Bowral High School is an academically intense government secondary serving a tight-knit community in the Southern Highlands.
NAPLAN 33 points below national year-level averages; the result is a C- overall.
Bowral High School is an academically intense government secondary serving a tight-knit community in the Southern Highlands. The school runs a STEM Academy and Inspire program for high potential and gifted students, alongside dedicated support structures including a Year 9-12 Support Unit and learning-wellbeing teams. Known for its annual ski trip and pastoral care, it suits families seeking a school that combines academic rigour with genuine attention to student welfare.
Bowral High School draws students from the Bowral HS (and 1 more zone).
Bowral High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 36.9/100, rated "Below Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 43/100, indicating developing performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 956, slightly below the national average of 1,000.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Bowral High School, Year 7 students averaged 500 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well below the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 542, below the national average of 569 for that year level. National averages are specific to each year level, because NAPLAN scores are scaled so older year levels score higher, a school-wide average can't be compared with a single national figure.
Bowral High School is a medium-sized government secondary school with approximately 564 students. It offers education for years 7-12. As a government school, enrolment is generally available to students living within the school's designated catchment zone. Families outside the zone may apply for out-of-area placement subject to availability.
Bowral High School is a government school, so there are no tuition fees. Families may be asked to contribute to voluntary school fees covering materials, excursions, and activities. The school has a value score of 45/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Bowral High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.1:1. This is below the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning students generally receive more individual attention. Support staff make up 23% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 80%, which is below the national benchmark.
The Year 12 completion rate is 58%.
Bowral High School is located in Bowral, NSW, classified as a inner regional school. With an ICSEA of 956 (27th percentile), the school community's socio-educational advantage is below average, which means the school serves a community with greater socio-educational challenges. ICSEA measures the educational advantage of a school's community, not the school's quality, a lower ICSEA school with strong academic scores may indicate particularly effective teaching.