NSW’s Top 100 Public Primary Schools For 2026

As a mum, I always find myself clicking on school ranking articles, even when I tell myself I’m not going to get too caught up in them.

Because let’s be honest — when you have school-aged children, or you’re thinking about moving suburbs, school information matters. A lot.

Recently, a new list of Australia’s top public primary schools was released, comparing thousands of government primary schools across the country. The ranking looked at things like NAPLAN results for Year 3 and Year 5, student attendance, teacher-to-student ratios, and the general school community background.

And once again, NSW schools — especially schools around Sydney — performed very strongly.

Beecroft Public School Named Australia’s Top Public Primary School

According to the ranking, Beecroft Public School in Sydney took the number one spot nationally.

It was followed by other well-known NSW schools, including Roseville Public School and Matthew Pearce Public School.

For many Sydney parents, this probably isn’t too surprising. Areas like Beecroft, Roseville, St Ives, Lindfield, and Baulkham Hills are already known for having strong school communities and a big focus on education.

These are the kinds of suburbs many parents quietly keep an eye on when they start thinking about school zones, selective school preparation, or long-term education plans.

NSW Schools Dominated the List

One thing that really stood out was how many NSW schools appeared in the top rankings.

Out of the top 250 public primary schools, NSW had the largest number of schools included. Victoria also performed strongly, while Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT also had schools represented.

Queensland’s top public primary school was Sunnybank Hills State School, while Victoria’s top-ranked school was Beverley Hills Primary School.

Western Australia’s Dalkeith Primary School, South Australia’s Rose Park Primary School, and Tasmania’s Albuera Street Primary School were also recognised as leading public primary schools in their states.

It’s always interesting to see how different states compare, but as a Sydney mum, I have to admit — I wasn’t shocked to see so many NSW schools near the top.

But Should Parents Choose a School Based on Rankings Alone?

This is where I think we need to take a deep breath.

As parents, it’s very easy to look at a ranking and immediately start comparing.

“Is my child’s school on the list?”
“Should we move suburbs?”
“Are we missing out?”
“Is this school better than ours?”

I completely understand that feeling.

But school rankings are only one part of the picture.

A school with strong academic results can be wonderful, but that doesn’t automatically mean it is the perfect school for every child.

Some children thrive in a very academic, high-achieving environment. Others need a warmer, smaller, more nurturing school where they feel confident and supported.

Especially in primary school, children are not just learning maths and reading. They are learning how to make friends, how to speak up, how to manage emotions, how to try again after mistakes, and how to feel safe in a classroom.

That matters too.

What I Would Look at as a Mum

If I were choosing a primary school, I would definitely look at rankings — but I wouldn’t stop there.

I would also think about:

• whether my child would feel comfortable there
• how supportive the teachers seem
• whether the school community feels welcoming
• how far the school is from home
• whether the school suits my child’s personality
• whether the school focuses on wellbeing as well as academics

Sometimes the “best” school on paper is not necessarily the best school for your child.

And sometimes a school that doesn’t appear in the top 10, or even the top 100, may still be a beautiful fit for your family.

Good School Zones Are Still Powerful

One thing this ranking does remind us of is that school zones still play a big role in family decisions.

In Sydney especially, many parents consider school catchments when buying or renting a home. And when certain public schools become highly ranked, the surrounding suburbs often become even more attractive to families.

It’s not just about the school itself. It’s about the whole environment — the families, the expectations, the community, and the opportunities children are surrounded by.

But of course, moving for a school is a big decision. It affects budget, lifestyle, commute, and family routines.

So while a strong school ranking is helpful, I think it should be treated as a guide rather than the final answer.

I do think these rankings are useful.

They give parents a starting point. They help us see which schools are performing well academically and which areas may have strong learning environments.

But as a mum, I also think we need to be careful not to let rankings make us anxious.

A good school is not just a school with high test results.

A good school is a place where your child feels safe, encouraged, challenged, and understood.

It’s a place where they can build confidence, make friends, develop good habits, and slowly grow into themselves.

So yes, it’s worth reading the rankings.
Yes, it’s worth doing your research.
And yes, school choice is important.

But at the end of the day, the best school is the one where your child can genuinely thrive — not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.

As parents, that’s what we’re really hoping for, isn’t it?

