The Ponds High School is a government co-ed secondary school in Sydney's west with two defining strengths.
NAPLAN averaging 43 points above national year-level averages; the result is a B overall.
The Ponds High School is a government co-ed secondary school in Sydney's west with two defining strengths. It runs a dedicated Inspire program for high-potential and gifted learners, offering accelerated pathways and specialised teaching. The school also champions creative and performing arts across music, drama, and dance, with substantial programs that attract students serious about these disciplines. It suits families seeking academic stretch alongside serious arts engagement.
The Ponds High School is also known as The Ponds HS and PHS The Ponds.
3 HSC Top Achievers — #57 of 240 New South Wales schools.
The Ponds High School draws students from the The Ponds HS (and 1 more zone).
The Ponds High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 58.1/100, rated "Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, programs, and value for money. Academically, the school grades B+ (Good) against other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1118 (89th percentile; the national average is 1,000).
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at The Ponds High School, Year 7 students averaged 589 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well above the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 606, 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.
The Ponds High School is a large government secondary school with approximately 2,321 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.
The Ponds 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.
The Ponds High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.2:1. This is around the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning class sizes are typical for Australian schools. Support staff make up 15% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 90%, which is good.
In the 2025 HSC, 1 student at The Ponds High School was an all-round achiever, with results in the top band across 10 or more units. The school had 3 top achiever places across 2025 HSC courses.
The Ponds High School is located in The Ponds, NSW, in a major city. Its ICSEA is 1118 (89th 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.