The latest analysis of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) rankings reveals a significant decline in the presence of non-selective public schools among top performers in New South Wales. Once dominated by a diverse array of schools, the rankings now showcase a worrying trend toward increased segregation in education.
In 2005, the Herald’s annual HSC school rankings highlighted a remarkable achievement by state schools, with 19 selective schools occupying the highest positions. Among them, James Ruse led with the highest rate of band sixes for the tenth consecutive year. Hornsby Girls secured the second spot, while North Sydney Boys aimed for its third consecutive first-place ranking in the upcoming 2025 HSC results.
Twenty years ago, the rankings included a mix of both selective and non-selective schools, such as Alstonville High, which placed 57th in 2005 and boasted top results in English Extension 2 and History Extension. In contrast, the most recent rankings show a stark decline in the representation of comprehensive public schools, dropping from 12 to just seven in the top 100 from 2002 to 2024.
Shifts in School Performance and Socioeconomic Factors
A closer look at the geographical distribution of top-performing schools indicates that the leading comprehensive public high schools now emerge exclusively from a socioeconomically privileged area in metropolitan Sydney. The top 100 lists of earlier years featured schools from various locations across the city and beyond. In the past three years, however, all public comprehensive schools in the top 100 have been located north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The six comprehensive schools maintaining a top 100 ranking between 2022 and 2024 are Willoughby Girls (55th), Cheltenham Girls (57th), Epping Boys (60th), Balgowlah Boys (64th), Killara (90th), and Cherrybrook Technology (94th). Former New South Wales Education Minister Adrian Piccoli expressed concern over this trend, attributing it to an increasingly divided school system. He cited findings from the OECD, which identified Australia’s education system as one of the most socially segregated globally.
Piccoli emphasized that the shift has resulted in selective and independent schools attracting the highest-performing students, leaving comprehensive schools with a less academically prepared demographic. He remarked, “This concentration of advantage and concentration of disadvantage is the biggest issue in Australian education.”
While public selective schools still dominate the HSC top 10, they are facing competition from high-fee private institutions and academically selective Islamic schools. The number of public schools in the top 30 has decreased from 19 in 2005 to just 10 in 2023.
The Role of Socioeconomic Factors and Parental Choices
Research by Christina Ho, a social scientist at the University of Technology Sydney, highlights the impact of tutoring on the concentration of advantage within selective schools. She noted that families investing heavily in tutoring resources prepare their children for entry into these prestigious institutions, further widening the gap between socio-economic groups.
The availability of school performance data, particularly through platforms like the MySchool website, has also reshaped parental decision-making. Ho explained that middle-class parents now feel a pressing obligation to make informed choices about their children’s education, often opting for schools perceived as higher-performing. This has led to a cycle where schools in disadvantaged areas lose high-achieving students, further exacerbating existing inequalities.
Ho stated, “Those with the means are exiting schools that are seen as undesirable or declining,” creating a vicious cycle that undermines the potential of local schools. On the other hand, schools perceived as advantageous can leverage parental contributions to improve extracurricular offerings and attract gifted programs.
Christine Del Gallo, former principal of Northern Beaches Secondary College’s Mackellar Girls Campus, underscored the importance of school culture in fostering academic success. She remarked, “If your kids are going to do well in the HSC, there has to be a culture in the school that academic success is important.”
As the landscape of education in New South Wales evolves, the implications of these trends raise critical questions about equity and access for students across the state. The ongoing discussions surrounding selective and comprehensive schooling will likely shape the future of education policy in Australia.
