20 Best High Schools in Sydney Australia (Government and Private)

Australia remains one of the best places to study and that is why international students from different parts of the world have been trooping into the country to experience top-quality education offered in the best learning environment. Institutions of higher learning are often in the conversation when international students are mentioned but here, we are looking at the finest high schools in the city of Sydney.

Australian high schools are ranked among the best in the world, and for a country currently ranked 10th for having the most well-developed public education system, the gap in quality education between government and public schools wouldn’t be that much.

Sydney is one of the nicest places to study. The New South Wales capital city is a vibrant location open for exploration beyond the walls of high schools. The schools on our list are learning centers focused on raising the next generation of achievers.

We have discussed some of the benefits of studying in high schools in Sydney, listed the best schools, and shared the official link of each school for easy access to further information.

Why Study at Sydney High Schools?

Sydney is one of Australia’s finest cities and home to several top academic institutions. High education in Sydney is one of the best in the world. Every Sydney high school is accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority. You should expect a diverse student population and nothing but quality education from the schools on our list.

Sydney high schools employ qualified and highly trained educators and teachers who are leaders in their respective fields of study. These schools boast state-of-the-art facilities suitable for learning to encourage to pursue different career paths.

One of the most beautiful things about studying in high schools in Sydney is the fact that classes are not overcrowded. The Australian education system only allows 30 students in a class to ensure students receive appropriate and enough measure of attention from their educators.

The education system in Sydney makes sure that there is a quality assurance framework so that high schools in this location can meet the set standards.

High Schools in Sydney Australia for International Students

Australia is accommodating to international students who have made the long journey from different parts of the world. Australian universities have a good number of international students enrolled at different levels. High schools are no exception either but the numbers are a bit higher in colleges and universities.

One of the reasons international communities trust Australian high schools and universities is because these schools go through an accreditation process by the Australian Department of Education and Training. This accreditation process is strict and we’ll organize to make sure that schools that pass them will be top-notch and internationally recognized.

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Best High Schools in Sydney: Government Schools

Here is a list of the best high schools in the New South Wales capital city.

#1. James Ruse Agricultural High School (Carlingford)

James Ruth Agricultural High School is a government-funded co-educational elite day school. Located in the suburb of Sydney in Carlingford, New South Wales, James Ruth Agricultural High School is the highest academically ranked high school in Australia.

This school is known for its outstanding academic performance, ranking first in all New South Wales high schools in 2020 for 30 consecutive years since 1991, and ranking first in the Australian National Government NAPLAN tests since its establishment.

#2. North Sydney Boys High School (Crows Nest)

North Sydney Boys High School is one of the best high schools in Sydney. It is a government-funded, single-gender, academically selective boys’ secondary day school located in Crows Nest on the lower north shore of Sydney, New South Wales.

#3. Sydney Girls High School (Surry Hills)

Sydney Girls’ High School is a government-funded single-gender academic elite secondary school for day girls. It is one of the best high schools in Sydney, and it is located in Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

An estimated 150 students are enrolled in the 7th year, but if there are vacancies, prospective students in the upper years may be admitted by the school. Admissions to the 7th year are based on academic performance and are assessed by a high school placement test.

Also Read: What are Math Classes in High School?

#4. Baulkham Hills High School

Baulkham Hills High School is a government-funded school and one of the top government high schools in Sydney. The school is a very selective mixed-day secondary school located in Baulkham Hills, Sydney Hills District, New South Wales, Australia.

The school was established in June 1970 and enrolled approximately 1,220 students in 2018, from grades 7 to 12, of which 1% were identified as Indigenous Australians and 83% came from a language background other than English.

#5. North Sydney Girls High School (Crows Nest)

North Sydney Girls’ High School is a government-funded single-gender, girls’ secondary school. The school is one of the most academically selective in Australia. Located in Crows Nest, Sydney, New South Wales, North Sydney Girls High School was established in 1914 and serves approximately 910 students in grades 7-12.

Admission to the school is based solely on the academic performance of 6th-year students who have passed the selective high school tests.

#6. Sydney Boys High Schools (Moore Park)

Sydney Boys’ High School, also known as Sydney High School, is a government-funded single-gender male day secondary school located in Moore Park, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney. New South Wales.

Sydney Boys’ High School was established in 1883 and is operated by the New South Wales Department of Education. It is a school in the Port Jackson Education District in the Sydney area. There are approximately 1,200 students from years 7 to 12.

The school is adjacent to its “sister school”, Sydney Girls’ High School and it’s a member of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales (AAGPS).

#7. Hornsby Girls High School

Hornsby Girls’ High School is a government-funded single-gender academic elite secondary day girls’. Located in Hornsby, a suburb of Upper North Shore in Sydney, New South Wales, Hornsby Girls High School was established in 1930, and the first principal was Sarah Agnes Angus Brewster.

The school offers students the opportunity to participate in multiple music groups, namely concert bands, string orchestras, symphony bands, and jazz bands.

#8. Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus

The Manly Selection Campus of North Beach College is a mixed high school in Sydney. It’s academically selective and located in North Curl, a suburb of North Beach in Sydney, New South Wales.

