James Cook Boys High School is a government secondary school for boys in Kogarah with a strong music tradition anchored in its active Band Club.
NAPLAN 16 points below national year-level averages and growth below the national median; the result is a C- overall.
James Cook Boys High School is a government secondary school for boys in Kogarah with a strong music tradition anchored in its active Band Club. The school has sports facilities including a field grandstand. It suits families looking for a co-educational alternative with music involvement and local sporting amenities.
James Cook Boys High School draws students from the James Cook Boys Technology HS (and 1 more zone).
James Cook Boys High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 39.9/100, rated "Below Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 49/100, indicating developing performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1022, above the national average of 1,000.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at James Cook Boys High School, Year 7 students averaged 531 across the tested NAPLAN domains, in line with the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 546, 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.
James Cook Boys High School is a small government secondary school with approximately 473 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.
James Cook Boys 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 52/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
James Cook Boys High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.9:1. This is well below the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning students generally receive more individual attention. Support staff make up 19% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 84%, which is below the national benchmark.
James Cook Boys High School is located in Kogarah, NSW, classified as a major cities school. With an ICSEA of 1022 (57th percentile), the school community's socio-educational advantage is around the national average. 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.