high schools in Sydney, ranked by performance. Compare public, private, and selective options now.

11 days ago   •   7 min read

By Manoj Arachige
Photo by April Pethybridge / Unsplash

Choosing the right high school is one of the most important decisions for any family. Whether you’re looking for a strong academic track record, values-based education, or elite selective entry, Sydney has a wide range of excellent options. In this guide, we break down the top public (non-selective), private, and selective high schools in Sydney — and finish with a full list of the Top 100 schools based on academic performance.

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🏫 Best Non-Selective Public High Schools:

  • Willoughby Girls High School – Strong HSC results and well-rounded programs.
  • Cherrybrook Technology High School – A large, high-performing school with a STEM focus.
  • Epping Boys High School – Excellent academic and sporting programs.
  • Chatswood High School – Consistently good NAPLAN and HSC outcomes.
  • Caringbah High School (Partially Selective) – Offers a mix of selective and local enrolments.
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🌟 Best Private High Schools:

  • Reddam House, Bondi – Ranked #1 in HSC results multiple years.
  • Sydney Grammar School – Renowned for its academic focus and classical education.
  • Pymble Ladies’ College – One of the top-performing girls’ schools in NSW.
  • The King’s School – Historic school with a strong academic and leadership program.
  • Abbotsleigh, Wahroonga – Frequently among the top 5 girls' schools in Sydney.
📚 Applying to a private school with entrance testing or scholarship exams? KIS Academics offers tailored tutoring to help your child shine.

Top Selective High Schools in Sydney

Selective high schools admit students based on their academic performance, usually through the Selective Schools Test. These schools often dominate HSC performance rankings.

Everything You Need to Know about the Selective School Entry Exam in NSW
Is your child preparing for the NSW Selective School Entry Exam? From key dates to test tips and preparation strategies, this guide covers everything you need to know to help them stand out and secure a spot at a top selective high school.
KIS Academics BlogManoj Arachige

🎯 Top Selective Schools:

  • James Ruse Agricultural High School – Australia’s #1 academic school for 25+ years.
  • North Sydney Boys High School
  • Baulkham Hills High School
  • Sydney Girls High School
  • Hornsby Girls High School
  • Normanhurst Boys High School
  • Sydney Boys High School
  • Fort Street High School

Selective schools provide an academically challenging environment that pushes students to excel. But getting in is competitive — preparation is key.

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Top 100 High Schools in Sydney (Based on 2024 HSC Rankings)

The following list is based on academic performance data, such as Band 6 percentages from the 2024 HSC. It includes public, private, and selective schools.

