Education in New South Wales, Australia: official figures
New South Wales had 3,139 schools in 2025 (2,158 government, 597 Catholic and 384 independent) with 1,257,730 students enrolled, +0.1% on 2024.
How many students go to public schools in New South Wales?
61.5% of school students in New South Wales attended government schools in 2025 (national share 62.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many Indigenous students are there in New South Wales?
There were 96,584 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in New South Wales schools in 2025, 7.7% of all students (Australia 6.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the student-teacher ratio in New South Wales?
In 2025 there were 13.2 full-time-equivalent students for every full-time-equivalent teacher in New South Wales schools, compared with 12.8 for Australia (2nd highest of 8; a lower ratio means smaller classes on average).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat percentage of students finish Year 12 in New South Wales?
The apparent retention rate from Year 10 to Year 12 in New South Wales was 75.1% in 2025 and from Year 7/8 to Year 12 was 74.4% (Australia: 81.5% and 81.3%). It compares students enrolled in each year and is not a graduation rate.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat percentage of people in New South Wales completed Year 12?
At the 2021 Census 58.9% of people in New South Wales had completed Year 12 or equivalent, 3rd highest of 8 states and territories.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in New South Wales have a university degree?
18.4% of people in New South Wales held a bachelor degree and 7.4% a postgraduate degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census; 64.1% had any non-school qualification.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children attend preschool in New South Wales?
80,974 four-year-olds in New South Wales were enrolled in a preschool program in 2024.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many young people in New South Wales are in work or study?
81.5% of 15 to 24 year olds in New South Wales were fully engaged in work or study at the 2021 Census (3rd highest of 8 states and territories).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow New South Wales compares with other states
People who completed Year 12 or equivalent, Census 2021 (2021)
New South Wales ranks 3 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who completed Year 12 or equivalent, Census 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australian Capital Territory | 77.0% |
| 2 | Victoria | 61.8% |
| 3 | New South Wales | 58.9% |
| 4 | Western Australia | 58.0% |
| 5 | Queensland | 57.1% |
| 6 | South Australia | 54.6% |
| 7 | Northern Territory | 49.8% |
Apparent retention rate, Year 10 to Year 12, 2025 (2025)
New South Wales ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Apparent retention rate, Year 10 to Year 12, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South Australia | 87.2% |
| 3 | Western Australia | 86.7% |
| 4 | Victoria | 85.0% |
| 5 | Queensland | 83.1% |
| 6 | New South Wales | 75.1% |
| 7 | Tasmania | 70.0% |
| 8 | Northern Territory | 64.2% |
Students per teacher (full-time equivalent), 2025 (2025)
New South Wales ranks 2 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Students per teacher (full-time equivalent), 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Australia | 13.7 |
| 2 | New South Wales | 13.2 |
| 3 | South Australia | 13.0 |
| 4 | Australian Capital Territory | 13.0 |
| 5 | Queensland | 12.9 |
| 6 | Victoria | 11.9 |
| 7 | Tasmania | 11.8 |
People with a bachelor degree, Census 2021 (2021)
New South Wales ranks 3 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with a bachelor degree, Census 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australian Capital Territory | 24.2% |
| 2 | Victoria | 18.8% |
| 3 | New South Wales | 18.4% |
| 4 | Western Australia | 16.4% |
| 5 | South Australia | 15.2% |
| 6 | Queensland | 15.0% |
| 7 | Tasmania | 13.8% |
More on New South Wales: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Census of Population and Housing 2021, state and territory results (via ABS Data by region): health conditions, education, housing costs, homelessness, disadvantage, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7f6d87de31d5…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Schools, 2025: Table 90a key information by state, Table 53a student-teacher ratios, Table 64a retention rates, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3ecf57c8e83…)
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