North Sydney Girls High School (Crows Nest) and Sydney Girls High School (Moore Park) are Sydney's two largest girls' selective schools. In the 2025 HSC, North Sydney Girls ranked fourth in NSW and Sydney Girls ranked 13th, up from 17th. Both are excellent. For most families, location decides it.
Side by side
| North Sydney Girls | Sydney Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Crows Nest | Surry Hills (Moore Park) |
| Year 7 places (2027) | 150 | 180 |
| 2025 HSC rank | 4th | 13th |
| 2025 top-band results | 60.5% (549 results) | 44.2% (442 results) |
| 2024 HSC rank | Not reported | 17th |
| Brother school next door | North Sydney Boys | Sydney Boys |
HSC results
North Sydney Girls is ahead, with six in ten HSC results in the top band in 2025. Sydney Girls rose four places to 13th. As with all selective schools, the results reflect a very strong intake, and both schools send most of their graduates to university.
Size and school life
Sydney Girls is the larger school, with 180 places a year. That typically means more electives and co-curricular groups. North Sydney Girls, with 150, is slightly smaller. Both are next door to their brother school, which brings joint music, drama and social events.
Location and travel
- North Sydney Girls is in Crows Nest, near Crows Nest metro station and St Leonards station. It suits families north of the harbour and along the metro line.
- Sydney Girls is near Moore Park, a short trip from Central. It suits the city, inner west, eastern suburbs and south.
The other girls' selective schools
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 HSC rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Sydney Girls | Crows Nest | 150 | 4 |
| Hornsby Girls | Hornsby | 120 | 8 |
| Sydney Girls | Surry Hills | 180 | 13 |
| St George Girls | Kogarah | 150 | 45 |
Hornsby Girls ranked eighth in 2025 and suits families on the upper North Shore and in the Hills. St George Girls suits families south of the city. Many families list two or three of these schools.
Which should you choose?
| Choose North Sydney Girls if your daughter... | Choose Sydney Girls if your daughter... |
|---|---|
| lives north of the harbour | lives in the city, east, south or inner west |
| wants the higher-ranked school on HSC results | wants a larger school with more electives |
Read our guides to North Sydney Girls and Sydney Girls, and see all Sydney selective schools by region.
Entry
Neither school publishes a cut-off. Order your preferences by where your daughter would most like to go. Putting a school first gives no extra chance, and a higher offer means you won't get a lower one.
Preparing for the test
For 2028 entry, applications close on 15 February 2027 and the test is on 13 and 14 May 2027. Our NSW Selective practice tests include 8 full timed mocks with worked explanations and human-marked writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is North Sydney Girls better than Sydney Girls? North Sydney Girls ranked higher in the 2025 HSC (4th vs 13th). Both are excellent, and travel usually decides.
What is the best girls' selective school in NSW? By 2025 HSC results, North Sydney Girls (4th), followed by Hornsby Girls (8th).
Can my daughter list several girls' schools? Yes. You can list up to three selective schools, in order of preference.
Sources: NSW Department of Education, selective school list and places for 2027 entry; 2025 HSC rankings compiled from the NESA Distinguished Achievers list; school websites. Not affiliated with either school.