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Top 100 public high schools in New South Wales (2025)

Government schools offering secondary years. Ranked by the Success Index from official ACARA data; 100 schools shown out of all eligible public high schools in New South Wales.

  1. 1
    86
    Conservatorium High SchoolSydney · Government SecondaryICSEA 1194 · 156 students
  2. 2
    86
    Bradfield CollegeSt Leonards · Government SecondaryICSEA 1108 · 322 students
  3. 3
    83
    Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior CampusFreshwater · Government SecondaryICSEA 1098 · 647 students
  4. 4
    83
    Cammeraygal High SchoolCrows Nest · Government SecondaryICSEA 1135 · 905 students
  5. 5
    81
    Chatswood High SchoolChatswood · Government SecondaryICSEA 1137 · 2,147 students
  6. 6
    80
    Willoughby Girls High SchoolWilloughby · Government SecondaryICSEA 1152 · 1,036 students
  7. 7
    80
    Hurlstone Agricultural High SchoolGlenfield · Government SecondaryICSEA 1147 · 934 students
  8. 8
    80
    Parramatta High SchoolParramatta · Government SecondaryICSEA 1132 · 1,128 students
  9. 9
    79
    The Ponds High SchoolThe Ponds · Government SecondaryICSEA 1118 · 2,321 students
  10. 10
    79
    St Ives High SchoolSt Ives · Government SecondaryICSEA 1125 · 1,756 students
  11. 11
    79
    Girraween High SchoolGirraween · Government SecondaryICSEA 1199 · 784 students
  12. 12
    79
    Ku-ring-gai High SchoolNorth Turramurra · Government SecondaryICSEA 1088 · 536 students
  13. 13
    79
    Normanhurst Boys High SchoolNormanhurst · Government SecondaryICSEA 1207 · 752 students
  14. 14
    78
    Jerrabomberra High SchoolJerrabomberra · Government SecondaryICSEA 1068 · 333 students
  15. 15
    78
    Killarney Heights High SchoolKillarney Heights · Government SecondaryICSEA 1132 · 969 students
  16. 16
    78
    Hornsby Girls High SchoolHornsby · Government SecondaryICSEA 1209 · 722 students
  17. 17
    78
    Hunters Hill High SchoolHunters Hill · Government SecondaryICSEA 1104 · 790 students
  18. 18
    77
    Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay CampusGlebe · Government SecondaryICSEA 1094 · 798 students
  19. 19
    77
    Wentworth Point High SchoolWentworth Point · Government SecondaryICSEA 1062 · 188 students
  20. 20
    77
    Penrith High SchoolPenrith · Government SecondaryICSEA 1186 · 930 students
  21. 21
    77
    Cherrybrook Technology High SchoolCherrybrook · Government SecondaryICSEA 1146 · 2,098 students
  22. 22
    77
    Gosford High SchoolGosford · Government SecondaryICSEA 1157 · 1,067 students
  23. 23
    77
    Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly CampusNorth Curl Curl · Government SecondaryICSEA 1217 · 766 students
  24. 24
    76
    Crestwood High SchoolBaulkham Hills · Government SecondaryICSEA 1103 · 1,022 students
  25. 25
    76
    Sydney Technical High SchoolBexley · Government SecondaryICSEA 1136 · 907 students
  26. 26
    76
    Baulkham Hills High SchoolBaulkham Hills · Government SecondaryICSEA 1203 · 1,223 students
  27. 27
    76
    North Sydney Boys High SchoolCrows Nest · Government SecondaryICSEA 1195 · 933 students
  28. 28
    76
    Inner Sydney High SchoolSurry Hills · Government SecondaryICSEA 1104 · 1,161 students
  29. 29
    76
    Sydney Secondary College Balmain CampusRozelle · Government SecondaryICSEA 1112 · 854 students
  30. 30
    75
    Sydney Boys High SchoolMoore Park · Government SecondaryICSEA 1189 · 1,205 students
  31. 31
    75
    Killara High SchoolKillara · Government SecondaryICSEA 1147 · 1,803 students
  32. 32
    75
    Lindfield Learning VillageLindfield · Government CombinedICSEA 1152 · 803 students
  33. 33
    75
    Marrickville High SchoolMarrickville · Government SecondaryICSEA 1052 · 625 students
  34. 34
    75
    Merewether High SchoolBroadmeadow · Government SecondaryICSEA 1206 · 1,080 students
  35. 35
    75
    Newtown High School of Performing ArtsNewtown · Government SecondaryICSEA 1127 · 1,145 students
  36. 36
    75
    Caringbah High SchoolCaringbah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1172 · 908 students
  37. 37
    74
    Smiths Hill High SchoolWollongong · Government SecondaryICSEA 1186 · 736 students
  38. 38
    74
    St George Girls High SchoolKogarah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1148 · 908 students
  39. 39
    73
    Pennant Hills High SchoolPennant Hills · Government SecondaryICSEA 1109 · 1,131 students
  40. 40
    73
    Marsden High SchoolMeadowbank · Government SecondaryICSEA 1050 · 1,298 students
  41. 41
    73
    Riverside Girls High SchoolGladesville · Government SecondaryICSEA 1114 · 665 students
  42. 42
    73
    Carlingford High SchoolCarlingford · Government SecondaryICSEA 1111 · 1,772 students
  43. 43
    73
    Cheltenham Girls High SchoolBeecroft · Government SecondaryICSEA 1142 · 1,436 students
  44. 44
    73
    Mosman High SchoolMosman · Government SecondaryICSEA 1126 · 1,087 students
  45. 45
    73
    North Sydney Girls High SchoolCrows Nest · Government SecondaryICSEA 1203 · 916 students
  46. 46
    73
    Tempe High SchoolTempe · Government SecondaryICSEA 1096 · 985 students
  47. 47
    72
    Kirrawee High SchoolKirrawee · Government SecondaryICSEA 1092 · 1,185 students
  48. 48
    72
    Sydney Girls High SchoolSurry Hills · Government SecondaryICSEA 1193 · 929 students
  49. 49
    72
    Castle Hill High SchoolCastle Hill · Government SecondaryICSEA 1121 · 1,845 students
  50. 50
    72
    Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and DesignDulwich Hill · Government SecondaryICSEA 1092 · 804 students
  51. 51
    72
    Fort Street High SchoolPetersham · Government SecondaryICSEA 1176 · 917 students
  52. 52
    71
    James Ruse Agricultural High SchoolCarlingford · Government SecondaryICSEA 1222 · 857 students
  53. 53
    71
    Kellyville High SchoolKellyville · Government SecondaryICSEA 1086 · 869 students
  54. 54
    71
    Epping Boys High SchoolEastwood · Government SecondaryICSEA 1117 · 1,493 students
  55. 55
    71
    Ryde Secondary CollegeRyde · Government SecondaryICSEA 1102 · 1,487 students
  56. 56
    71
    Glenwood High SchoolGlenwood · Government SecondaryICSEA 1090 · 1,507 students
  57. 57
    71
    Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer CampusCromer · Government SecondaryICSEA 1056 · 1,157 students
  58. 58
    71
    Rouse Hill High SchoolRouse Hill · Government SecondaryICSEA 1067 · 1,316 students
  59. 59
    71
    Randwick High SchoolRandwick · Government SecondaryICSEA 1071 · 1,461 students
  60. 60
    71
    Macquarie Fields High SchoolMacquarie Fields · Government SecondaryICSEA 1081 · 1,091 students
  61. 61
    70
    James Cook Boys High SchoolKogarah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1022 · 473 students
  62. 62
    70
    Moorefield Girls High SchoolKogarah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1025 · 372 students
  63. 63
    70
    Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High SchoolNorthmead · Government SecondaryICSEA 1069 · 1,239 students
  64. 64
    70
    Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys CampusBalgowlah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1115 · 1,100 students
  65. 65
    70
    Barrenjoey High SchoolAvalon Beach · Government SecondaryICSEA 1081 · 865 students
  66. 66
    70
    Muirfield High SchoolNorth Rocks · Government SecondaryICSEA 1082 · 836 students
  67. 67
    69
    Strathfield Girls High SchoolStrathfield · Government SecondaryICSEA 1077 · 1,063 students
  68. 68
    69
    Ashfield Boys High SchoolAshfield · Government SecondaryICSEA 1074 · 751 students
  69. 69
    69
    Wollongong High School of the Performing ArtsFairy Meadow · Government SecondaryICSEA 1075 · 1,169 students
  70. 70
    69
    Cumberland High SchoolCarlingford · Government SecondaryICSEA 1060 · 1,173 students
  71. 71
    69
    Canterbury Boys High SchoolCanterbury · Government SecondaryICSEA 1018 · 422 students
  72. 72
    68
    Sydney Distance Education High SchoolWoolloomooloo · Government SecondaryICSEA 1032 · 615 students
  73. 73
    68
    Davidson High SchoolFrenchs Forest · Government SecondaryICSEA 1089 · 790 students
  74. 74
    68
    Asquith High SchoolAsquith · Government SecondaryICSEA 1082 · 669 students
  75. 75
    68
    Melonba High SchoolMelonba · Government SecondaryICSEA 1073 · 704 students
  76. 76
    68
    The Forest High SchoolFrenchs Forest · Government SecondaryICSEA 1062 · 769 students
  77. 77
    68
    Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls CampusManly Vale · Government SecondaryICSEA 1115 · 1,023 students
  78. 78
    67
    Blacktown Boys High SchoolBlacktown · Government SecondaryICSEA 1053 · 898 students
  79. 79
    67
    Kotara High SchoolAdamstown · Government SecondaryICSEA 1066 · 1,130 students
  80. 80
    67
    Katoomba High SchoolKatoomba · Government SecondaryICSEA 1034 · 862 students
  81. 81
    67
    Lambton High SchoolLambton · Government SecondaryICSEA 1057 · 1,176 students
  82. 82
    67
    Central Sydney Intensive English High SchoolAlexandria · Government SecondaryICSEA 1037 · 142 students
  83. 83
    67
    Blacktown Girls High SchoolBlacktown · Government SecondaryICSEA 1046 · 1,080 students
  84. 84
    67
    Turramurra High SchoolSouth Turramurra · Government SecondaryICSEA 1118 · 987 students
  85. 85
    66
    Blaxland High SchoolBlaxland · Government SecondaryICSEA 1065 · 998 students
  86. 86
    66
    Bulli High SchoolBulli · Government SecondaryICSEA 1058 · 979 students
  87. 87
    66
    Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt CampusLeichhardt · Government SecondaryICSEA 1104 · 784 students
  88. 88
    65
    Rose Bay Secondary CollegeDover Heights · Government SecondaryICSEA 1107 · 1,127 students
  89. 89
    65
    Bungendore High SchoolBungendore · Government SecondaryICSEA 1026 · 197 students
  90. 90
    64
    South Sydney High SchoolMaroubra · Government SecondaryICSEA 1037 · 796 students
  91. 91
    64
    Kincumber High SchoolKincumber · Government SecondaryICSEA 1045 · 1,002 students
  92. 92
    64
    Pendle Hill High SchoolWentworthville · Government SecondaryICSEA 1001 · 692 students
  93. 93
    64
    Endeavour Sports High SchoolCaringbah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1040 · 1,381 students
  94. 94
    63
    Galston High SchoolGalston · Government SecondaryICSEA 1044 · 570 students
  95. 95
    63
    Macarthur Girls High SchoolParramatta · Government SecondaryICSEA 1071 · 997 students
  96. 96
    63
    Engadine High SchoolEngadine · Government SecondaryICSEA 1051 · 1,063 students
  97. 97
    63
    Farrer Memorial Agricultural High SchoolCalala · Government SecondaryICSEA 1025 · 606 students
  98. 98
    63
    Finigan School of Distance EducationQueanbeyan · Government CombinedICSEA 1067 · 84 students
  99. 99
    63
    Yanco Agricultural High SchoolYanco · Government SecondaryICSEA 1009 · 319 students
  100. 100
    63
    Burwood Girls High SchoolCroydon · Government SecondaryICSEA 1086 · 1,084 students

