1. Choose level
Primary, secondary, P–12 and specialist/support settings are separated so a family does not compare unlike pathways.
RATE CHALLENGE SCHOOL EXPLORER · 2026/27
Best Schools in Wollongong NSW: School Explorer & Catchments 2026/27
Explore Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama and compare the things that matter to your family: year level, school type, entry rules, location, enrolment and programs.
94schools/campuses in this explorer
91.5%schools with enrolment information
4schools with specialist programs listed
Websitesofficial school links available
My School ↗official NAPLAN results
How to use the guide
Start with the pathway, then narrow the address.
The Illawarra’s coast-and-escarpment geography makes catchment, rail, bus and road travel part of the school decision. Compare the pathway first, then test the real weekday trip.
2. Choose entry
Filter local-zone/intake schools, selective entry, audition/special entry or application-based non-government schools.
3. Choose strengths
Use the program filter to explore Academic, Sport, Arts, STEM, Languages, IB, Boarding and other programs we have been able to confirm. If something is not listed, check the school website because our list may not cover every activity.
4. Verify before buying
Open NSW School Finder, check the exact residential address, ask the school about capacity and criteria, then test transport and housing costs.
Important: a school zone or catchment is an enrolment tool, not a property-value guarantee. Zones can change, specialist/selective settings use different rules, and out-of-area enrolment may depend on capacity.
Interactive school explorer
Filter the full directory by what matters to your family.
Search the regional school directory, then narrow it by level, sector, entry pathway, location, enrolment, programs and other practical factors.
All levelsPrimarySecondaryP–12Specialist/support
All sectorsGovernmentCatholicIndependent
All pathwaysLocal zone / intakeSelective / special entryApplication / school criteria
All programs
All council / areas
All genders
All sizesUnder 300300–799800+Not published
All fee bandsGovernmentUnder $5k$5k–$15k$15k–$25k$25k+Check school website
See My School for official resultsTop 10%Top 25%Top 50%
Programs & entry options firstA–ZEnrolment: largest firstFees: lower firstNearest to shared locationNAPLAN percentile
For official school-level NAPLAN results, use My School ↗. NAPLAN is one useful measure alongside enrolment, programs, entry pathways, location and the fit for your child.
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Side-by-side comparison · 0 selected
How this guide works
A simple way to compare schools.
We include a broad range of schools and help you compare the things that may matter to your family. We do not accept payment to rank schools, and we do not treat one result as the whole story.
1
Start with a broad school list
We aim to include the schools in the area, not just a hand-picked top ten.
2
Use official information first
Government school directories, enrolment information and school websites are our starting point.
3
Programs are checked
We only list sport, arts, STEM, academic and other programs when we can confirm them from school or government information.
4
Compare what matters to you
Academic results, programs, location, entry rules, costs and travel can all matter differently to each family.
5
Fees are matched carefully
Where we show private-school fees, we match them to the correct school and campus and still recommend checking the latest school fee schedule.
6
Use NAPLAN in context
Use My School ↗ for official NAPLAN results. NAPLAN is useful, but it is only one part of choosing a school.
7
Always check the school zone
School zones can change and may depend on the exact address, so confirm the address in the official state tool before making a property decision.
8
Check the latest details
School programs, fees and enrolment rules can change. Use the links provided and the school website to confirm anything important to your decision.
About the information
What this guide includes.
All NSW government schools in Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama are refreshed from the August 2026 NSW public-schools master dataset. Non-government coverage is a curated official-school layer.
Not every program is listed
Schools may offer sport, music, arts and other activities that are not shown here. Check the school website for the latest program information.
Enrolment numbers can change
Enrolment figures help show the size of a school, but they do not mean places are currently available. Check with the school for current enrolment information.
Private-school fees can change
Check the school’s latest fee schedule for tuition, levies, devices, camps and other costs.
About our data: School details are checked against official directories. Program and fee information is shown where available.
School directory
Schools included in this Wollongong explorer.
Browse schools alphabetically, or use the filters above to narrow the list and compare schools.
