Whether you’re looking to buy your first or next home, there are many factors to consider before purchasing a property. Beyond the perfect backyard or stylish kitchen, prioritising a top school zone supports your child’s unique learning journey to reach their full potential.
While top school catchments are spread across Sydney, non-selective schools are excellent choices for families seeking quality education without a rigorous entry process. These schools foster inclusive, supportive learning options, ensuring your child thrives academically and socially.
By finding the best home in ideal school zones, you’re also investing early to shape your child’s future. Explore our well-curated list of Sydney’s best non-selective schools and what to consider to tip the scales in your home-buying decision.
The 10 Best Non-Selective Schools in Sydney
Living near top-performing, non-selective schools ensures your child builds strong learning foundations without a rigorous admission process. Let’s uncover Sydney’s leading non-selective schools to make informed decisions about your home purchase.
School 1: Epping Public School
- Location: Epping, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: Consistently among the top-performing Sydney public schools (Year 3 Average: 471.2; Year 9 Average: 560.2).
- Key Features: Strong focus on literacy, numeracy, and STEM programs.
With its consistently high academic results, Epping Public School offers enrichment programs to extend academically advanced students. Its diverse learning programs cater for a multicultural community, ensuring your child thrives in a cohesive, caring environment.
Nestled in a vibrant community, Epping ranks 152 out of 596 in Greater Sydney regarding property safety. The suburb’s surroundings offer a range of amenities, including parks, shopping centres, and leisure facilities. This convenience, along with its quality education, makes it the perfect site for growing families.
School 2: Beecroft Public School
- Location: Beecroft, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: Among the top 5 high-performing Sydney public schools (Year 3 Average: 486.4; Year 5 Average: 589).
- Key Features: Focus on music programs, community learning, and sports, offering two opportunity classes for academically advanced students.
Beecroft Public High fosters a culture of lifelong learning, equipping your child with the essential skills to meet any challenges. As students excel in the sporting arena, it exposes them to active engagements and community involvement. Near the campus lies the suburb’s town centre, parks, clinics, and recreational facilities to enhance your family’s convenience.
School 3: Artarmon Public School
- Location: Artarmon, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: Among the top 10 best-performing Sydney public schools (Year 3 Average: 479.2; Year 5 Average: 588.8).
- Key Features: Centre for four opportunity classes with a strong focus on music and physical education programs.
Known for its music excellence, Artarmon Public High offers a rich educational experience for students interested in musical programs. The school also fosters community engagement, immersing students in outdoor learning and programs. Besides this vibrant campus, the suburb has vibrant parks and a reserve, which are great outdoor activities and recreation spots.
School 4: Willoughby Public School
- Location: Willoughby, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: High average results in literacy and numeracy (Year 3 Average: 443.8; Year 5 Average: 532.6).
- Key Features: Advanced learning programs, sports teams, and arts education.
Willoughby Public School has a reputation for performing arts and sporting excellence. Its balanced, enriched curriculum provides your child with a well-rounded education. The campus also boasts large grounds, heritage buildings, and architecturally designed learning spaces.
School 5: Cammeray Public School
- Location: Cammeray, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: Consistently strong performance in literacy and numeracy (Year 3 Average: 463; Year 5 Average: 535.2).
- Key Features: Digital literacy, sustainability initiatives, and co-curricular clubs.
The school is close to the CBD of Sydney, in an attractive and convenient location for families, leading to increased enrollees in recent years. The institution’s extension and enrichment programs support your children in achieving their personal best.
With its extensive resources, the school has an exciting library environment and ground spaces to foster a well-balanced, immersive education. It caters to a multicultural student profile and strongly focuses on a diverse curriculum that fits each student’s learning needs.
School 6: Waitara Public School
- Location: Waitara, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: Among the top 20 best-performing Sydney public schools (Year 3 Average: 455; Year 5 Average: 574.2).
- Key Features: Focus on creativity, cultural diversity, and community engagement.
Established in an area with increasingly dense housing, the school draws diverse students from different cultural and academic backgrounds. Besides its strong technology integration, the campus focuses on data-driven, innovative teaching to enhance learning and engagement.
School 7: Roseville Public School
- Location: Roseville, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: High results in all academic components (Year 3 Average: 491.4; Year 5 Average: 561)
- Key Features: Emphasis on technology, leadership development, and visual arts.
Roseville Public School has strong academic programs, offering specialist instructions to enhance your child’s learning experiences. Well-established in the local area, it provides various enrichment programs that provide additional support for learners with special abilities and interests. Its holistic program ensures your child achieves outstanding results in all curricula.
School 8: Lane Cove Public School
- Location: Lane Cove, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: High average results in literacy and numeracy (Year 3 Average: 475; Year 5 Average: 561.6)
- Key Features: Outstanding music, sports, and language programs.
Located near the busy commercial area of Lane Cove, the school has a long tradition of academic excellence. It provides a well-rounded education to students with unique learning needs and offers unique enrichment through every after-school activity.
Aside from its vibrant community, the school is close to the suburb’s national park, which offers a variety of outdoor activities. Living near the campus has many benefits, as it’s close to public play spaces, a shopping centre, supermarkets, and clinics.
