South West Sydney has one fully selective school, Hurlstone Agricultural High School in Glenfield, plus seven partially selective schools spread from Bankstown to Narellan. Together they offer more than 600 Year 7 selective places, and for many families they're far closer than the North Shore or Hills schools.
The schools at a glance
| School | Suburb | Students | Type | Year 7 places | 2025 HSC rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurlstone Agricultural High School | Glenfield | Co-ed | Agricultural (day and boarding) | 180 | 43 |
| Macquarie Fields High School | Macquarie Fields | Co-ed | Partially selective | 90 | n/a |
| Sefton High School | Sefton | Co-ed | Partially selective | 88 | 78 |
| Bonnyrigg High School | Bonnyrigg | Co-ed | Partially selective | 60 | n/a |
| Moorebank High School | Moorebank | Co-ed | Partially selective | 60 | n/a |
| Prairiewood High School | Wetherill Park | Co-ed | Partially selective | 60 | n/a |
| Elizabeth Macarthur High School | Narellan Vale | Co-ed | Partially selective | 60 | n/a |
| Leppington High School (provisional name) | Leppington | Co-ed | Partially selective | 30 | n/a |
Every school in the region is co-ed.
Hurlstone Agricultural High School
Hurlstone, in Glenfield, is one of NSW's four agricultural high schools and offers day and boarding places, with 180 Year 7 places in total. Agriculture is compulsory in Years 7 to 10, on a working farm campus. It ranked 43rd in NSW in 2025. Read our Hurlstone guide.
Sefton High School
Sefton, near Bankstown and Chester Hill, has the largest selective intake of the partially selective schools in the area, with 88 places. It ranked 78th in NSW in 2025. Read our Sefton guide.
Other partially selective schools
- Macquarie Fields High School: 90 places, one of the largest partially selective intakes in NSW
- Bonnyrigg and Prairiewood: 60 places each, serving the Fairfield and Liverpool areas
- Moorebank: 60 places
- Elizabeth Macarthur, Narellan Vale: 60 places, for families in Camden and Campbelltown
- Leppington (provisional name): a newer school with 30 places, serving Sydney's growing south-west
Opportunity classes in South West Sydney
OC classes for Years 5 and 6 run at Bradbury, Camden South, Casula, Georges Hall, Greenacre, Harrington Street (Cabramatta), Holsworthy, Leumeah, Newbridge Heights, Picnic Point, St Andrews, St Johns Park and Tahmoor public schools. See our OC schools list.
Choosing between them
- Fully selective and close by: Hurlstone is the region's only fully selective option. The next nearest are Girraween and Baulkham Hills to the north, or Caringbah and the St George schools to the east.
- A shorter trip: a partially selective school near home is a strong choice, especially for younger students who'd otherwise face a long commute.
- Three preferences: many families list one fully selective school and one or two partially selective schools nearby.
See all Sydney selective schools by region, Western Sydney and St George and Sutherland.
Preparing for the test
Applications for 2028 entry open on 5 November 2026 and close on 15 February 2027. The test is on 13 and 14 May 2027. See our NSW Selective practice tests and selective test sample questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fully selective school in South West Sydney? Yes. Hurlstone Agricultural High School in Glenfield, which also offers boarding.
What's the difference between fully and partially selective? At a fully selective school, every student enters through the selective test. A partially selective school has selective classes alongside local students.
Are the partially selective schools easier to get into? The department doesn't publish entry scores. Demand usually depends on the number of places and how many students list the school.
Sources: NSW Department of Education, selective school list and places for 2027 entry; 2025 HSC rankings compiled from the NESA Distinguished Achievers list. Not affiliated with the NSW Department of Education or any school.