Schools and students: 2016 statistical bulletin
This bulletin was originally published 20 July 2017.
Summary
NSW government
| NSW government schools | |
|---|---|
| Primary and infants schools | 1,608 |
| Central/community schools | 66 |
| Secondary schools | 401 |
| Schools for Specific Purposes (SSP) | 112 |
| Environmental Education Centres (EEC) | 23 |
| Total government schools | 2,210 |
| Preschools attached to primary/infants schools | 99 |
| Separate preschools | 1 |
| Total preschools | 100 |
| Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolments | |
|---|---|
| Primary enrolments | 475,073.0 |
| Secondary enrolments | 300,069.9 |
| SSP enrolments | 5,457.0 |
| Total enrolments | 780,599.9 |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students | |
|---|---|
| Total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments | 56,580.5 |
| Percentage of total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments | 7.2% |
| Part-time students | |
|---|---|
| Number of part-time students | 2,173.0 |
| FTE enrolments | 1,342.9 |
| Preschool students | |
|---|---|
| Number of preschool students | 4,446 |
| FTE enrolments | 2,395.7 |
| Students from language background other than English (LBOTE) | |
|---|---|
| LBOTE enrolments in government schools | 260,599 |
| LBOTE enrolments as percentage of total enrolments | 33.1% |
| Attendance rate (Semester 1) | |
|---|---|
| Primary (Years 1-6) | 93.8% |
| Secondary (Years 7-10) | 89.7% |
| Years 1-10 (Including Support) | 92.4% |
| Average primary class size | |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten to Year 6 | 24.1 |
| HSC Year 12 student completions | |
|---|---|
| HSC award | 38,589 |
NSW non-government
| NSW non-government schools | |
|---|---|
| Primary schools | 494 |
| Secondary schools | 142 |
| Primary/secondary schools | 239 |
| Special schools | 54 |
| Total non-government schools | 929 |
| Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolments | |
|---|---|
| Primary enrolments | 204,513.5 |
| Secondary enrolments | 209,074.2 |
| Total enrolments | 413,587.7 |
For more information
- To access data, visit the NSW Education Insights Hub.
- To read our other statistical publications.
- The Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation is committed to making online content accessible to the widest possible audience. If you require an accessible version of a PDF published prior to 2018 please contact us.
Last modified date
02/02/2026
Business unit contact email
Executive director
Jacqueline Hodges, Silva Hiendra
Executive director’s business unit
Education and Skills Reform