There are 453 public high schools in New South Wales eligible for this list; the top 100 are shown. Conservatorium High School in Sydney is ranked first with a Success Index of 86.3 and an ICSEA of 1194. 100 of the top 100 are government schools and 0 are Catholic or independent; the median ICSEA across the list is 1097.

The top 10 public high schools in New South Wales for 2025 are: 1. Conservatorium High School (Sydney); 2. Bradfield College (St Leonards); 3. Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus (Freshwater); 4. Cammeraygal High School (Crows Nest); 5. Chatswood High School (Chatswood); 6. Willoughby Girls High School (Willoughby); 7. Hurlstone Agricultural High School (Glenfield); 8. Parramatta High School (Parramatta); 9. The Ponds High School (The Ponds); 10. St Ives High School (St Ives).

Download this table as CSV · free to reuse with attribution to ACARA and Success Tutoring

Public High Schools in:AustraliaSydneyNewcastleCentral CoastWollongong

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best public secondary school in New South Wales?

Conservatorium High School in Sydney ranks first among public high schools in New South Wales with a Success Index of 86.3 out of 100 and an ICSEA of 1194.

How are public high schools in New South Wales ranked?

Each school's Success Index combines five factors from ACARA's 2025 school profile data: ICSEA (50%), share of students in the top socio-educational quarter (15%), students per teacher (15%), five-year enrolment growth (10%) and five-year ICSEA trend (10%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type nationally. Schools with fewer than 80 students are excluded.

How many public schools are in the top 100 public high schools in New South Wales?

100 of the top 100 public high schools in New South Wales are government schools; 0 are Catholic or independent.

Do these rankings include NAPLAN or ATAR results?

Not yet. ACARA does not publish school-level NAPLAN results in bulk, and ATAR results are released by state authorities in different formats. The Success Index uses the measures ACARA publishes for every school so that all schools are compared on identical data. Where a school publishes its own results we link to its website.