Embarking on the high school journey marks an important chapter in a student's life and attending a high school that caters towards your academic or extracurricular needs can have a big impact on how they perform in the future. This article aims to compile information on how high schools performed academically in 2023 as well as give a few extra tips when making the tough decision of which high school to attend.
Top government schools in Sydney
The tables below include data about the performance of high school students from various government public schools, private schools and selective schools.
- The overall rank refers to the ranking the school achieved when compared to the entire state
- The number of entries refers to the number of subjects taken by all the students within year 12. It is generally an indicator of the size of a cohort.
- The success rate is an indication of how likely a student is to gain a band 6 in a subject (A mark of 90% or more)
Although government schools are often not the first choice in regards to fostering academic success, in reality many of these schools have been able to achieve amazing results. Additionally, if you are looking to transfer to a selective school, many of these government schools serve as good stepping stones.
Top private high schools in Sydney
2023 was a great year for private schools, with many achieving placements within the top 10. Private schools are much more costly than public schools but there are scholarships available. Many private schools also offer extracurricular programs that may otherwise not be accessible in public schools.
Best selective schools in Sydney
Selective schools achieve the highest academic success in the state but can be difficult to gain entry through the selective test or through transferring. I will expand on the topic of selective schools in more detail below.
Considerations to Make When Picking a High School
Selective Vs Non-Selective
Selective schools are often a controversial topic in NSW as although they achieve stellar results, it is claimed that they are too competitive and stressful for children. From my experiences in attending a selective high school (Baulkham Hills High), I would say that these concerns are partly true. As these schools do achieve top results, there is a pressure to perform within the school. This does lead to competitiveness between students, however I believe that this competition often helps to push students in the right direction.
Through attending selective schools, children often get the chance to work with and interact with like-minded peers who also strive to achieve the best academic results. That is not to say the extracurricular activities are neglected as many selective schools have amazing sporting and musical opportunities. The decision to attend a selective school ultimately depends on the student as if academics aren’t a main priority or they dislike competitive environments it may be better to attend a government or private school.
Location
Location is an extremely important factor to consider when choosing a high school as travel time can become a significant issue. When comparing a student that has a 30 minute commute to school compared to a student with a 1 hour commute; over the 40 weeks of school in a year, it will accumulate to over 200 extra hours of time spent travelling to and from school. This can create a disadvantage for children that have long commute times. Ensuring the school is accessible through public transport can also be a consideration as it massively increases the convenience of travelling to school.
Size of the School
Many high schools, especially religious and private schools often have smaller cohort sizes in comparison to government schools. While this may seem advantageous as students may receive more personalised education, there are some disadvantages to be considered.
With smaller schools, one of the biggest issues I have seen in my time as a tutor is a lack of diversity in subjects offered, especially in HSC. With larger schools it is more likely that there will be more students for more niche subjects such as languages which otherwise may not be available at smaller schools. They may also lack the teachers that are required to teach these subjects.
Choosing a high school can be a very tough decision to make but regardless of your choice, the tutors here at Concept Education are ready to help you throughout your high school journey!
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