NSW selective high schools are consistently among the top-performing schools in the state. In this section, we present the top 30 selective schools in New South Wales as of 2025, based on the latest available HSC results (the 2024 HSC outcomes). These rankings are determined by the “success rate” – the percentage of exam entries that achieved a Band 6 or E4 result (i.e. scored 90 or above). The higher the success rate, the higher the school’s ranking. All schools listed here are either fully selective or partially selective public high schools.
Purpose of This List
This list is targeted at parents considering selective schools for their child, offering a snapshot of the academically strongest selective schools in NSW. For each school, we include its 2024 HSC performance rank among all schools (in parentheses) and some context. Notably, almost all of these schools are fully selective unless indicated as partially selective. “Top 30 selective schools” essentially covers the majority of fully selective high schools in NSW, since there are 21 fully selective high schools statewide, plus a few high-performing partial selectives that make the cut.
Rankings Can Fluctuate
Academic rankings can fluctuate year to year. However, the schools below have established a strong track record. Many are familiar names that appear in top ranks annually. Use this as a guide, but remember other factors (location, school culture, specific programs) are also important in choosing a school.
Top 30 Selective Schools in NSW
Note that overall rankings are relative to all schools in NSW, including non-selective public high schools and private schools.
1. North Sydney Boys High School (Overall Rank 1)
Success rate: 64.9%. A fully selective boys’ school in Crows Nest, North Sydney Boys was the top performing school in NSW for the 2024 HSC. It’s renowned for its strong STEM programs and consistently high results.
2. James Ruse Agricultural High School (Rank 2)
Success rate: 62.9%. A co-educational fully selective school in Carlingford, James Ruse has an agricultural focus. It held the #1 spot for decades until 2024. It still produced stellar results (e.g., multiple students with ATAR 99.95 in 2024) and is famous for its intensive academic environment.
3. Normanhurst Boys High School (Rank 4)
Success rate: 55.0%. A fully selective boys’ school in Sydney’s north (Normanhurst), known for strong science and math achievements. In 2024 it climbed to the top 5 with over half of all exam entries scoring Band 6.
4. Baulkham Hills High School (Rank 6)
Success rate: 54.1%. A fully selective co-ed school in Baulkham Hills (north-west Sydney). Baulkham Hills consistently ranks in the top 10 and is known for its large cohort and breadth of high achievers.
5. Hornsby Girls High School (Rank 7)
Success rate: 52.0%. A fully selective girls’ school in Hornsby. It had an extremely strong 2024, with about 52% of exams scoring 90+. Notably, nearly half of its Year 12 girls were All-Rounders (scoring Band 6 in at least 10 units).
6. North Sydney Girls High School (Rank 8)
Success rate: 50.1%. A fully selective girls’ school (the counterpart to NS Boys) also located in Crows Nest. North Sydney Girls regularly appears in the top 10; in 2024, it had just over 50% of results in Band 6.
7. Sydney Boys High School (Rank 9)
Success rate: 49.4%. A fully selective boys’ school in Surry Hills, with a long history (est. 1883) and part of the GPS network of schools. It’s known for balancing academics with sports. In 2024 it remained in the top 10 with 49% of exams at Band 6.
8. Conservatorium High School (Rank 13)
Success rate: ~45.4%. A unique fully selective school in Sydney focused on music (students audition for entry). Despite its small size, “Con High” had a success rate around 45%, reflecting strong academic results alongside intensive music studies.
9. Northern Beaches Secondary College – Manly Campus (Rank 15)
Success rate: 44.6%. This is a fully selective co-ed campus in Manly (often simply called “Manly Selective”). It’s part of the Northern Beaches Secondary College. Manly Selective’s results in 2024 were excellent (around 44-45% Band 6 rate), placing it in the top 15 schools overall.
10. Sydney Girls High School (Rank 17)
Success rate: 43.1%. A fully selective girls’ school in Surry Hills (the sister school to Sydney Boys). It has a rich history and consistently produces strong outcomes (43% Band 6 in 2024). Sydney Girls offers a broad curriculum and is known for both academics and extracurriculars like music and leadership programs.
11. Fort Street High School (Rank 28)
Success rate: 38.2%. A fully selective co-ed school in Petersham with a proud history dating to 1849. Fort Street is famed for its alumni and academic culture. In 2024 it had about 38% of exam results in Band 6, keeping it among the top 30 schools in NSW.
12. Merewether High School (Rank 29)
Success rate: 35.7%. A fully selective co-ed school in Newcastle (Broadmeadow). It’s one of the top schools outside Sydney, with 35.7% Band 6 rate. Merewether consistently ranks as the top performer in the Hunter region.
13. Penrith High School (Rank 30)
Success rate: 35.3%. A fully selective co-ed school in Western Sydney (Penrith). Penrith Selective had a 35.3% success rate in 2024. It’s known for a friendly, community-oriented culture and solid results.
14. Girraween High School (Rank 32)
Success rate: ~35.1%. A fully selective co-ed school in Western Sydney (Girraween). Girraween’s success rate is typically in the mid-30% range. It’s a smaller selective school (around 800 students) and often in the top 20–30 schools academically.
15. St George Girls High School (Rank 38)
Success rate: 32.2%. A fully selective girls’ school in Kogarah (southern Sydney). St George Girls had about 32% of exams score Band 6 in 2024. It’s a long-established school that regularly ranks in the top echelon, especially among girls’ schools.