School 9: Summer Hill Public School
- Location: Summer Hill, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: Among the top 15 best-performing Sydney public schools (Year 3 Average 455; Year 5 Average: 577.2).
- Key Features: Focus on creative arts, multicultural education, and well-being programs.
Summer Hill Public School is a large inner-western city school that fosters a culturally diverse and educationally aware community. The school’s extensive extracurricular programs nurture your child’s sports, music, and arts talents. With its well-balanced education, students can explore their interests, which will shape their future careers.
School 10: Drummoyne Public School
- Location: Drummoyne, NSW
- NAPLAN Scores: High-achieving across all subjects (Year 3 Average: 462.6; Year 5 Average: 530)
- Key Features: Focus on STEM education, leadership development, and a modern learning environment.
Drummoyne Public School develops future-focused learners through evidence-based practices. At its core is a caring and inclusive community that fosters your child’s academic success. Given its multicultural student profile, the school further enrich the curriculum to meet each student’s unique learning styles and needs.
With its proximity to Taplin Park and Bay Run, living near the campus provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Besides quality education, the suburb’s friendly vibe makes it welcoming for any family. It has excellent public transport and amenities, making family life more fulfilling and convenient.
How to Choose a Home Near a Top-Rated Non-Selective School
While school rankings are appealing, there are finer details to consider when moving near a high-performing school zone. Here are a few considerations to guide you in this important family decision.
School Catchment Areas
Catchment areas are designated zones that determine which children can attend a school. While these vary in size, schools prioritise accepting children within their catchment area before considering those from outside.
The tricky part is that these zones shift due to changes in student population or school calendars. So, the closer you live to an ideal school, the less you’ll be affected by catchment zone changes.
To secure your child’s eligibility, check if your property falls in the desired catchment zones using the NSW Department of Education School Finder Tool. Consulting with local real estate agents also helps. Once you’ve confirmed the right catchment boundaries, contact the school about specific requirements to seal your child’s enrollment.
Property Prices Near Top Schools
As you might’ve guessed, competition for properties near these top non-selective schools is fierce. This competition in preferred school zones has pushed property prices far above the city’s median.
The good news is that homes near reputable schools retain their value better, making it a sound investment for future resale. As more families prioritise quality education, they are willing to pay more for these homes near institutions with excellent academic performances.
School Facilities and Programs
Aside from test results and rankings, look for schools with diverse curricula and extracurricular opportunities that fit your child’s learning needs and interests. Consider specialised programs that offer resources to enhance your child’s educational experience.
Beyond academics, assess if the desired school has well-equipped classrooms, libraries, sports fields, and laboratories that can inspire learning. Lastly, a strong school community with dedicated educators foster support to help your kids thrive and reach their full potential.
How Zenith Can Help You Secure A Home Loan Pre-Approval
1. Home Loan Pre-Approval
Getting a home loan pre-approval gives you the edge in competitive school zones. This pre-approval letter shows you’re a financially qualified buyer to close the deal in a crowded market. Zenith helps you navigate this process efficiently, ensuring you have strong financial backing to secure your dream home before other families do.
2. Tailored Loan Advice for Families
Each family’s financial needs and housing goals are unique. Zenith provides tailored loan advice that considers your future family plans and budget constraints. We’ll break down the technicalities so you can have a seamless homeownership process.
3. Expert Property Buying Guidance
Navigating the property market is challenging, especially near top-rated schools where homes command higher prices. Zenith offers comprehensive buying guidance, from budgeting to settlement.
Our expert team provides insights into property values, local school performance, and community amenities that align with your family’s educational priorities and investments.
Secure Your Dream Home Near Sydney’s Best Non-Selective Schools
Living near one of Sydney’s best non-selective schools can provide access to top-quality education for your children, boost your home’s value, and reduce the need for private schooling. If you’re looking to buy a house in one of these sought-after school zones, Zenith can help you secure the best loan to make the ideal homeownership happen.
Book an obligation-free consultation with us to discuss your options today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a non-selective school?
Non-selective schools accept students based on catchment zones without specific performance-based entry requirements. These schools emphasise inclusivity and diversity, which exposes your child to real-life engagements and collaborations.
Do I need to live in a catchment zone to access a non-selective school?
Yes, most non-selective schools prioritise enrolment to children living within their catchment zones before considering those from outside.
How do I find out which school catchment zone I’m in?
The NSW Department of Education has a handy online tool to determine whether your home falls in the right catchment zone. Consistently check these catchment zones yearly, as they may change due to shifts in student population or school openings.
How does living near a top non-selective school drive property prices?
Families tend to find high-performing public schools that rival private schools’ education quality. What’s more appealing to these families are non-selective schools, as these don’t have a rigorous entry process. The high demand to reside near these schools propels property prices.
Can Zenith help me buy a home in a school catchment zone?
Absolutely. Zenith offers tailored home loan support to help you secure homes near desirable school zones. We’ll help you find the best loan options that fit your family’s budgets and needs perfectly.
