Best Schools in New South Wales · 2026

Key figures

• New South Wales has 2,997 schools, teaching around 1,242,605 students.
• By sector that is 2,090 government, 541 Catholic and 366 independent.
• By level, 2,082 primary, 543 secondary and 372 combined primary and secondary.
• Schools in New South Wales average 53/100 on our academic score, which compares NAPLAN results within the same year level nationally.
• The largest school communities are Wagga Wagga (20 schools), Dubbo (19 schools) and Port macquarie (18 schools).

Top schools in New South Wales

1. Conservatorium High School
   Sydney · Government · Secondary — Overall 97/100
2. Hornsby Girls High School
   Hornsby · Government · Secondary — Overall 96/100
3. Sydney Grammar School
   Darlinghurst · Independent · Combined — Overall 96/100
4. Beecroft Public School
   Beecroft · Government · Primary — Overall 94/100
5. Fort Street High School
   Petersham · Government · Secondary — Overall 91/100
6. Hurlstone Agricultural High School
   Glenfield · Government · Secondary — Overall 91/100
7. Penrith High School
   Penrith · Government · Secondary — Overall 90/100
8. Normanhurst Boys High School
   Normanhurst · Government · Secondary — Overall 90/100
9. James Ruse Agricultural High School
   Carlingford · Government · Secondary — Overall 90/100
10. North Sydney Girls High School
    Crows Nest · Government · Secondary — Overall 89/100

Suburbs with the most schools in New South Wales

• Wagga Wagga (20 schools) · avg academic 50/100
• Dubbo (19 schools) · avg academic 47/100
• Port macquarie (18 schools) · avg academic 52/100
• Armidale (17 schools) · avg academic 48/100
• Blacktown (16 schools) · avg academic 53/100
• Orange (15 schools) · avg academic 48/100
• Goulburn (13 schools) · avg academic 44/100
• Campbelltown (12 schools) · avg academic 45/100
• Coffs Harbour (11 schools) · avg academic 45/100
• Bankstown (11 schools) · avg academic 53/100

Browse by city

Sydney · Newcastle

Browse by sector

Government schools in New South Wales · Catholic schools in New South Wales · Independent schools in New South Wales