| First year of school | Kindergarten |
|---|---|
| Enrolment boundary | local intake area |
| Official check | NSW School Finder |
| Department | NSW Department of Education |
New South Wales runs the largest public school system in Australia, with more than 2,000 government schools. Every public primary and high school has a local intake area, and students who live inside it are guaranteed a place at that school.
How to find your local school
Enter your address in the department’s School Finder. It shows the local primary and high school for that address. Intake boundaries do not always follow suburb lines, so check the exact street address before you sign a lease or buy a home.
Out-of-area enrolment
You can apply to a school outside your intake area, but places depend on capacity. Popular schools may have an enrolment cap and a placement panel that considers out-of-area applications against published criteria, such as siblings already at the school.
Selective schools and opportunity classes
Fully and partially selective high schools take students based on the Selective High School Placement Test, and opportunity classes for Years 5 and 6 use a separate placement test. Applications for both are made the year before entry.
Documents you will need
- proof of the child’s age and identity, such as a birth certificate or passport
- proof of your residential address, such as a lease, council rates notice or utility bills
- an immunisation history statement (most states ask for one at enrolment)
- visa and passport details if the child or parents are not Australian citizens
- any family law or parenting orders, and health or learning support information
Browse NSW schools
This site has detailed profiles of NSW public schools built from the department’s open data. Browse schools by area or search by suburb or postcode.
General information, last reviewed 19 October 2026. Rules and dates change – confirm with the NSW Department of Education before you enrol.