Chatswood High School: how selective entry works

For most families, the Selective test is their one way into Chatswood. Its local classes are full: the school says it is at enrolment capacity, so only students living in its intake zone can apply to enrol^{2Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Selective classes have no catchment, so any child who sits the test can list Chatswood. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Chatswood is partially selective^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, meaning selective classes inside a local high school^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. You apply once to the NSW Department of Education, naming up to 3^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools in order.

1. Apply in Year 5

   Expected November 2026–February 2027^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected} for entry in 2028. Chatswood goes in your list of choices.

2. Sit the test in Year 6

   Expected early May 2027^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}, held only in NSW^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

3. Outcomes

   Expected August 2027^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. One offer at first^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, from the highest choice your child qualifies for.

4. Places that free up

   When a family declines Chatswood, the place goes down Chatswood's reserve list. ^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Which Chatswood classes can your child join, and how?

Chatswood has three routes for Year 7, and only one of them uses the Selective test. Where you live decides the other two.

Gifted class places are kept on academic performance, and students may be moved out at any time^{7Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Selective places are separate: they come only through the Department's test.

Chatswood High School is on Centennial Avenue, Chatswood^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. Selective students travel in from many suburbs, so test the trip at school times.

The school's travel page links its travel access guide. The Department notes that less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{3NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Plan your commute opens Chatswood's location in your own map app. ^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Yes, if a place opens, through Chatswood's own Edutest process. The school's process is registering for an Edutest entrance test, which replaces the Department's application form^{8Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. ^{12NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

You register with Edutest for each school, but your child sits the test only once^{8Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. For entry in 2027 the schools were Chatswood, Baulkham Hills, North Sydney Boys, North Sydney Girls, James Ruse and Sydney Girls^{8Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Vacancies depend on students leaving, and some schools have none in some years^{12NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The Department asks you to think about your child's interests and abilities, academic and co-curricular needs, social and emotional needs, and any specialised support^{3NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Tick what fits; nothing is saved or sent.

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  Your child wants this school. The Department calls choosing a school your child wants to go to^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} an important consideration.

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  The trip to Chatswood works in both directions at school times.

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  Your child likes languages: Chatswood teaches Chinese, French and Japanese^{13Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Your child would enjoy Year 7 language tasters: semester-long taster courses, one language per semester^{13Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  You're fine judging the school without a walk-through: Chatswood offers no in-person school tours^{14Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  A coeducational school suits your child. Chatswood opened in 1959, as a new co-educational secondary school^{15Chatswood HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Chatswood's selective stream. The level needed shifts with how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{6NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

HSC rankings cover every Year 12 student in past years, selective or not, and don't show how Year 7 places are offered. The Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{3NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Year 7 entry follows the statewide Selective dates. Exact dates for Year 7 entry in 2028: Not published^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published}. The months below are expected.

1. November 2026–February 2027 Expected^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Applications, with Chatswood in your list

   For a child in Year 5 in 2026.

2. early May 2027 Expected^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   The Selective test

3. August 2027 Expected^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Outcomes

Years 8 to 11 entry in 2028: Not published^{12NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Not published}. If this school is a higher choice than an offer you've accepted, you can stay on its reserve list after 3 December 2026, 3 pm (Sydney time)^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} only by declining that accepted offer by then. ^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

The three nearest selective schools with Year 7 places, by straight line from the Department's coordinates.

The two North Sydney schools are fully selective, while Ryde, like Chatswood, mixes selective and local classes. Search every school by suburb.