Parramatta High School: how its selective classes fill

For Year 7, only through the NSW Selective test. Parramatta is partially selective^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, which means selective classes inside a local high school^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Its other classes take local students.

You apply to the NSW Department of Education, not to the school, and list Parramatta as one of up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} choices. Your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and offers go by test performance and the order of your school choices^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

1. Apply for the selective stream

   Expected November 2026–February 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected} for entry in 2028, with Parramatta in your list.

2. Sit the Selective test

   Expected early May 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. It's the same test for fully and partially selective schools.

3. See the outcome

   Expected August 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. One offer at first^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, from the highest choice your child reaches.

4. Reserve places

   A declined Parramatta selective place goes to the next child on its reserve list. ^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

How do the selective and local classes differ?

They differ in how students join. The selective stream has 60 student places in each year group from Years 7 to 10^{5Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, filled by the Selective test in Year 7. The local classes take children who live in a local intake area, which you check with School Finder^{6Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Ask the school which subjects and activities the two groups share.

The school is at Great Western Hwy & Pitt St, Parramatta^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - Parramatta^{8NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. Selective students can come from anywhere, so the trip deserves a trial run.

The school's travel page asks families to contact it about buses and trains, rather than listing routes. There is no on-site parking^{9Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, so plan drop-offs with care.

The Department notes less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Plan your commute opens the school in your own map app. ^{8NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Sometimes, in Years 8 to 10, if a place opens. Parramatta runs this itself ^{11NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and selection is by merit alone, with no exam: the HAST is not used^{5Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Nearby Girraween, by contrast, uses the HAST. ^{12Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published} At Parramatta, a panel reads your documents and ranks them: a selection panel ranks applications by academic merit, and successful candidates hear by email in Term 4^{5Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The school won't give outcomes over the phone. Dates for entry in 2028 are not published^{11NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Not published}.

What should go in a Years 8 to 10 application?

The panel works only from what you send, and accepts nothing after you submit. Include the latest school reports, NAPLAN results where your child has them, and any evidence of strong extracurricular work. ^{5Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

The Department suggests weighing 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 kept.

• ✓

  Your child is comfortable in a school where selective and local classes sit side by side. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Cricket matters: Parramatta has a Cricket Academy with teams in all years^{13Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  Your child plays or sings: the school has a band program with Concert and Big Bands, and a choir^{13Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  You've worked out the trip and drop-off, with no parking on site. ^{9Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Your child wants to go there. ^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Parramatta's selective stream. The level needed depends on how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

School-wide HSC tables mix selective and local students, and say nothing about Year 7 entry. For a feel of the school, the Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Parramatta's selective stream follows the statewide Year 7 dates. For entry in 2028 they're expected, not published. ^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published}

1. November 2026–February 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Apply, listing Parramatta

   For a child in Year 5 in 2026.

2. early May 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   The Selective test

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

   Outcomes

For Years 8 to 10, successful candidates hear by email in Term 4. ^{5Parramatta HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

These are the three nearest by straight line from the Department's coordinates. Two are single-sex; Girraween is the nearest fully selective co-ed school.

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