Schools and students: 2021 statistical bulletin
This bulletin was originally published 30 May 2022.
Summary
NSW government
| Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolments | |
|---|---|
| Primary enrolments | 485,889.0 |
| Secondary enrolments | 310,421.4 |
| SSP enrolments | 5,872.0 |
| Total enrolments | 802,182.4 |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students | |
|---|---|
| Total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments | 68,015.4 |
| Percent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments | 8.5% |
| Part-time students | |
|---|---|
| Number of part-time students | 1,790 |
| FTE enrolments | 1,196.4 |
| Preschool students | |
|---|---|
| Number of preschool students | 4,203 |
| FTE enrolments | 2,229.5 |
| Students with language background other than English (LBOTE) | |
|---|---|
| LBOTE enrolments | 302,799 |
| LBOTE enrolments as per cent of total enrolments | 37.2% |
| Attendance rate Semester 1 (including support) | |
|---|---|
| Primary (Years 1-6) | 92.3% |
| Secondary (Years 7-10) | 86.1% |
| Years 1-10 | 90.1% |
| Average primary class size | |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten to Year 6 | 23.6 |
| HSC Year 12 | |
|---|---|
| HSC awards | 36,698 |
| NSW government schools | |
|---|---|
| Primary and infants schools | 1,605 |
| Central/community schools | 68 |
| Secondary schools | 401 |
| Schools for specific purposes (SSPs) | 117 |
| Environmental education centres (EECs) | 23 |
| Total government schools | 2,214 |
| Preschools attached to primary/infants schools | 100 |
| Separate preschools | 1 |
| Total preschools | 101 |
NSW non-government
| Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolments | |
|---|---|
| Primary enrolments | 215,156.7 |
| Secondary enrolments | 225,809.9 |
| Total enrolments | 440,966.6 |
| NSW non-government schools | |
|---|---|
| Primary schools | 491 |
| Secondary schools | 140 |
| Primary/secondary schools | 261 |
| Special schools | 64 |
| Total non-government schools | 956 |
For more information
- To access data, visit the NSW Education Insights Hub.
- To read our other statistical publications.
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