Schools in Sydney 2026 — Public, Private and Catholic Schools Guide for Greater Sydney

Schools in Sydney 2026 — Overview

Sydney has one of Australia's most complex and competitive school environments — a mix of NSW Government public schools, Catholic schools and a large independent private school sector. This guide explains how to find schools in Sydney, how school zones work and what to consider when choosing a school. nsw.gov.au/education

Public Schools in Sydney

NSW public schools are operated by the NSW Department of Education. Most public schools operate within a defined catchment zone — your residential address determines which local school you are zoned for. Check your school zone at education.nsw.gov.au/find-a-school. education.nsw.gov.au

Selective High Schools

Sydney is home to most of NSW's selective high schools — selective entry based on Year 7 test results. The top selective schools include James Ruse Agricultural High School (consistently ranked #1 in NSW), Sydney Boys High, Sydney Girls High, North Sydney Boys, North Sydney Girls, Normanhurst Boys, Normanhurst Girls and Baulkham Hills High. Applications open annually in March for the following year's Year 7 entry. education.nsw.gov.au

Private and Independent Schools

Sydney has Australia's largest cluster of elite independent schools — GPS schools (Sydney Boys/Girls Grammar, Kings, Cranbrook, Shore, Scots, SCEGGS, Kincoppal-Rose Bay, MLC), Catholic independent schools and a range of progressive independent schools. Enrolment waiting lists for top schools often extend 10+ years. ais.nsw.edu.au

NAPLAN

Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students sit NAPLAN (National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy) annually. School-level NAPLAN results are published at myschool.edu.au — a key reference for comparing schools. myschool.edu.au

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