James Ruse Agricultural High School: how selective entry works

James Ruse is fully selective, so every Year 7 place comes through the Selective test. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} You apply to the NSW Department of Education, not to the school, and list James Ruse as one of up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} school choices.

Your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Places go by test performance and the order of your school choices^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and the test is the same for every school on your list.

1. See the school first

   James Ruse runs student-led campus tours in school hours, about an hour long, then an information session with the Principal or Deputy Principal^{3James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Book through its Enrol page.

2. Apply and list your choices

   One online application to the Department, expected November 2026–February 2027^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected} for entry in 2028.

3. Your child sits the test

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

4. One offer at most, at first

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

5. Reserve lists

   A declined James Ruse place goes to the next child on its reserve list. ^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

What makes James Ruse an agricultural school?

At James Ruse, agriculture is compulsory in Years 7 to 10^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The school's curriculum includes an accelerated study of Agriculture for every student in Years 7 to 10^{7James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The school sits on 10 hectares, half of them a working farm with Angus cattle, sheep and hens^{8James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. It opened in 1959 as a boys' high school^{8James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published} and has taken girls and boys since 1977^{8James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Of the 4^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} agricultural high schools, James Ruse is the one with day places only. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

James Ruse is at 17–31 Felton Road, Carlingford^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - Parramatta^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. The school has around 860 students, from all over Sydney^{7James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Your child makes this trip every school day, and the Department notes that less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The school's travel page lists buses from Epping Station and Parramatta Station^{11James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, and the L4 Westmead & Carlingford light rail line^{11James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Plan your commute opens the school's location in your own map app. ^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Possibly, in Years 8 to 11, through the school's own process. James Ruse uses an Edutest entrance exam, then an application and an interview, both by invitation^{13James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. For the last round, the Department's Years 8 to 11 form is not used^{13James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. ^{14NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Joining courses the year group already takes early is not always possible^{13James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Next round's dates come from the school's enrolment pathways page.

The Department asks you to weigh your child's interests and abilities, academic and co-curricular needs, social and emotional needs, and any specialised support^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Tick what's true; nothing is saved or sent.

• ✓

  Your child wants to go there. The Department calls choosing a school your child wants to go to^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} an important consideration.

• ✓

  The daily trip to Carlingford works, both ways, at school times.

• ✓

  Your child is happy to study agriculture, which is compulsory in Years 7 to 10. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  A coeducational day school suits your child. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  You've read what support the school lists. ^{7James Ruse AHS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  You've visited, or booked a tour.

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for James Ruse or any selective school. The result needed changes each year with who applies, how they perform and the places available.

A "cut-off" you see elsewhere is not a Department figure. HSC results and ATARs describe past Year 12 students, not how Year 7 places are offered. We don't publish reviews: the Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

James Ruse uses the same dates as every selective school. 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}

   Apply, with James Ruse 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

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 first three are the nearest selective schools, by straight line from the Department's coordinates. The other three agricultural high schools are the closest in type, and all take boarders.

For boarding at Farrer and Yanco, you apply to the school. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} Search every school by suburb.