Penrith High School is an academically selective government secondary school with a strong reputation in drama and performing arts.
NAPLAN well above the national average at every tested year level; the result is an A+ overall.
Penrith High School is an academically selective government secondary school with a strong reputation in drama and performing arts. The Inspire program supports high-potential and gifted students, with enrichment and extension opportunities embedded across the curriculum. The school combines academic intensity with a pastoral focus, creating a structured environment suited to motivated learners. Additional learning support is available alongside the advanced offerings.
Penrith High School is also known as Penrith HS and PHS Penrith.
2 HSC Top Achievers — #84 of 240 New South Wales schools.
Penrith High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 94.8/100, 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 1186 (99th percentile; the national average is 1,000).
In 2024 NAPLAN testing at Penrith High School, Year 7 students averaged 671 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well above the national average of 538 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 692, well above the national average of 565 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.
Penrith High School is a medium-sized government secondary school with approximately 930 students. It offers education for years 7-12. Enrolment at Penrith 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. Penrith 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.
Penrith 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.
Penrith High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.8:1. This is around the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning class sizes are typical for Australian schools. Support staff make up 17% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 95%, which is excellent.
In the 2025 HSC, 20 students at Penrith High School were all-round achievers, with results in the top band across 10 or more units. The school had 2 top achiever places across 2025 HSC courses.
Penrith High School is located in Penrith, NSW, in a major city. Its ICSEA is 1186 (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.