16. Hurlstone Agricultural High School (Rank 44)
Success rate: 28.6%. A fully selective co-ed school with a boarding option, historically at Glenfield (southwest Sydney). In 2024, Hurlstone Ag High’s success rate was ~28.6%. Aside from academics, it offers a unique agriculture program.
17. Sydney Technical High School (Rank 51)
Success rate: 26.8%. A fully selective boys’ school in Bexley (southern Sydney). “Sydney Tech” had about 26.8% Band 6 results. It specializes in science and technology and has a history of strong performances in STEM subjects.
18. Gosford High School (Rank 53)
Success rate: 26.0%. A fully selective co-ed school on the Central Coast (Gosford). Gosford High is the only fully selective school on the Central Coast and had a 26% Band 6 rate in 2024, making it the top school in its region.
19. Smiths Hill High School (Rank 54)
Success rate: 25.5%. A fully selective co-ed school in Wollongong. Smiths Hill is the Illawarra region’s selective campus and scored a 25.5% success rate. It regularly appears in the top 50 schools, representing the South Coast’s highest achievers.
20. Chatswood High School (Rank 58)
Success rate: ~25.1%. A partially selective co-ed school in Chatswood (North Shore Sydney). Chatswood has both local students and an “Academy” selective stream (60 selective places). It had about 25% Band 6 results in 2024. Notably, Chatswood’s selective stream has been competitive, and the school’s HSC performance has rivaled some fully selective schools.
21. Caringbah High School (approx. Rank 80)
Success rate: ~20.7%. A fully selective co-ed school in Caringbah (southern Sydney, Sutherland Shire). Caringbah is somewhat smaller and in 2024 achieved around 20.7% of exams in Band 6. While a bit lower in percentage than the larger Sydney selectives, it’s still within the top 100 schools and is the premier school in the Shire region.
22. Macquarie Fields High School (approx. Rank 89)
Success rate: ~18.8%. A partially selective co-ed school in Macquarie Fields (southwest Sydney). Macquarie Fields has a selective stream alongside local students. Its success rate is around 18–19%. This placed it just inside the top 100 overall.
23. Sefton High School (approx. Rank 90)
Success rate: ~17–18%. A partially selective co-ed school in Sefton (Western Sydney). Sefton runs both selective and community classes. In recent HSCs its Band 6 percentage has been in the high teens. It is known for strong science results and a disciplined academic culture.
24. Ryde Secondary College (Rank 98)
Success rate: 18.1%. A partially selective co-ed school in Ryde (Northern Sydney). Ryde has about 60 selective students per year mixed with local intake. In 2024, it attained an 18.1% success rate. Its HSC performance places it just within the top 100, reflecting the boost from its selective stream.
25. Parramatta High School (Rank 99)
Success rate: 18.0%. A partially selective co-ed school in Parramatta (Western Sydney). Parramatta High is one of the oldest schools in NSW and offers 60 selective places. Its success rate was about 18.0%. It achieves commendable results while serving a diverse student body.
26. Prairiewood High School (Rank ~100–110)
Success rate: ~19–20%. A partially selective co-ed school in Wetherill Park (western Sydney) with 60 selective places. In recent years Prairiewood’s HSC success rate has been around 19-20%, likely placing it just around the 100th rank mark.
27. Auburn Girls High School (Rank ~100–120)
Success rate: ~15–19%. A partially selective girls’ school in Auburn (Western Sydney). Auburn Girls has 30 selective seats for academically talented girls. Its HSC performance trend shows success rates in the mid-to-high teens in recent years (e.g., ~17% in 2024).
28. Blacktown Boys High School (Rank ~120+)
Success rate: ~15%. A partially selective boys’ school in Blacktown (Western Sydney) with 30 selective spots. While its overall HSC rank is lower, the selective stream has improved outcomes. It provides a valuable selective option for families in Western Sydney.
29. Rose Bay Secondary College (Rank ~110–130)
Success rate: ~16%. A partially selective co-ed school in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs (Dover Heights) with 60 selective places. Rose Bay’s selective cohort helps drive strong results – the school often ranks just outside the top 100.
30. Bonnyrigg High School (Rank ~120–140)
Success rate: ~12–16%. A partially selective co-ed school in Bonnyrigg (South-West Sydney) with a larger selective intake (60 students). While its percentage of Band 6 results is lower compared to the schools above, its selective cohort is raising the school’s academic profile.
Sources of Data
The rankings and success rates above are drawn from the 2024 HSC results compiled in early 2025. These give the most updated picture of school performance. Keep in mind that small year-to-year shifts can occur. While North Sydney Boys topped 2024, James Ruse remains close behind. Here, we have listed only selective public schools.
How to Use This List
If you are a parent of a Year 5 or 6 student aiming for selective school placement, this list shows you the current high-achieving selective schools. It can be a starting point for deeper research into each school’s offerings. All these schools require high entry exam scores. However, don’t be deterred by rank alone – consider the fit for your child, whether that be a smaller community, a single-sex environment, or a partially selective school with a broader student mix.
Conclusion
NSW is fortunate to have many excellent selective schools. The top 30 listed here have proven records of academic excellence. Choosing among them may come down to location, culture, subject strengths, and your child’s preferences. Regardless of rank, all selective schools provide an environment of high expectations and support for academic talent, which can greatly benefit students ready to thrive in such a setting.
