Primary schools (K–6)

High schools

In New South Wales, a high school generally covers Years 7 to 12 in the education system, and a central or community school, intended to provide comprehensive education in a rural district, covers Kindergarten to Year 12. An additional class of high schools has emerged in recent years as a result of amalgamations which have produced multi-campus colleges consisting of Junior and Senior campuses.

While most schools are comprehensive and take in all students of high school age living within the defined school boundaries, some schools are either specialist in a given Key Learning Area, or selective in that they set examinations or other performance criteria for entrance. In the Illawarra and South East regions, Karabar (in Queanbeyan) and Smith's Hill (in Wollongong) are selective, whilst Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts and Illawarra Sports High School are specialist.

Approximately 2,000 New South Wales students attend schools in the Australian Capital Territory. The Territory has its own education system separate from the New South Wales system. Students who take this option may still apply to enrol in a New South Wales university through the University Admissions Centre upon completing year 12.

Special schools

Special schools are public schools designed for children or youth with chronic disabilities or who for other reasons cannot be accommodated in the comprehensive school system.

Defunct primary schools

Catholic primary schools

In New South Wales, Catholic primary schools are usually (but not always) linked to a parish. Prior to the 1970s, most schools were founded by religious institutes, but with the decrease in membership of these institutes, together with major reforms inside the church, lay teachers and administrators began to take over the schools, a process which completed by approximately 1995. The Catholic Education Office (CEO), located in the Canberra-Goulburn and Broken Bay dioceses of the Church, is responsible for coordinating administration, curriculum and policy across the Catholic school system. Preference for enrolment is given to Catholic students from the parish or local area, although non-Catholic students are admitted if room is available.

Catholic high schools

Other private schools

Special-purpose private schools

The Government of New South Wales recognises a registration category of schools known as "Prescribed Non-Government Schools" which serve the same purposes as Special Schools but are privately operated.

Defunct private schools