James Ruse is a selective government school for high-potential and gifted students with a distinctive agricultural bent.
NAPLAN well above the national average at every tested year level; the result is an A overall.
James Ruse is a selective government school for high-potential and gifted students with a distinctive agricultural bent. Built around a working farm with livestock, poultry, Angus cattle and lamb enterprises, orchards and vegetable plots, it offers students genuine hands-on learning alongside a demanding academic program. The school combines practical agricultural education with strong performing arts and pastoral care. It suits capable students who thrive in structured, academically intense environments and want to engage with land-based learning. Additional support is available for Aboriginal students and those needing learning assistance.
James Ruse Agricultural High School is also known as JRAHS, JRAHS Carlingford and James Ruse Agricultural HS.
23 HSC Top Achievers — #3 of 240 New South Wales schools.
James Ruse Agricultural High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 89.3/100, rated "Excellent". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, programs, and value for money. Academically, the school grades A+ (Excellent) against other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1222 (99th percentile; the national average is 1,000).
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at James Ruse Agricultural High School, Year 7 students averaged 735 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well above the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 756, well above the national average of 569 for that year level. Relative to national year-level averages, the school's strongest domain is Numeracy. 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 Ruse Agricultural High School is a medium-sized government secondary school with approximately 857 students. It offers education for years 7-12. Enrolment at James Ruse Agricultural High School is academically selective: all places are offered on entry-test results through the state's official selective process, not by catchment or address.
Yes. James Ruse Agricultural High School is a fully selective school: all places are offered on academic merit through a competitive entry test, so where you live doesn't determine entry. Entry is through the Selective High School Placement Test. The main entry point is Year 7. Applications go through the official state process, and entry cutoff marks are not published.
James Ruse Agricultural 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 grades A+ (Excellent) for value for money, which weighs academic results against the cost of attendance.
James Ruse Agricultural High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1. This is around the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning class sizes are typical for Australian schools. Support staff make up 19% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 96%, which is excellent.
In the 2025 HSC, 77 students at James Ruse Agricultural High School were all-round achievers, with results in the top band across 10 or more units. The school had 23 top achiever places across 2025 HSC courses. The Year 12 completion rate is 96%. 100% of students received a university offer.
James Ruse Agricultural High School is located in Carlingford, NSW, in a major city. Its ICSEA is 1222 (99th percentile; the national average is 1,000). ICSEA measures the advantage of a school's community, from its parents' education and occupation, not the school's quality. A school with a lower ICSEA and strong academic results may be teaching particularly effectively.