Rank School Name Type 2024 Success Rate (%) Band 6 Count Exam Entries
1 North Sydney Boys High School Selective Public 64.9 564 869
2 James Ruse Agricultural High School Selective Public 62.9 647 1,029
3 Sydney Grammar School Private 56.4 667 1,183
4 Normanhurst Boys High School Selective Public 55.0 433 788
5 Reddam House, Bondi Private 54.9 406 739
6 Baulkham Hills High School Selective Public 54.1 661 1,221
7 Hornsby Girls High School Selective Public 52.0 353 679
8 North Sydney Girls High School Selective Public 50.1 450 899
9 Sydney Boys High School Selective Public 49.4 604 1,223
10 Abbotsleigh Private 48.9 514 1,052
11 Meriden School Private 48.1 419 872
12 Kambala Private 45.9 236 514
13 St Aloysius’ College Private 44.7 438 979
14 Northern Beaches Secondary College – Manly Campus Public Comprehensive 44.6 350 785
15 SCEGGS Darlinghurst Private 44.3 300 678
16 Sydney Girls High School Selective Public 43.1 444 1,030
17 Knox Grammar School Private 42.9 890 2,077
18 Alpha Omega Senior College Private 42.5 293 689
19 Loreto Kirribilli Private 41.5 333 802
20 Pymble Ladies’ College Private 41.5 663 1,597
21 Al‑Faisal College – Auburn Private 41.4 285 688
22 Ascham School Private 40.7 250 615
23 St Catherine’s School – Waverley Private 39.5 288 729
24 Roseville College Private 39.4 253 643
25 SHORE – Sydney Church of England Grammar School Private 39.3 461 1,173
26 Wenona School Private 39.3 336 856
27 Fort Street High School Selective Public 38.2 334 875
28 Merewether High School Non‑Selective Public 35.7 372 1,042
29 Penrith Selective High School Selective Public 35.3 324 919
30 Northholm Grammar School Private 35.1 78 222
31 Girraween High School Selective Public 35.1 282 803
32 Moriah College Private 34.6 244 705
33 The King’s School Private 34.3 459 1,340
34 Presbyterian Ladies’ College – Sydney Private 33.6 310 923
35 Queenwood Private 33.6 153 456
36 Masada College Private 32.6 59 181
37 St George Girls High School Selective Public 32.2 258 801
38 Al Noori Muslim School Private 30.4 164 540
39 Ravenswood School for Girls Private 29.9 193 646
40 The Scots College Private 29.2 306 1,049
41 Emanuel School Private 28.6 134 468
42 Cranbrook School Private 28.6 259 905
43 Hurlstone Agricultural High School Selective Public 28.6 299 1,047
44 St Luke’s Grammar School Private 28.2 210 744
45 Central Coast Grammar School Private 28.1 184 654
46 Barker College Private 27.6 529 1,920
47 St Clare’s College Private 27.5 145 528
48 Pittwater House Schools Private 27.0 131 485
49 Frensham School Private 27.0 96 356
50 Sydney Tech High School Public Comprehensive 26.8 220 821
51 Danebank – An Anglican School for Girls Private 26.8 154 575
52 Gosford High School Selective Public 26.0 299 1,149
53 Smiths Hill High School Selective Public 25.5 179 702
54 Willoughby Girls High School Non‑Selective Public 25.3 211 834
55 Newtown High School of Performing Arts Public Specialised 25.3 233 922
56 Cheltenham Girls High School Non‑Selective Public 25.2 313 1,242
57 Chatswood High School Non‑Selective Public 25.1 364 1,452
58 Parramatta Marist High School Private 25.1 182 726
59 Epping Boys High School Non‑Selective Public 24.9 250 1,003
60 St Augustine’s College Sydney Private 24.2 268 1,106
61 Loreto Normanhurst Private 23.9 238 996
62 Northern Beaches Secondary College – Balgowlah Boys Campus Public Comprehensive 23.8 169 710
63 Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College Private 23.6 182 772
64 Tara Anglican School for Girls Private 23.5 131 558
65 Brigidine College Randwick Private 23.5 150 639
66 Kincoppal – Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart Private 23.4 142 606
67 The Hills Grammar School Private 23.2 95 410
68 Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta Private 22.8 196 861
69 Saint Ignatius’ College Private 22.7 299 1,318
70 Carlingford High School Non‑Selective Public 22.3 265 1,183
71 Arden Anglican School Private 22.3 117 525
72 Marist Catholic College North Shore Private 21.4 110 515
73 Mount St Benedict College Private 21.1 150 712
74 Macarthur Anglican School Private 21.0 113 537
75 International Grammar School Private 20.8 129 620
76 Caringbah High School Selective Public 20.7 189 915
77 St Spyridon College Private 20.7 82 397
78 Bethany College Private 20.3 179 883
79 Newcastle Grammar School Private 20.2 118 585
80 St Vincent’s College Private 20.1 135 672
81 Santa Sabina College Private 20.0 106 529
82 Tangara School for Girls Private 20.0 54 270
83 St Joseph’s College (Hunters Hill) Private 19.6 220 1,123
84 St Patrick’s College, Strathfield Private 19.4 196 1,013
85 Killara High School Selective Public 19.2 280 1,457
86 All Saints Grammar Private 19.0 31 163
87 St Ursula’s College Private 19.0 170 896
88 Redfield College Private 18.9 34 180
89 Cherrybrook Technology High School Selective Public 18.8 349 1,854
90 Brigidine College St Ives Private 18.7 134 716
91 Stella Maris College Private 18.6 139 749
92 Marist Catholic College Penshurst Private 18.1 131 722
93 Ryde Secondary College Public Comprehensive 18.1 161 891
94 Parramatta High School Selective Public 18.0 179 994
95 Strathfield Girls High School Public Comprehensive 17.2 163 948
96 Burwood Girls High School Public Comprehensive 17.1 163 956
97 St Columba Anglican School Private 16.8 95 567
98 Castle Hill High School Public Comprehensive 16.7 275 1,648
99 St George Christian School Private 16.6 59 356
100 Rose Bay Secondary College Public Comprehensive 16.4 150 916

How Are Schools Ranked in NSW?
Choosing the right school for your child is a tough but important decision. School rankings can help provide insights into academic performance, extracurricular opportunities, and school culture. But how exactly are schools ranked in NSW, and how should parents interpret these rankings?
KIS Academics BlogManoj Arachige

Summary & Insights

  • Dominance of selective schools: The top 10 are all selective public schools and leading private institutions separating themselves academically.
  • Non-selective standouts: Carlingford High (rank 70), Chatswood High (57), Epping Boys (59), and Cheltenham Girls (56) are the highest-ranking non-selective public schools.
  • Private school performance: Prestigious private schools like Reddam House (#5), Abbotsleigh (#10), Knox Grammar (#17), and SHORE (#25) maintain strong academic results.
  • Regional growth: Western Sydney schools like Penrith Selective High (#29) are noted for rapid improvements in HSC performance

Choosing the Right High School in Sydney

While academic results are important, also consider:

  • School culture and values
  • Distance from home
  • Co-curricular opportunities
  • Teaching quality
  • Support services
✅ Whether you’re preparing for selective school entry or just want to improve grades, KIS Academics can help. Get matched with a top tutor today.

Want personalised study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!

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