How to get into Fort Street High School: entry, places and the selective test

Quick answer: Fort Street High School in Petersham is a fully selective, co-educational school in Sydney's Inner West, and the oldest government high school in Australia. Selective entry in Year 7 is through the NSW Department of Education's Selective High School Placement Test, sat in Year 6. Families apply in Year 5, and the school has 150 (75 boys, 75 girls) for 2027 entry.

Fort Street High School at a glance

Founded in 1849, Fort Street counts Australia's first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, and several High Court justices among its former students. It's the main co-educational selective option in the Inner West, and families nearby often also list Sydney Boys, Sydney Girls or Sydney Technical High School.

Year 7 entry: how it works

Year 7 selective places are decided by the Department of Education, not by the school. The process is the same for every NSW selective high school.

1. Apply in Year 5. Applications are made online through the Department.
2. Choose up to three selective schools, in order of preference. Listing a school first doesn't give extra consideration, because every choice is decided on test results, but you can't decline an offer to wait for a lower choice, so put your genuine first choice first.
3. Sit the Selective High School Placement Test in Year 6, usually in May.
4. Receive an outcome in Term 3 of Year 6.

Students must live in NSW at the start of the school year and be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa. Up to 20% of places can be offered under the Department's equity placement model.

Key dates

For Year 7 entry in 2027 (current Year 6):

For Year 7 entry in 2028 (current Year 5): based on recent years, expect applications to open in early November 2026 and close in February 2027, with the test in May 2027. Check the Department's key dates when they're released.

The Selective High School Placement Test

The test is computer-based and takes about two and a half hours, across four sections:

See the NSW selective schools test explained and thinking skills question types.

What score do you need for Fort Street?

There's no fixed pass mark. Places are offered to the highest-ranked applicants who listed the school until they're filled, so the cut-off depends on each year's applicants. Entry scores haven't been officially published since 2021.

The last published minimum entry scores for Fort Street were:

Fort Street's cut-off has typically sat in the upper-middle of the fully selective group. These scores come from the previous test format, so treat them as a guide to how competitive the school is, not a target. For comparison, the most competitive school, James Ruse, ranged from 246 to 250 over 2019 to 2021.

If your child narrowly misses out, they may be placed on a reserve list. See selective reserve lists and results explained.

How to prepare

Year 4 and early Year 5: read widely, including poetry and non-fiction; build number fluency; introduce thinking skills questions as puzzles.

Late Year 5: sit a first full, timed practice test to find the weakest section, and start regular timed writing with specific feedback.

Year 6, February to May: focus on the weakest section, sit two or three full mock tests a few weeks apart, and keep the final fortnight light.

NSW Selective practice tests

Our NSW Selective mock tests follow the current four-section format. Every multiple-choice question has a worked explanation, results are broken down by skill, and writing is marked by a human teacher.

• NSW Selective practice tests
• Free NSW Selective sample questions

These are independent practice materials, not official test papers, and they don't predict placement outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

How many students does Fort Street take in Year 7?

150 students, with 75 places for boys and 75 for girls.

Is Fort Street the oldest school in Australia?

It's the oldest government high school in Australia, founded in 1849.

What is the Fort Street entry score?

There's no fixed score. Places go to the highest-ranked applicants who listed the school until places are filled. Under the previous test format, the minimum entry score ranged from 216 to 222 out of 300 between 2019 and 2021. Entry scores haven't been officially published since 2021.

Do you have to live near Fort Street to apply?

No. Selective places aren't based on where you live. You can list up to three selective schools anywhere in NSW, as long as your child lives in NSW at the start of the school year and meets the residency requirements.

When do Fort Street offers come out?

Year 7 placement outcomes are released by the Department in Term 3 of Year 6.

Can you get into Fort Street after Year 7?

Sometimes, but places are very limited and depend on vacancies. Later-year entry is run by the school, so check its enrolment page for the current process.

Other NSW selective schools

Families considering Fort Street often also list:

• Sydney Boys High School
• Sydney Girls High School
• Sydney Technical High School
• St George Girls High School

See every school and its places in our guide to every NSW selective high school.

Applying for 2028 entry? Try free NSW Selective sample questions and see where your child stands.

Practice Tests & Exams is an independent provider and is not affiliated with Fort Street High School or the NSW Department of Education. Information is from the Department, the school and published sources as of October 2026. Always check the school and Department websites for current details.