Sydney Girls High School: Selective Entry Guide

Sydney Girls High School is a fully selective public school for girls in inner Sydney, and — established in 1883 — the oldest government secondary school for girls in NSW. The counterpart to Sydney Boys High School, it is a consistently high-performing HSC school and one of the most sought-after girls' selective schools in the state. If it's on your child's preference list, here's an honest profile and a clear explanation of how entry works.

School Snapshot

• Type: Fully academically selective public high school, girls only
• Years: 7–12
• Location: Corner of Anzac Parade and Cleveland Street, on the Surry Hills / Moore Park edge of inner Sydney, beside Moore Park and Centennial Parklands
• Enrolment: roughly 930 students
• Established: 1883 — the oldest government girls' secondary school in NSW
• Counterpart school: Sydney Boys High School

What the School Is Like

Sydney Girls describes itself as "empowering women of excellence since 1883," and its long history comes with a deep tradition across academics, sport, music, drama, debating and leadership. It has a strong rowing program and, with its counterpart Sydney Boys, shares the Governor's Centre performing-arts facility. Its inner-city location beside Centennial Parklands is unusual among Sydney schools. As a selective school it draws students from across the city rather than a local catchment.

Academic Reputation

Sydney Girls is consistently regarded as one of NSW's leading academically selective girls' schools and a strong HSC performer, placing among the state's top schools year to year. As with every selective school, it's worth being precise: the NSW Department of Education does not publish official rankings or entry cut-off scores. Any specific rank or number you see comes from third-party HSC aggregators and fluctuates year to year, not from an official source. The reliable summary is that it is a widely recognised top HSC school.

How Entry Works

Year 7 — the main entry point

Sydney Girls High School offers 180 Year 7 places for 2027 entry, according to the NSW Department of Education.

Most students join in Year 7 through the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, sat in Year 6. The test is computer-based and covers Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.

You nominate up to three selective schools in order of preference on the one application. Your preference order doesn't change your odds at any single school — it only decides which offer you receive if your child qualifies for more than one.

A single-sex school — the 2027 gender rule doesn't change entry here

Sydney Girls is a girls-only school, so the NSW gender parity model that splits places 50/50 at co-educational selective schools from 2027 does not change how places are allocated here. Entry is decided purely by placement-test performance among girls applying.

Later-year entry

The school accepts applications for entry into Years 8–11 when vacancies arise, through a separate process that includes an application form, a student questionnaire and portfolio, an Edutest exam and a possible interview. There is no entry into Year 12, so Year 7 is the main and most reliable entry point.

Getting There

The campus is on the busy Anzac Parade / Cleveland Street corner in inner Sydney, close to the CBD and well served by buses along those routes and the nearby light-rail corridor. As a selective school it draws girls from across the metropolitan area.

What a Competitive Application Looks Like

There's no published cut-off, so aim for a strong, balanced result across all four sections of the placement test. At a school this competitive, an uneven result can be overtaken by a more balanced one. The most reliable preparation is consistent practice with realistic, exam-style questions in the same computer-based format used on test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sydney Girls High School?

On the corner of Anzac Parade and Cleveland Street in inner Sydney, on the Surry Hills / Moore Park edge, beside Centennial Parklands.

What score do you need to get in?

There's no officially published cut-off, and any specific number online is an unofficial estimate. Entry is decided by placement-test performance, and demand is high.

Does the 2027 gender balance change affect Sydney Girls?

No. The 50/50 split applies to co-educational selective schools. As a single-sex girls' school, Sydney Girls allocates places purely on placement-test performance.

Can you apply here and to other selective schools at the same time?

Yes. You list up to three selective schools in order of preference on one application. Order doesn't affect your chances at any single school.

Is there entry other than in Year 7?

Yes — the school runs a separate Years 8–11 entry process for vacancies, but Year 7 is by far the main entry point.

Related reading

• Selective High School Test dates 2028
• How selective placement scores are calculated
• The selective reserve list explained
• Gender parity in NSW selective schools from 2027

Prepare for the Placement Test with AcePath

Whichever selective schools you're aiming for, the placement test decides your child's options. Start with a free AcePath sample quiz to see where they stand in Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills, then build an exam-ready routine with our OC and Selective practice test packs, which mirror the real computer-based format used on test day.