Discover which NSW public primary schools topped the 2025 NAPLAN rankings \u2014 and what it really means for your child’s Selective Test preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By TestRoom | Updated May 2026 | 8 min read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child is in primary school in NSW, there is a good chance you have had at least one conversation about which school is best. And every year, when NAPLAN results drop, that conversation gets a whole lot louder in school pick-up lines, Facebook groups, and family group chats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2025 NAPLAN results are now in \u2014 and the latest rankings of the top 100 public primary schools in NSW are out. So whether you are researching school zones, curious about how your child’s school performed, or simply doing what NSW parents do (obsessing over education), this guide breaks it all down for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Important note: NAPLAN is one snapshot of academic performance. It does not measure creativity, resilience, sporting achievement, or how happy your child will be at school. Use this list as a starting point, not the final word.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The 2025 NAPLAN results were released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Schools are assessed across four domains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 sit the NAPLAN assessment. For primary school rankings, Year 3 and Year 5 results are the most relevant \u2014 they reflect the core learning years before students transition to selective high schools or OC (Opportunity Class) programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NSW public schools had an outstanding year in 2025, scoring significantly above the national average for the second year running. A focus on explicit teaching \u2014 backed by the Department of Education’s What Works Best research \u2014 is widely credited for the strong results across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to rankings published by the Daily Telegraph using ACARA data, Sydney’s north and north-west dominated the top spots in 2025. Beecroft Public School took out the number one position, followed by Roseville Public School and Matthew Pearce Public School in Baulkham Hills, with St Ives North Public School and Lindfield East Public School rounding out the top five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to look up your child’s school directly? Visit myschool.edu.au to access the official ACARA data and see how every school in NSW performed in the 2025 NAPLAN assessment.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The NSW Department of Education also released its 2025 ‘Schools Making a Difference’ list \u2014 highlighting schools performing above expectations relative to their student demographics. This list included schools from a wide range of communities, from Carlingford and Artarmon in the north-west through to Penrith South, Engadine, St Johns Park, and Hurstville \u2014 showing that strong academic results are not limited to any one postcode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking across the published 2025 top 100, a few clear patterns stand out for NSW parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. OC Schools Punch Above Their Weight <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Schools that host Opportunity Class (OC) programs consistently rank in the top tier. OC classes cater to academically gifted Year 5 and Year 6 students, and their presence in a school significantly lifts overall NAPLAN performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child is aiming for an OC placement, those results are not an accident \u2014 they reflect years of deliberate, targeted preparation by both families and schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. North and North-West Sydney Dominate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of the top-ranked schools are located in Sydney’s north (Artarmon, Roseville, Chatswood, St Ives) and north-west (Beecroft, Epping, Carlingford, Baulkham Hills). These areas have historically strong communities of academic engagement and well-resourced schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, the 2025 list is not exclusively leafy postcodes. Schools from Penrith, Engadine, Cronulla, and St Johns Park also feature \u2014 showing that strong results can come from any kind of school community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. The ‘Making a Difference’ Schools Are Worth Watching<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ACARA’s ‘Schools Making a Difference’ list is arguably more meaningful than raw rankings because it identifies schools that are genuinely adding academic value for their students, regardless of socioeconomic background. A school on this list may not top the raw rankings but it can be an outstanding environment for motivated learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For 2025, the NSW Department of Education recognised schools including Carlingford West, Murray Farm, Beecroft, Oakhill Drive, Quakers Hill, Caddies Creek, Kingswood, and several others across metropolitan and regional NSW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the thing most ranking articles do not tell you: being enrolled in a top-ranked public school does not automatically prepare your child for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NSW Selective Test is a separate, highly competitive exam that sits well outside the regular school curriculum. It tests four distinct areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even students at the very top NAPLAN-performing schools need deliberate, structured preparation to be competitive for selective entry. The exam is normed against thousands of students across NSW \u2014 many of whom have been preparing for one to two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A child at Beecroft Public School and a child at a regional school both sit the exact same Selective Test. What sets them apart is not postcode \u2014 it is preparation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is exactly why platforms like TestRoom exist. TestRoom gives NSW students in Years 5 and 6 access to:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n If you are a NSW parent researching schools or preparing your child for selective entry, here is how to use NAPLAN rankings sensibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TestRoom offers NSW-specific Selective Test practice papers, smart analytics, and a study plan built around how your child actually learns. Whether they are just starting out or in full preparation mode, TestRoom meets them where they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
What Are the 2025 NAPLAN Results Based On?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Who Topped the 2025 NSW Public Primary School Rankings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What Do the Top Schools Have in Common?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Does This Mean for Selective Test Preparation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
How to Use School Rankings as a Parent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Use them as a starting point, not a verdict
<\/strong>Rankings give you a useful snapshot of academic performance at a point in time. But visit the school. Talk to other parents. Ask about the school culture, how teachers handle different learning styles, and what the Year 5 and 6 experience actually looks like day to day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for the OC factor
<\/strong>If you see a public school near the top of the rankings and it hosts an OC program, that is a meaningful signal. OC placement is a significant academic milestone and a well-regarded stepping stone toward selective high school entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check the ‘Making a Difference’ schools
<\/strong>A school that performs above expectations for its demographic is often one with exceptional teaching quality. Do not overlook these schools simply because they sit lower in the raw rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verify school data directly
<\/strong>For accurate, up-to-date NAPLAN results for any specific school, always go directly to the source: myschool.edu.au. This is ACARA’s official platform and the most reliable place to compare school performance data across NSW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pair school choice with preparation
<\/strong>No matter which public primary school your child attends, if they are aiming for a selective high school, structured preparation is essential. Year 4 is not too soon to start exploring what the test looks like. By Year 5, a consistent practice routine makes a significant difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReady to give your child a competitive edge?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n