Best Sydney Schools In 2026 – Top Public, Private & Selective High School ATAR Rankings In Sydney, NSW – Complete Sydney Schools Guide for Parents & Students

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.

Top 10 High Schools In Sydney (Based on 2025 HSC Rankings)

The following list is based on academic performance data, such as Band 6 percentages from the 2025 HSC. It includes public, private, and selective schools.

2025 School Ranking	School	Type	Success Rate (%)	Total HSC exam entries	Band 6 Count	2024 School Ranking
1	North Sydney Boys High School	Selective Public	71.6	926	663	1
2	James Ruse Agricultural High School	Selective Public	70.43	1001	705	2
3	Sydney Grammar School	Private	60.99	1251	763	3
4	North Sydney Girls High School	Selective Public	60.46	908	549	8
5	Normanhurst Boys High School	Selective Public	57.73	750	433	4
6	Sydney Boys High School	Selective Public	54.19	1205	653	9
7	Baulkham Hills High School	Selective Public	51.53	1209	623	6
8	Hornsby Girls High School	Selective Public	51.05	711	363	7
9	St Aloysius’ College	Private	48.03	1016	488	14
10	Reddam House	Private	46.99	830	390	5
11	Abbotsleigh	Private	45.58	1086	495	10
12	Ascham School	Private	45.43	634	288	23
13	Sydney Girls High School	Selective Public	44.24	999	442	17
14	Ravenswood School for Girls	Private	42.68	806	344	40
15	Conservatorium High School	Selective Public	42.55	235	100	13
16	Presbyterian Ladies’ College – Sydney	Private	42.41	922	391	35
17	Penrith Selective High School	Selective Public	41.66	917	382	30
18	Pymble Ladies’ College	Private	40.63	1585	644	21
19	Roseville College	Private	40.58	690	280	25
20	Fort Street High School	Selective Public	40.2	898	361	28
21	SCEGGS Darlinghurst	Private	39.02	656	256	16
22	Merewether High School	Non-Selective Public	38.71	1041	403	29
23	Al-Faisal College	Private	38.59	710	274	22
24	Meriden School	Private	38.11	1186	452	11
25	Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus	Public Comprehensive	38.01	784	298	15
26	Girraween High School	Selective Public	37.83	801	303	32
27	SHORE – Sydney Church of England Grammar School	Private	37.59	1237	465	26
28	Alpha Omega Senior College	Private	36.07	671	242	19
29	Knox Grammar School	Private	35.97	2013	724	18
30	Loreto Kirribilli	Private	35.44	821	291	20
31	Caringbah High School	Selective Public	34.36	876	301	80
32	Queenwood	Private	34.1	519	177	36
33	Gosford High School	Selective Public	33.84	993	336	53
34	Kincoppal – Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart	Private	33.76	628	212	68
35	Wenona School	Private	33.75	954	322	27
36	Kambala	Private	33.7	451	152	12
37	Northholm Grammar School	Private	33.2	244	81	31
38	St Catherine’s School – Waverley	Private	33.14	703	233	24
39	Tara Anglican School for Girls	Private	32.45	567	184	66
40	Loreto Normanhurst	Private	31.35	1008	316	63
41	Al Noori Muslim School	Private	30.86	674	208	39
42	The King’s School	Private	30.82	1353	417	34
43	Hurlstone Agricultural High School	Selective Public	29.39	1041	306	44
44	Parramatta Marist High School	Private	29.28	724	212	59
45	St George Girls High School	Private	29.02	858	249	38
46	Sydney Tech High School	Public Comprehensive	28.64	817	234	51
47	Cranbrook School	Private	28.44	981	279	43
48	Brigidine College St Ives	Private	27.87	818	228	95
49	Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College	Private	27.54	944	260	65
50	Barker College	Private	27.51	1963	540	47
51	Emanuel School	Private	27.08	480	130	42
52	Newington College	Private	26.86	1046	281	127
53	Brigidine College Randwick	Private	26.65	668	178	67
54	Tangara School for Girls	Private	25.64	234	60	87
55	The Illawarra Grammar School	Private	25.42	472	120	74
56	Frensham School	Private	25.13	382	96	50
57	Willoughby Girls High School	Non-Selective Public	24.97	757	189	55
58	MLC School	Private	24.95	477	119	139
59	Saint Ignatius’ College	Private	24.94	1335	333	71
60	Moriah College	Private	24.82	552	137	33
61	Newcastle Grammar School	Private	24.7	668	165	84
62	Smiths Hill High School	Selective Public	24.63	751	185	54
63	Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus	Public Comprehensive	24.5	796	195	64
64	Chatswood High School	Non-Selective Public	24.12	1526	368	58
65	St Luke’s Grammar School	Private	23.54	735	173	45
66	St Vincent’s College	Private	23.54	786	185	85
67	St Patrick’s College, Strathfield	Private	23.48	1056	248	89
68	Masada College	Private	23.36	244	57	37
69	Marist Catholic College North Shore	Private	23.16	531	123	76
70	Danebank – An Anglican School for Girls	Private	22.67	419	95	52
71	St Augustine’s College Sydney	Private	22.64	1038	235	62
72	St Joseph’s College (Hunters Hill)	Private	22.47	1037	233	88
73	Cherrybrook Technology High School	Selective Public	22.17	1764	391	94
74	St Andrew’s Cathedral School	Private	22.12	669	148	136
75	Cheltenham Girls High School	Non-Selective Public	22.06	1251	276	57
76	Mount St Benedict College	Private	22.05	839	185	77
77	St Clare’s College	Private	21.77	611	133	48
78	Sefton High School	Selective Public	21.53	957	206	129
79	Santa Sabina College	Private	21.49	684	147	86
80	Bethany College	Private	21.45	858	184	82
81	The Scots College	Private	21.33	1172	250	41
82	Pittwater House Schools	Private	20.92	564	118	49
83	Waverley College	Private	20.45	929	190	115
84	International Grammar School	Private	20.34	590	120	79
85	Georges River Grammar	Private	20.28	434	88	199
86	Lindfield Learning Village	Public Comprehensive	20.27	222	45	103
87	Oxley College	Private	20.1	403	81	100
88	St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox College	Private	19.79	283	56	108
89	Killarney Heights High School	Public Comprehensive	19.59	827	162	110
90	St Spyridon College	Private	19.56	363	71	81
91	Central Coast Grammar School	Private	19.45	653	127	46
92	Rose Bay Secondary College	Public Comprehensive	19.41	979	190	109
93	Stella Maris College	Private	19.35	589	114	96
94	Parramatta High School	Selective Public	19.35	1023	198	99
95	Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta	Private	19.31	865	167	70
96	Cammeraygal High School	Public Comprehensive	18.93	750	142	121
97	Newtown High School of Performing Arts	Public Specialised	18.66	1013	189	56
98	Covenant Christian School	Private	18.36	414	76	133
99	Marist Catholic College Penshurst	Private	18.16	804	146	97
100	Epping Boys High School	Non-Selective Public	17.72	1230	218	60

