The elite schools this Penrith school beat in the HSC

Western Sydney’s students have leapt into the stratosphere with this year’s HSC — as analysis of the top-ranked schools reveals more are based outside the Northern Beaches, eastern suburbs and south Sydney than in 2023.

Western Sydney’s students have leapt into the stratosphere with this year’s HSC as analysis of the top-ranked schools reveals more are based outside the Northern Beaches, eastern suburbs and south Sydney than in 2023.

The Daily Telegraph’s analysis of the top 200 schools in the state, ranked based on the proportion of their HSC entries that returned marks 90 or above out of 100, shows 68 Western Sydney public, independent and Catholic schools, up from 58 on last year’s list.

Academically selective public school Penrith High School smashed dozens of high-fee private schools including Queenwood, PLC Croydon, The Scots College and Cranbrook after ranking 30th overall – up six places from 2023 – and, more importantly, beat longtime selective school rivals Girraween High School.

The Class of 2024 at Penrith – which has historically been outranked by Girraween including for the past 10 years – made a collective pact to beat their peers in other schools, outgoing school captain Cassidy Lauguico revealed.

“Right after our trials, we all came together as a grade, and we all decided we wanted to improve our school rank,” she said. “It was this idea of community and connection and teamwork going into the HSC and studying … not only for ourselves but for everyone else.

Jiya Barot (ATAR 99.70), Satvik Warrier (ATAR 99.65), Cassidy Lauguico (ATAR: 97.45) and Dhruvil Patel (ATAR 96) from Penrith Selective High School. Picture: Monique Harmer

For all the students in Western Sydney it truly is a testament (to) what you decide to do every day … I know it sounds really daunting competing against selective schools, private schools, Catholic schools, but if one person can do it, the entire grade can.”

Principal Jaclyn Cush said the results are “incredibly special”, and asked about how it feels to rank above prestigious private schools such as Kings, Cranbrook and Scots, Ms Cush said she was filled with pride.

Penrith Selective High School’s Head Teacher Mathematics Dr Anju Katyal. Picture: Monique Harmer

“It’s a win for Western Sydney. It send the message you can do anything regardless of your background or where you come from,” she said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said she was also proud of the schools’ results and congratulated the “students, teachers and families who make it happen”.

“As someone who grew up and went to school in Western Sydney it is a source of great pride for me that the region is punching above its weight,” she said.

“I know Western Sydney is bursting with talent because I see it every day in our schools and in communities like my own, so it is great to see it being recognised through the HSC.”

Cambridge Park High School didn’t have a single Band 6 result in 2023 but this year managed to place 1.75 per cent of their entries in the top tier, which saw the school rise 154 places to 507th overall.

Principal Nic Webb was “super excited” by the results, saying the school has seen “consistent growth” over the past five years.

Tasfia (ATAR 87) and Riley (ATAR 85.20) from Cambridge Park High School. Picture: Monique Harmer

“In 2019, 22 per cent of our students achieved in the top three bands,” she said. “And this year, in 2024, 49 per cent of our students achieved in the top three bands.”

Seventeen-year-old student Riley said he was proud of his school and his teachers who were “beyond supportive, always working past their scheduled shifts (and) going above and beyond”.

“I think we could even jump up further,” he said.

It was the bright sparks at North Sydney Boys High School who won first place, pipping fellow selective school James Ruse Agricultural High for the second year running.

North Sydney Boys had almost 65 per cent of their entries in Band 6 (each school may have has many as eight HSC “entries” for a single student), a slight fall from the 69 per cent recorded in 2023, while James Ruse had 63 per cent in the highest band, up from 60 per cent.

Inner city private boys’ school Sydney Grammar School, which charges fees up to $46,000 a year, ranked third and improved its standing by five places with 56 per cent Band 6s, as did Normanhurst Boys High School, ranked fourth overall with 55 per cent Band 6s.

In addition to receiving their final marks in their HSC subjects, Year 12 graduates also received their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank on Wednesday after a glitchy start in which students were met with error messages as they franticly refreshed the Universities Admissions Centre website.

After calling for “patience”, UAC confirmed more than 20,000 students had already successfully accessed their ATAR before the official release time of 9AM.