Below is a list of selective and agricultural high schools run by the NSW Department of Education. Entry to these schools is managed by the department's Selective High School and Opportunity Class Placement Unit. In years before, prospective students sit the Selective High School Test during May when students are in Year 6 (in former years March) and are allocated places at selective schools according to their profile mark, which is out of 300, which comprises both exam and school marks, however there is no more marks being provided to applicants. Students may list up to three preferred selective or agricultural high schools they wish to enter.
A number of other government and non-government high schools also select their students based on merit; these include, for example, creative and performing arts schools, and also some private schools.
1 Previously known as Manly Boys High School (1954–1983) and Manly High School (1983–2002).
2 Year of amalgamation of Dover Heights High School and Vaucluse High School.
3 Previously known as Malvina High School (1965–2001) and foundation year for selective stream.
The New South Wales Department of Education operates creative and performing arts high schools in communities throughout the state for students who wish to work with creative arts when they grow up. These schools aim to foster excellence in creative arts fields while teaching the same core syllabus as other state-run high schools and are accorded a high degree of autonomy by the department in selecting students and teaching staff. The schools boast specialised facilities and equipment and competition for places is acute.
| School | Location | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Campbelltown Performing Arts High School | Campbelltown | 7–12 |
| Conservatorium High School | Sydney central business district | 7–12 |
| Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School | Guildford | 7–12 |
| Hunter School of the Performing Arts | Broadmeadow | 3–12 |
| Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School | Northmead | 7–12 |
| Ku-ring-gai High School | North Turramurra | 7–12 |
| Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School | Penrith | 7–12 |
| Newtown High School of the Performing Arts | Newtown | 7–12 |
| Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts | Fairy Meadow | 7–12 |
The New South Wales Department of Education operates seven specialist sports high schools in local communities across New South Wales. [1] Each of the schools deliver a comprehensive education to local students and, by application and, based on merit and talent, students are selected to participate in each school's talented sports program.
| School | Location | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Endeavour Sports High School | Caringbah | 7–12 |
| Hills Sports High School | Seven Hills | 7–12 |
| Hunter Sports High School | Gateshead | 7–12 |
| Illawarra Sports High School | Berkeley | 7–12 |
| Matraville Sports High School | Chifley | 7–12 |
| Narrabeen Sports High School | North Narrabeen | 7–12 |
| Westfields Sports High School | Fairfield | 7–12 |
| Fully selective high schools | |
|---|---|
| Partially selective high schools | |
| Selective agricultural high schools | |
| Selective creative and performing arts primary [note a] and high schools |
|
| Specialist sports high schools | |