Summary & Insights

Dominance of selective schools: The top 10 are all selective public schools and leading private institutions separating themselves academically.
Non-selective standouts: Merewether High School (rank 22), Willoughby Girls High School (57), Chatswood High school (64), Cheltenham Girls High School(75) and Epping Boys High School (100) are the highest-ranking non-selective public schools.
Private school performance: Prestigious private schools like Sydney Grammar School (3), St Aloysius’ College (9), Reddam House (10), and Abbotsleigh (11) maintain strong academic results.
Regional growth: Western Sydney schools like Penrith Selective High (17) are noted for rapid improvements in HSC performance

What Are The Best Selective 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.

If you'd like to learn everything about the selective school entry exam, make sure to check out our comprehensive breakdown! Currently 7 of the top 10 schools are selective - they are:

North Sydney Boys High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School
North Sydney Girls High School
Normanhurst Boys High School
Sydney Boys High School
Baulkham Hills High School
Hornsby Girls High School

🎥

Choosing between public and private high schools has been a debate for the ages - we try to settle it in our YouTube video below 👇

What Are The Best Public (non-seletive) Schools In Sydney?

School	Description
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.

What Are The Best Private Schools In Sydney?

School	Description
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.

How To Choose 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
Fees

What Our Students & Parents Say

600+ Five-Star reviews across all our tutoring programs — hear why below!👇

Conclusion On The Best Sydney Schools

Sydney's education landscape offers exceptional opportunities across selective, private, and public schools, but success isn't determined by school type alone. While selective schools like James Ruse and North Sydney Boys consistently top the rankings, strong public schools like Chatswood High and Epping Boys prove that excellent outcomes are achievable everywhere.

The key is matching your child's learning style, academic goals, and family circumstances with the right educational environment. Whether you're preparing for competitive selective school entry, considering private school options, or maximising success at your local high school, what matters most is providing the right support for your child to thrive.

If you're after more resources, check these out! 👇

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

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

FAQs About The Best Sydney Schools

1. What Is the top high school in Sydney?

Both James Ruse Agricultural High School & North Sydney Boys High School are currently considered the 'top' high schools in Sydney.

2. What Is the hardest high school to get into in Sydney?

The hardest high school to get into in Sydney is James Ruse Agricultural High School - students require a selective score test of about 250 or more out of 300. Closely behind is Baulkham Hills & North Sydney Boys High Schools, which both require a selective score test of around 230 or more.

3. What are the top 10 best schools in Sydney?

The top 10 schools in Sydney, based on 2025 HSC rankings include:

North Sydney Boys High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School
Sydney Grammar School
North Sydney Girls High School
Normanhurst Boys' High School
Sydney Boys High School
Baulkham Hills High School
Hornsby Girls High School
St Aloysius’ College
Reddam House

4. Which suburb has the best schools in Sydney?

Suburbs with the best high schools in Sydney include but are not limited to:

- Carlingford
- Epping
- Randwick
- Hornsby
- Hills shire

Note that there is no single best suburb as it largely depends on what factors you're taking into account - the suburbs listed above are in close proximity to some of the top performing schools in Sydney.

5. What subjects does KIS tutor for high school students?

All HSC subjects including advanced mathematics, sciences, English, and humanities with specialised tutors for each area
Entrance exam preparation for selective schools, private school scholarships, and university admissions

Sydney’s best selective, public & private high schools

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