Prairiewood High School: how selective stream entry works

In Year 7, only through the NSW Selective test. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} The NSW Department of Education takes the applications, runs the test and makes the offers for every selective school, Prairiewood included.

Your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. You name up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools, and the Department offers places on test performance and the order of your school choices^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

1. Apply online

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

2. Test

   Expected early May 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}, and sat only in NSW^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

3. Offer

   Expected August 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. At first a child receives one offer, at most. ^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

4. Reserve

   When a Prairiewood offer is declined, the place moves to the next child on its reserve list. ^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

How big is the selective stream at Prairiewood?

Prairiewood keeps at most 60 selective students in each year group^{6Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The rest of each year is local students, since the school has selective classes inside a local high school^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Buses stop at the T-Way at Stocklands or at the front of the school^{8Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}, the school's travel page says. It lists school buses 9507 to Abbotsbury via Fairfield West, 9569 to Fairfield station and 9624 to Mount Vernon via Cecil Park^{8Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The nearest train station is Fairfield^{8Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Students may qualify for free or subsidised travel to and from school^{9Transport for NSW · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The Department notes that 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. ^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Why do two addresses appear for Prairiewood?

The Department lists the school at Prairie Vale Road, Wetherill Park^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - South West^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. The school's own travel page gives 203-215 Restwell Road, Prairiewood NSW 2176^{8Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Use the school's page for directions and drop-off.

Yes, if a place is free. For Years 8 to 11 you apply directly to the school, between late June and late July each year^{6Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}, though the last round closed on 24 July 2026^{12NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. ^{12NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} Selection rests on academic merit and the documents you provide^{6Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Later-entry reserve lists last only that school year: they may close after Term 2^{12NSW Education · 12 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 applies; nothing is recorded.

• ✓

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

• ✓

  A co-ed school with a capped selective stream suits your child. ^{6Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  A bus from the T-Way or a train to Fairfield works. ^{8Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Programs like accelerated Mathematics or Astronomy interest your child. ^{13Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Your child would enjoy a school farm. ^{14Prairiewood High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  You've visited, or asked to. ^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Prairiewood's selective stream, or any other. The level needed varies each year with how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

A Year 12 results table won't tell you what a Year 7 offer needs. For first-hand views, the Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Prairiewood uses the statewide Year 7 dates. Exact dates for Year 7 entry in 2028: Not published^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published}. The months below are expected.

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

   Apply, naming Prairiewood

   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

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)^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} only by declining that accepted offer by then. ^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

These three are nearest by straight line, from the Department's coordinates.

See every school.