When can my child start Kindergarten in NSW?

At the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. Every child must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.

How do I find my local government school in NSW?

Use the NSW Department of Education's School Finder with your permanent home address. It shows the local primary and high school, and you are entitled to enrol at the local school for your address.

When does my child sit the selective schools test?

The Selective High School Placement Test is held in May of Year 6, for entry to Year 7 the following year. Families apply at the end of Year 5 or the start of Year 6. The opportunity class test is held in May of Year 4.

Do I have to pay school contributions at a NSW government school?

No. Voluntary school contributions are at the discretion of parents and carers, and no student can be refused syllabus requirements or school activities because a family has not paid.

How schools work in New South Wales

New South Wales has the largest school system in Australia, with government, Catholic and independent schools in every region. This guide covers how government schooling is organised, from starting Kindergarten to the HSC, with links to the NSW Department of Education's own pages for the detail.

Starting school

The first year of school in NSW is Kindergarten. A child can start at the beginning of the year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year, and by law every child must be enrolled by their sixth birthday. Schooling is compulsory until a student completes Year 10 or turns 17. Under the department's High Potential and Gifted Education policy, some children who turn 5 after 31 July may be enrolled early. See starting primary school (opens in a new tab).

How the years are organised

Primary school runs from Kindergarten to Year 6, and high school from Year 7 to Year 12. Students who complete Year 12 can earn the HSC, the highest award in NSW secondary education, run by NESA; students who leave before finishing it may receive a Record of School Achievement (RoSA).

Enrolment and local intake areas

Every NSW government school has a local intake area, and your permanent home address decides your local school. You are entitled to enrol your child at the local school for your address. The department's School Finder (opens in a new tab) shows the local primary and high school for any address.

Schools can take students from outside their intake area if they have places, but there are no out-of-area places when local demand fills the school. When applications exceed places, schools rank them using set criteria such as siblings, learning and wellbeing needs and proximity. Schools near capacity check your address with a 100-point check of documents such as a rates notice or lease, utility bills and a driver licence.

For Year 7, families lodge an expression of interest during Year 6 for their local high school and up to three other schools; for 2027 entry this closed on 27 March 2026. If none of your other choices can be met, your child is guaranteed a place at their local high school.

Government, Catholic and independent schools

Non-government schools in NSW, Catholic and independent, must be registered with NESA to operate. Our guide to government, Catholic or independent schools sets out the differences.

Selective high schools and opportunity classes

NSW has selective high schools for high potential and gifted students: fully selective, partially selective, agricultural and the online Aurora College. Families apply at the end of Year 5 or the start of Year 6 for Year 7 entry, with applications open from about November to February, and students sit the Selective High School Placement Test in May of Year 6. For Year 7 in 2028 the test is on 13 and 14 May 2027.

Opportunity classes are a two-year program in Years 5 and 6 for high potential and gifted students, offered at 89 classes across NSW. Families apply at the end of Year 3 or start of Year 4, and students sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test in May of Year 4. Both tests are computer-based and, from 2026, held only in NSW. See the department's placement test page (opens in a new tab) and our guide to selective schools.

NSW also has specialist government high schools for the creative and performing arts, languages, technology, agriculture and sport, some of which hold auditions.

Fees and voluntary contributions

Government schools ask families for voluntary school contributions. Paying them is at the discretion of parents and carers, schools must not offer incentives or penalties, and no student can be refused syllabus requirements or school activities because a family has not paid. In 2026 the contribution is capped at $51 a year in primary schools and $110 a year in high schools. Schools can ask for contributions towards elective subjects, but not for mandatory subjects. If cost is a worry, speak to the principal in confidence.

Distance education and boarding

There are 11 distance education schools in NSW, from preschool to Year 12, for students who are geographically isolated or whose circumstances prevent them from attending school, including the Schools of the Air at Broken Hill and Hay and Sydney Distance Education Primary and High Schools.

Three government agricultural high schools offer boarding: Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School at Tamworth, Hurlstone Agricultural High School at Glenfield and Yanco Agricultural High School. Farrer and Yanco take applications directly; Hurlstone's boarders sit the Selective High School Placement Test, and its boarding places are not open to metropolitan students. See our guide to boarding schools.

NAPLAN and My School

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in New South Wales, as everywhere in Australia, sit NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language and numeracy each March; in 2027 the testing window is 10 to 22 March.

Each school's profile on My School (opens in a new tab) shows its NAPLAN results alongside its enrolments, staff and finances. Read results with care: they reflect the students a school enrols as well as its teaching, and a visit tells you far more. Our guide to My School, NAPLAN and ICSEA explains how to read a profile.

Schools in New South Wales on Schools Near Me

We list 3,196 schools in New South Wales: 2,214 government, 547 Catholic and 435 independent, including special schools. See every school in New South Wales, or filter by sector: government, Catholic or independent.

The council areas with the most schools are Blacktown (129), Canterbury-Bankstown (110), Central Coast (109), Lake Macquarie (90) and Wollongong (87).

Common questions

When can my child start Kindergarten in NSW?: At the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year. Every child must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.
How do I find my local government school in NSW?: Use the NSW Department of Education's School Finder with your permanent home address. It shows the local primary and high school, and you are entitled to enrol at the local school for your address.
When does my child sit the selective schools test?: The Selective High School Placement Test is held in May of Year 6, for entry to Year 7 the following year. Families apply at the end of Year 5 or the start of Year 6. The opportunity class test is held in May of Year 4.
Do I have to pay school contributions at a NSW government school?: No. Voluntary school contributions are at the discretion of parents and carers, and no student can be refused syllabus requirements or school activities because a family has not paid.

Sources

We check guides against official sources. Rules can change, and some details vary by area, so check with the source before you act.

Last updated 1 November 2026.