In our search for the best high schools in Australia, Sydney and the surrounding areas stopped us dead in our tracks. What a staggering number of schools - nearly 1700 of them! We were saved from a tidal wave of data to analyse by two factors: focusing only on Greater Sydney and only on secondary schools.
That reduced our data pile to a trifling 299 schools, not including the 191 combined (Primary through Year 12) schools.
Ten shy of 500 schools isn't anything to turn one's nose up at, of course. But compared to the number of schools in other major Australian cities, we have to conclude that Sydney is the mother lode.
Find out what we discovered in our quest to determine the best schools Sydney!
What Are the Top Schools in Sydney?
With such a large selection of schools, there's only one way to compile a list of top secondary schools: by analysing data. Once we selected and organised our variables, we found out which Sydney-area schools rank at the top.
Here are the top 10 public schools and the top 10 private schools Sydney.
| Rank | Schools | Sector | Location | Total Enrolments (2023) | Median ATAR (2023) | ATAR >90% (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Ruse Agricultural High School | Public | Carlingford | 849 | unknown | unknown |
| 2 | Baulkham Hills High School | Public | Baulkham Hills | 1211 | unknown | 87 |
| 3 | North Sydney Boys High School | Public | Crows Nest | 927 | unknown | unknown |
| 4 | North Sydney Girls High School | Public | Crows Nest | 909 | unknown | unknown |
| 5 | Sydney Boys High School | Public | Moore Park | 1207 | unknown | 68.1 |
| 6 | Hornsby Girls High School | Public | Hornsby | 715 | 94.15 | unknown |
| 7 | Sydney Girls High School | Public | Surry Hills | 928 | unknown | unknown |
| 8 | Normanhurst Boys High School | Public | Normanhurst | 768 | unknown | >55 |
| 9 | Fort Street High School | Public | Petersham | 912 | unknown | 70 |
| 10 | Girraween High School | Public | Girraween | 783 | unknown | unknown |
| 1 | Sydney Grammar School | Private | Darlinghurst | 1893 | unknown | 59 |
| 2 | Abbotsleigh | Private | Wahroonga | 1580 | 93.5 | 45 |
| 3 | St Aloysius' College | Private | Kirribilli | 1299 | unknown | unknown |
| 4 | Meriden School | Private | Strathfield | 1647 | 93.1 | 38 |
| 5 | Reddam House | Private | Woollahra, Bondi | ~120 | unknown | 40 |
| 6 | Knox Grammar School | Private | Wahroonga | 3268 | 93 | unknown |
| 7 | Al-Faisal College | Private | Auburn | 2174 | unknown | unknown |
| 8 | Tara Anglican School for Girls | Private | North Parramatta | 875 | unknown | 28 |
| 9 | Pymble Ladies College | Private | Pymble | 2377 | 90.45 | 33 |
| 10 | Al Noori Muslim School | Private | Greenacre | 2296 | unknown | unknown |
Now, while data is an important factor in any decision, it’s far from the only factor you should take into consideration when deciding on a high school to attend.
Exam scores can be indicative of the overall quality of education in an institution, but that data point on its own does not provide a full look at the school in terms of curriculum, teaching and learning methods, campus culture, and extra-curricular activities.
Make sure you research more about the specific aspects that are important to you personally before you make a choice!
Let’s review the criteria used to rank these 20 schools and discuss what they tell us.
Ranking the Best High Schools in Sydney
To determine the top schools in Sydney, we compared enrolment numbers, English and Maths exam results and State Overall scores. That number reflects the overall academic ranking of a school.
Regarding Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) results, not every school releases the same information, if any. We’ve included the readily available information. In many Australian states, like high schools in Queensland for example, the information is sparse to the point where it’s almost meaningless since there isn’t a lot to compare.
- Government, independent and Catholic schools offer technology studies. Photo by Mr. Bochelly on Unsplash
Once we had all our data, one glaring difference jumped out at us. All of the other Australian city schools we studied followed the global trend of private schools outranking public schools on practically every metric. In Sydney, the opposite is true!
Sydney private schools rankings reveal larger student bodies, lower State Overall scores and lower socio-economic status backgrounds than the public schools. What an interesting trend that completely subverts the status quo throughout the rest of the country!
With these datapoints plotted, it’s time to look a little more in-depth at the best of the best schools.
Private High Schools Sydney Rankings
We don't need to rehash our surprise at Sydney's private and independent school statistics. The higher enrolment numbers and lower socio-economic student backgrounds surprised us. Typically, parents choose private education for their learners because those schools tout lower teacher-student ratios and charge higher fees. From a statistics perspective, Sydney is an outlier.
With all that said, these private schools in Sydney still boast impressive statistics and aspects of student life.
We applied the same methods with Sydney-area high schools as we did while examining high schools in Perth.
- Statistics show that the top Australian schools, both government and private, excel in Maths and English education. Photo by Getty via Unsplash
Sydney Grammar School
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Well Above Average
Year 9: Well Above Average
Sydney Grammar School tops our list of private and independent learning centres. It's also the only private school to claim a perfect State Overall score (100). Its Darlinghurst campus welcomed 1900 students last school year. This all-boys school is considered one of the most expensive schools in Australia.