The school was established in 1859, formerly Manly Public School, for students in years 7-12; Admission to the campus is based solely on academic performance through selective high school tests.

#9. Fort Street High School (Petersham)

Fort Street High School is a government-funded mixed selective day secondary school located in Petersham, an inner-western suburb of Sydney. Established in 1849, it is the oldest and best high school in Sydney.

This is the first school not founded by a religious organization. Today, it is still a public school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education. As an academically selective secondary school, it attracts students from the Sydney metropolitan area.

#10. Normanhurst Boys High School

Normanhurst Boys’ High School is one of the best high schools in Sydney. It is a day school for boys, located in the suburb of Normanhurst on the upper north shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The school was established in 1958 and enrolled approximately 730 students from years 7 to 12 who were admitted on an academic basis. According to admission criteria, Normanhurst Boys’ High School is one of the top ten schools in New South Wales. In 2018, the school celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Best High Schools in Sydney: Private Schools

We have shown the list of the best high schools, -here is a list of the top private high schools in Sydney.

Also Read: 10 Science Competitions for High School and Elementary School Students

#1. Sydney Grammar School (Darlinghurst)

Sydney Grammar School is one of the best high schools in Sydney Australia. It is a fee-paying, non-denominational male day school located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliffe, and St. Ives in the suburbs of Sydney.

The school was established in 1854 under a parliamentary bill and opened in 1857, claiming to provide “classical” or “grammar” school education, and its ideas are considered to be liberal, humane, and pre-vocational education.

#2. Reddam House (Woollahra)

Reddam House is a private (independent) coeducational non-denominational day school located in Woollahra and Bondi in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Reddam House was acquired by Inspired Education Group in 2019.

This school was founded in Sydney in June 2000 by Graeme Crawford, who founded Crawford College in South Africa in 1992. Reddam House makes it to our list of the best private high schools in Sydney.

#3. Abbotsleigh (Wahroonga) Private High Schools in Sydney Australia

Abbotsleigh is a private (independent) Anglican early education, primary and secondary day and boarding girls’ school located in Willunga on the upper north shore of Sydney.

The school was established in 1885 on the Lower North Shore of Sydney. It has implemented a selective enrollment policy from the 5th year and upwards. It currently serves approximately 1,400 students transitioning to the 12th year, including 170 boarding students from the 7th year..

#4. Meriden School (Strathfield)

Meriden, An Anglican School for Girls and one of Sydney’s best high schools. It is an Anglican single-gender female early education, primary and secondary day school located in Strathfield, the inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Founded by Jane Monckton in 1897, this school adopts a non-selective enrollment policy and currently serves approximately 850 students from early childhood to year K to 12.

#5. Wenona School (North Sydney)

Wenona School is an independent secular girl’s day boarding school. The school is located in the suburbs of Sydney in North Sydney, New South Wales.

Wenona was founded by Miss Edith Hook in 1886 and was named Woodstock School at the time. It adopted a non-selective enrollment policy and currently serves approximately 1,000 students from kindergarten to year 12, including 50 Boarding students in years 7-12.

#6. Kambala (Rose Bay) Private High Schools in Sydney Australia

Kambala Church of England Girls’ School is a private (independent) Anglican early, primary, and secondary day and boarding girls’ school located in Rose Bay, Sydney, Australia.

Kambala was established in 1887 with a non-selective enrollment policy. It currently serves approximately 1,000 students from early childhood to 12th year, including 95 boarding students from 7th to 12th year. Students come from metropolitan areas in rural New South Wales and overseas.

#7. Presbyterian Ladies College Sydney (Croydon)

Sydney Presbyterian Girls’ College is one of the best private boarding schools in Sydney. It is an independent Presbyterian single-sex early education, primary and secondary school day, and boarding girls’ school.

Located in Croydon, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, PLC was established by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales in 1888 and is the oldest Presbyterian school in the state.

#8. Ascham School (Edgecliff) 

Ascham School is a private (independent) non-denominational day and boarding girls’ school located in Edgecliff, the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales.

The school was established in 1886 with a non-selective enrollment policy. There are currently about 1,000 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, including 100 boarding students from 6th to 12th year.

#9. Pymble Ladies College Private High Schools in Sydney Australia

Pymble Ladies College is one of the best private high schools in Australia. It is an independent non-selective day and boarding girls’ school, located in Pymble, a suburb of Upper North Shore in Sydney, New South Wales.

As a student in this school, you will learn to put passion and purpose into everything you do. You will become a game-changer in the classroom and community.

#10. Shore – Sydney Church of England Grammar School (North Sydney)

Sydney Church of England Grammar School is located on the lower north shore of Sydney. It is a dual-campus independent Anglican single-gender and mixed early learning, primary and secondary school, and boarding boys’ school.

Established by the Church of England in 1889, Shore implements a non-selective enrollment policy and currently serves approximately 1,600 students from grades K to 12, including 200 boarders from years 6 to 12. The school is one of the best private high schools in Sydney Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions about Best High Schools in Sydney Australia

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