Nowra High School
Updated Oct 2026 · ACARA 2025Nowra, New South Wales 2541 · Shoalhaven LGA
#442 of 539 high schools in NSW
#1206 of 1,472 nationally
About Nowra High School
Nowra High School is a public high school located in Nowra, New South Wales (2541), within the Shoalhaven local government area. It caters for students from 7 to 12 and in 2025 enrolled 777 students (416 girls and 361 boys).
Nowra High School has an ICSEA value of 944, indicating below-average socio-educational advantage. That places it in the 22nd percentile of Australian schools. 7% of students come from the top socio-educational quarter and 46% from the bottom quarter.
The school employs 71 teachers (66.7 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 11.6 to 1. Enrolments have fallen by 13% over the past five years.
On the Success Index, Nowra High School scores 29.1 out of 100, placing it in the lower 50% of secondary schools nationally and 442nd of 539 secondary schools in NSW (5th of 6 in the Shoalhaven area).
Success Index breakdown
Each component is a percentile against schools of the same type across Australia.
- Socio-educational advantage (ICSEA) (50%)ICSEA 944
- Students in the top advantage quarter (15%)7% of students
- Teacher resourcing (students per teacher) (15%)11.6 students per teacher
- Enrolment growth vs local area (5 years) (10%)-13% enrolments since 2020 (area median -5%)
- ICSEA trend (5 years) (10%)-17 ICSEA points since 2020
The Success Index summarises the academic environment of a school community using official ACARA data. It is not a measure of teaching quality or student results. Read the methodology.
Student profile
Distribution of students across socio-educational advantage (SEA) quarters, plus community characteristics.
Enrolments by year level
How Nowra High School's 777 students are spread across year levels in 2025.
Enrolment trend
How enrolments at Nowra High School have changed over the past decade.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track at Nowra High School?
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Schools near Nowra High School
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index.
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
Nowra · Catholic primary · K-6
537 students · ICSEA 994 · 1.2 km away
Nowra East Public School
Nowra East · Government primary · P-6
420 students · ICSEA 784 · 1.3 km away
Nowra Public School
Nowra · Government primary · K-6
517 students · ICSEA 904 · 1.3 km away
Shoalhaven River College
Bomaderry · Independent special · 9-12
48 students · ICSEA 931 · 1.8 km away
Nowra Anglican College
Bomaderry · Independent combined · K-12
1,152 students · ICSEA 1094 · 1.8 km away
Terara Public School
Terara · Government primary · K-6
96 students · ICSEA 1009 · 1.9 km away
Illaroo Road Public School
North Nowra · Government primary · K-6
451 students · ICSEA 992 · 2.3 km away
Bomaderry Public School
Bomaderry · Government primary · K-6
406 students · ICSEA 908 · 2.7 km away
St John the Evangelist Catholic High School
Nowra · Catholic high school · 7-12
935 students · ICSEA 1028 · 2.9 km away
Shoalhaven High School
Nowra · Government high school · 7-12
610 students · ICSEA 862 · 2.9 km away
Similar schools
Government secondary schools in NSW with a comparable ICSEA.
Goulburn High School
Goulburn · Government high school · 7-12
648 students · ICSEA 943
Canowindra High School
Canowindra · Government high school · 7-12
239 students · ICSEA 945
Hawkesbury High School
Freemans Reach · Government high school · 7-12
418 students · ICSEA 946
Wyong High School
Wyong · Government high school · 7-12
674 students · ICSEA 946
Glendale Technology High School
Glendale · Government high school · 7-12
802 students · ICSEA 946
Billabong High School
Culcairn · Government high school · 7-12
312 students · ICSEA 946
Frequently asked questions
Is Nowra High School a public or private school?
Nowra High School is a public (government) school run by the New South Wales education department.
What year levels does Nowra High School offer?
Nowra High School offers 7 to 12. It is classified by ACARA as a secondary school.
How many students attend Nowra High School?
In 2025, Nowra High School had 777 enrolled students (416 girls, 361 boys), a change of -13% over five years.
What is the ICSEA of Nowra High School?
Nowra High School has an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of 944. The national average is 1000, so this indicates below-average socio-educational advantage. ICSEA reflects the school community, not teaching quality.
How does Nowra High School rank in NSW?
Nowra High School ranks 442nd of 539 secondary schools in New South Wales on the Success Index (29.1/100), and 1206th of 1,472 nationally.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at Nowra High School?
Nowra High School has about 11.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher, based on 2025 ACARA staffing data.
How big is the Year 7 cohort at Nowra High School?
In 2025, Nowra High School had 142 students in Year 7 and 85 in Year 12.
Is Nowra High School co-ed?
Yes. Nowra High School is a co-educational school enrolling both girls and boys.
What other schools are near Nowra High School?
There are 10 other schools within 15 km of Nowra High School in our database. Scroll up to the "Nearby schools" section to compare them by Success Index, ICSEA and enrolments, or use the Compare tool.
Where can I get tutoring near Nowra High School?
The closest Success Tutoring centre is Success Tutoring Camden, about 90 km from the school. Success Tutoring offers a free academic assessment to identify your child's strengths and learning gaps before any sessions begin.