Like every high school on our list, public and private, Sydney Grammar School teaches the eight nationally recognised key subjects. This core curriculum comprises English, Maths and Science, Physical Education, Humanities, Technology and Languages and Arts. Sydney Grammar students have a long list of electives to round out their education, everything from modern languages to visual arts.
Abbotsleigh
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Well Above Average
Year 9: Well Above Average
The other nine schools on our list of best private schools in Sydney achieved a 99 State Overall score. Abbotsleigh, with its 1550 students, claims its place directly under Sydney Grammar. This Anglican day and boarding school for girls offers a less expansive catalogue of electives; it makes up for that with a dizzying array of extracurricular activities.
Students can engage in a variety of pursuits, including sports like rowing and netball, as well as performing arts such as drama and music. The school also offers leadership programs and community service initiatives.
St Aloysius’ College
2023 NAPLAN Scores
Year 7: Above Average
Year 9: Above Average
The college's stunning campus features beautiful architecture and scenic views of Sydney Harbour. Furthermore, St Aloysius’ is deeply committed to community service, encouraging students to engage in social justice initiatives, fostering a sense of responsibility and leadership.
The college offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports like rugby, cricket, and swimming, promoting teamwork and physical fitness. Additionally, students can participate in various cultural pursuits such as drama, music, and visual arts, with opportunities to join the college choir and bands.
Near-rival Melbourne has many comparable schools but none as expansive as the private Al-Faisal College.
Top Schools in Sydney: Public High Schools
All of our government Top School picks achieved a 100 State Overall Score and, like the private schools, took top marks in English and Maths. However, only two public schools boasted more than 1000 students: Baulkham Hills High School (1211) and Sydney Boys High School (1207).
- Physical education and athletics are integral parts of the Australian curriculum in public and private secondary schools. Photo by Philippa Rose-Tite on Unsplash
James Ruse Agricultural High School
2023 NAPLAN Scores
Year 7: Well Above Average
Year 9: Well Above Average
One could hardly talk about the best high schools in Sydney without mentioning James Ruse Agricultural High School. Ruse, as it's affectionately called, isn't just the best public school in Sydney. By all accounts, this high school ranks the highest academically in all of Australia. Ruse has claimed its top spot in New South Wales (NSW) school rankings for a record 32 consecutive years.
Ruse stands out for three more reasons, the first being its low student body: only 849 learners graced this campus in 2023. The majority of students hailing from a non-English language background is the second remarkable Ruse statistic. Mandatory agricultural studies round out this trifecta of educational progress. Even the best schools in the Australian Capital Territory fall short on these distinctions.
Baulkham Hills High School
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Well Above Average
Year 9: Well Above Average
Like Ruse, Baulkham is academically selective, meaning that students must apply for enrolment. The application process involves sitting a Selective High School Placement Test; enrolments are granted based on merit. Once a student is accepted and placed in their Year, they are grouped by individual abilities and strengths. For instance, a student who tests poorly in English will be placed with similarly-abled students to benefit from special instruction. The inverse is also true if a student excels at Maths, they will learn with others who are gifted in that subject.
North Sydney Boys High School
2023 NAPLAN Scores
Year 7: Well Above Average
Year 9: Well Above Average
North Sydney Boys High School is a prestigious public school in Sydney, renowned for its strong academic performance and commitment to excellence. As a selective school, it offers a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for higher education, emphasising subjects like mathematics, science, and humanities. The school consistently ranks among the top in the state, producing outstanding HSC results.
Beyond academics, North Sydney Boys provides an exciting assortment of extracurricular activities. Students can participate in sports such as cricket, soccer, and basketball, as well as cultural pursuits like music, drama, and debating. The school also has a strong emphasis on leadership and community service, encouraging students to engage in various outreach programs.
Best High Schools in Sydney
After all this, which are the best high schools in Sydney? Government schools have a lot going for them in Sydney but they tend to be more exclusive. Selective admissions were rare for high schools in Adelaide, as well as every other city we visited.
But data can only take you so far; what you want in your high school experience is what matters. The Australian government guarantees you an education, albeit at the high school you're zoned for. That might not be the right school for your learning goals so it's a good thing that the NSW government funds so many selective schools.
This city has so many great schools to choose from! North Sydney Boys School and its Girls School counterpart, both are outstanding for the number of High School Certificate (HSC) Distinguished Achievers. Fort Street High School and Girraween High, both are notable for being coeducational on an otherwise gendered list of schools.
The best high school in Sydney is the one you will attend, regardless of what the data say. The school's amenities and extracurriculars enhance your learning experience but learning is what school is all about.
This article means to help you find the right learning experiences for your academic goals. So make sure to consider this information and use the school holidays as the moment to determine the best choice for you.
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Hi. Thanks for the insightful post. Where could I get the list of Sydney high school rankings from your assessment?