Sydney has 14 fully selective high schools, 2 agricultural selective high schools and 20 partially selective high schools. Every one is a free public school, and families can apply to any of them, wherever they live. You can list up to three in order of preference.
The biggest factor for most families is travel. Your child will make the trip twice a day for six years. This guide groups every Sydney selective school by region, with Year 7 places for 2027 entry and its 2025 HSC rank, so you can see what's realistically within reach.
Sydney's selective schools at a glance
| Region | Fully selective and agricultural schools | Partially selective schools |
|---|---|---|
| North Shore and Northern Beaches | North Sydney Boys, North Sydney Girls, Hornsby Girls, Normanhurst Boys, Northern Beaches SC Manly | Chatswood, Ryde SC |
| Western Sydney | James Ruse, Baulkham Hills, Girraween, Penrith | Parramatta, Blacktown Boys, Blacktown Girls, Granville Boys, Auburn Girls, Richmond Agricultural College |
| South West Sydney | Hurlstone Agricultural | Sefton, Macquarie Fields, Bonnyrigg, Moorebank, Prairiewood, Elizabeth Macarthur, Leppington |
| Inner West, City and East | Sydney Boys, Sydney Girls, Fort Street | Sydney SC Balmain, Sydney SC Leichhardt, Tempe, Rose Bay SC, Alexandria Park |
| St George and Sutherland | St George Girls, Sydney Technical, Caringbah | None |
Fully selective and agricultural schools
| School | Suburb | Students | Year 7 places | 2025 HSC rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Sydney Boys High School | Crows Nest | Boys | 150 | 1 |
| James Ruse Agricultural High School | Carlingford | Co-ed | 120 | 2 |
| North Sydney Girls High School | Crows Nest | Girls | 150 | 4 |
| Normanhurst Boys High School | Normanhurst | Boys | 120 | 5 |
| Sydney Boys High School | Surry Hills | Boys | 180 | 6 |
| Baulkham Hills High School | Baulkham Hills | Co-ed | 180 | 7 |
| Hornsby Girls High School | Hornsby | Girls | 120 | 8 |
| Sydney Girls High School | Surry Hills | Girls | 180 | 13 |
| Penrith High School | Penrith | Co-ed | 150 | 17 |
| Fort Street High School | Petersham | Co-ed | 150 | 20 |
| Northern Beaches SC, Manly Campus | North Curl Curl | Co-ed | 120 | 25 |
| Girraween High School | Girraween | Co-ed | 120 | 26 |
| Caringbah High School | Caringbah | Co-ed | 150 | 31 |
| Hurlstone Agricultural High School | Glenfield | Co-ed | 180 | 43 |
| St George Girls High School | Kogarah | Girls | 150 | 45 |
| Sydney Technical High School | Bexley | Boys | 150 | 46 |
HSC ranks are by 2025 success rate (the share of HSC exam results in the top band). See our full NSW selective schools ranking.
Boys, girls or co-ed?
| Boys | Girls | Co-ed |
|---|---|---|
| North Sydney Boys, Normanhurst Boys, Sydney Boys, Sydney Technical | North Sydney Girls, Hornsby Girls, Sydney Girls, St George Girls | James Ruse, Baulkham Hills, Penrith, Fort Street, NBSC Manly, Girraween, Caringbah, Hurlstone |
From 2027 entry, co-educational selective schools have an equal number of places for girls and boys.
Head-to-head comparisons
- James Ruse vs Baulkham Hills
- Sydney Boys vs North Sydney Boys
- North Sydney Girls vs Sydney Girls
- Baulkham Hills vs Sydney Boys
Choosing your three preferences
- Map the travel first. Use the Transport NSW trip planner for a school-day morning, not a Sunday.
- Decide on single-sex or co-ed. This often narrows the list to four or five schools.
- Order by preference, not by likelihood. Putting a school first gives no extra chance, because every choice is decided on test results alone.
- Only list schools you'd accept. If you get an offer from a higher choice, you won't get one from a lower choice, even if you decline.
There's no published cut-off score for any school, so a "safe" choice is a guess. Read selective test results for how offers and reserve lists work.
Selective schools outside Sydney
Fully selective schools outside Sydney include Gosford (Central Coast), Merewether (Newcastle) and Smith's Hill (Wollongong). See every NSW selective school.
Preparing for the test
Applications for 2028 entry open on 5 November 2026 and close on 15 February 2027. The selective test is on 13 and 14 May 2027.
- The selective schools test explained
- NSW selective test sample questions
- NSW Selective practice tests: 8 full timed mocks with worked explanations and human-marked writing
Frequently asked questions
How many selective schools are there in Sydney? 14 fully selective and 2 agricultural selective high schools, plus 20 partially selective schools.
What is the best selective school in Sydney? By 2025 HSC results, North Sydney Boys ranked first in NSW, followed by James Ruse. The best school for your child depends on travel, single-sex or co-ed, and fit.
Can I apply to a selective school outside my area? Yes. There are no catchment areas for selective places.
Are selective schools in Sydney free? Yes. They're public schools, though schools may ask for voluntary contributions.
Sources: NSW Department of Education, selective high school list and places for 2027 entry (checked 21 October 2026) and key dates for 2028 entry; 2025 HSC rankings compiled from the NESA Distinguished Achievers list. Regions are our own grouping. Not affiliated with the NSW Department of Education.