No.	School Name	Location	National Rank
1	Beecroft Public School	Beecroft	1
2	Roseville Public School	Roseville	2
3	Matthew Pearce Public School	Baulkham Hills	3
4	St Ives North Public School	St Ives	4
5	Lindfield East Public School	East Lindfield	5
6	Epping Public School	Epping	8
7	Cherrybrook Public School	Cherrybrook	13
8	Artarmon Public School	Artarmon	14
9	Murray Farm Public School	Carlingford	15
10	Hornsby North Public School	Hornsby	17
11	Oakhill Drive Public School	Castle Hill	21
12	Carlingford West Public School	Carlingford	23
13	Gordon East Public School	Gordon	24
14	Epping West Public School	Epping	25
15	North Rocks Public School	North Rocks	26
16	Neutral Bay Public School	Neutral Bay	27
17	Dobroyd Point Public School	Haberfield	28
18	Hurstville Public School	Hurstville	29
19	Epping Heights Public School	Epping	30
20	Woollahra Public School	Woollahra	31
21	Eastwood Public School	Eastwood	33
22	Pymble Public School	Pymble	34
23	Lindfield Public School	Lindfield	35
24	Summer Hill Public School	Summer Hill	36
25	West Pymble Public School	West Pymble	37
26	West Ryde Public School	West Ryde	39
27	Denistone East Public School	Eastwood	40
28	Warrawee Public School	Turramurra	41
29	Gordon West Public School	Pymble	42
30	Wahroonga Public School	Wahroonga	46
31	Girraween Public School	Girraween	47
32	Earlwood Public School	Earlwood	48
33	Jasper Road Public School	Baulkham Hills	49
34	Kent Road Public School	Eastwood	50
35	John Purchase Public School	Cherrybrook	52
36	Turramurra Public School	Turramurra	53
37	Camdenville Public School	Newtown	54
38	Excelsior Public School	Castle Hill	58
39	Annandale Public School	Annandale	59
40	Beaumont Road Public School	Killara	60
41	Ermington Public School	West Ryde	64
42	Chatswood Public School	Chatswood	65
43	Forestville Public School	Forestville	68
44	Strathfield North Public School	North Strathfield	69
45	Bella Vista Public School	Bella Vista	71
46	Cammeray Public School	Cammeray	74
47	Waitara Public School	Wahroonga	75
48	Glenmore Road Public School	Paddington	76
49	Sydney Distance Education Primary School	Surry Hills	77
50	Annangrove Public School	Annangrove	78
51	Mosman Public School	Mosman	79
52	Lane Cove Public School	Lane Cove	89
53	Crestwood Public School	Baulkham Hills	90
54	Randwick Public School	Randwick	94
55	Balmain Public School	Balmain	95
56	Castle Hill Public School	Castle Hill	96
57	Rose Bay Public School	Rose Bay	97
58	Castle Cove Public School	Castle Cove	101
59	Coogee Public School	Coogee	102
60	Ashfield Public School	Ashfield	107
61	Bellevue Hill Public School	Bellevue Hill	108
62	Mowbray Public School	Lane Cove	109
63	Haberfield Public School	Haberfield	112
64	Turramurra North Public School	North Turramurra	117
65	Normanhurst Public School	Normanhurst	118
66	Samuel Gilbert Public School	Castle Hill	120
67	Paddington Public School	Paddington	123
68	Waverley Public School	Waverley	124
69	Smalls Road Public School	Ryde	127
70	Killarney Heights Public School	Killarney Heights	128
71	Normanhurst West Public School	Thornleigh	130
72	Carlingford Public School	Carlingford	138
73	Marie Bashir Public School	Strathfield	140
74	Truscott Street Public School	North Ryde	142
75	North Ryde Public School	North Ryde	144
76	Vaucluse Public School	Vaucluse	145
77	Balgowlah Heights Public School	Balgowlah	148
78	Epping North Public School	North Epping	152
79	Baulkham Hills North Public School	Baulkham Hills	153
80	Northbridge Public School	Northbridge	154
81	Greenwich Public School	Greenwich	155
82	Oatley West Public School	Oatley	156
83	Pennant Hills Public School	Pennant Hills	158
84	Thornleigh West Public School	Thornleigh	160
85	Beauty Point Public School	Mosman	164
86	Killara Public School	Killara	165
87	Sutherland Public School	Sutherland	169
88	Roselea Public School	Carlingford	172
89	Erskineville Public School	Erskineville	173
90	Kellyville Public School	Kellyville	175
91	Forest Lodge Public School	Forest Lodge	176
92	Eastwood Heights Public School	Eastwood	178
93	Bronte Public School	Bronte	182
94	Ironbark Ridge Public School	Rouse Hill	183
95	Willoughby Public School	Willoughby	188
96	Rozelle Public School	Rozelle	190
97	Crown Street Public School	Surry Hills	194
98	Leichhardt Public School	Leichhardt	203
99	Caddies Creek Public School	Glenwood	204
100	Double Bay Public School	Double Bay	205