Open A–Z school index
- AAlbion Park High School — Albion Park 2527 · Albion Park Public School — Albion Park 2527 · Albion Park Rail Public School — Albion Park Rail 2527 · Austinmer Public School — Austinmer 2515
- BBalarang Public School — Oak Flats 2529 · Balgownie Public School — Balgownie 2519 · Barrack Heights Public School — BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528 · Bellambi Public School — Bellambi 2518 · Berkeley Public School — BERKELEY 2506 · Berkeley West Public School — Berkeley 2506 · Bulli High School — Bulli 2516 · Bulli Public School — Bulli 2516
- CCedars Christian College — Farmborough Heights 2526 · Coledale Public School — Coledale 2515 · Coniston Public School — CONISTON 2500 · Corrimal East Public School — East Corrimal 2518 · Corrimal High School — Corrimal 2518 · Corrimal Public School — Corrimal 2518 · Cringila Public School — Cringila 2502
- DDapto High School — Dapto 2530 · Dapto Public School — HORSLEY 2530
- EEdmund Rice College Wollongong — West Wollongong 2500
- FFairy Meadow Public School — Fairy Meadow 2519 · Farmborough Road Public School — Unanderra 2526 · Figtree Heights Public School — Figtree 2525 · Figtree High School — Figtree 2525 · Figtree Public School — FIGTREE 2525 · Five Islands Secondary College — Port Kembla 2505 · Flinders Public School — Flinders 2529
- GGerringong Public School — Gerringong 2534 · Gwynneville Public School — Gwynneville 2500
- HHayes Park Public School — KANAHOOKA 2530 · Helensburgh Public School — Helensburgh 2508 · Holy Spirit College — Bellambi 2518
- IIllawarra Christian School — Cordeaux Heights 2526 · Illawarra Environmental Education Centre — Dunmore 2529 · Illawarra Hospital School — Wollongong 2500 · Illawarra Sports High School — Berkeley 2506
- JJamberoo Public School — Jamberoo 2533
- KKanahooka High School — Kanahooka 2530 · Keira High School — Fairy Meadow 2519 · Keiraville Public School — Keiraville 2500 · Kemblawarra Public School — Port Kembla 2505 · Kiama High School — Kiama 2533 · Kiama Public School — KIAMA 2533 · Koonawarra Public School — Dapto 2530
- LLake Heights Public School — LAKE HEIGHTS 2502 · Lake Illawarra High School — Lake Illawarra 2528 · Lake Illawarra South Public School — LAKE ILLAWARRA 2528 · Lakelands Public School — Dapto 2530 · Lindsay Park Public School — Wollongong 2500
- MMinnamurra Public School — Minnamurra 2533 · Mount Brown Public School — Dapto 2530 · Mount Keira Public School — Mount Keira 2500 · Mount Kembla Public School — Mount Kembla 2526 · Mount Ousley Public School — Fairy Meadow 2519 · Mount St Thomas Public School — Wollongong 2500 · Mount Terry Public School — Albion Park 2527 · Mount Warrigal Public School — Warilla 2528
- NNareena Hills Public School — Figtree 2525
- OOak Flats High School — Oak Flats 2529 · Oak Flats Public School — Oak Flats 2529 · Otford Public School — Otford 2508
- PPara Meadows School — North Wollongong 2500 · Peterborough School — WARILLA 2528 · Pleasant Heights Public School — Mount Pleasant 2519 · Port Kembla Public School — Port Kembla 2505 · Primbee Public School — Primbee 2502
- RRussell Vale Public School — Russell Vale 2517
- SScarborough Public School — Scarborough 2515 · Shell Cove Public School — Shell Cove 2529 · Shellharbour Public School — Shellharbour 2529 · Smiths Hill High School — Wollongong 2500 · St Mary Star of the Sea College — Wollongong 2500 · Stanwell Park Public School — Stanwell Park 2508
- TTarrawanna Public School — Tarrawanna 2518 · The Illawarra Grammar School — Mangerton 2500 · Thirroul Public School — Thirroul 2515 · Towradgi Public School — Fairy Meadow 2519 · Tullimbar Public School — Tullimbar Village 2527
- UUnanderra Public School — Cordeaux Heights 2526
- WWaniora Public School — Bulli 2516 · Warilla High School — Barrack Heights 2528 · Warilla North Public School — Warilla 2528 · Warilla Public School — Warilla 2528 · Warrawong High School — Warrawong 2502 · Warrawong Public School — WARRAWONG 2502 · Windang Public School — Windang 2528 · Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts — Fairy Meadow 2519 · Wollongong Public School — WOLLONGONG 2500 · Wollongong West Public School — Wollongong 2500 · Woonona East Public School — Woonona 2517 · Woonona High School — Woonona 2517 · Woonona Public School — Woonona 2517
Questions worth asking
A better school tour checklist.
School choice is not reducible to one public test result. Ask questions that reveal whether the setting works for the actual student and household.
Learning & extension
- How is high ability identified and extended?
- What literacy/numeracy intervention exists?
- What subjects or senior pathways are genuinely available?
Sport, arts & activities
- Which programs require trials or auditions?
- Are specialist activities timetable-based or extracurricular?
- What additional travel or competition costs apply?
Support & wellbeing
- How are disability adjustments organised?
- What is the approach to behaviour, bullying and attendance?
- What counselling and transition support is available?
Practical household fit
- What are start/finish times and transport options?
- Is OSHC available and at what cost?
- Are there waitlists, catchment restrictions or sibling rules?
FAQ
Common questions about the explorer.
Use this guide to build a shortlist, then confirm the latest details with the school and the relevant education authority.
Does Rate Challenge rank every school from best to worst?
No. No. Different families value different things, so we let you compare schools by the factors that matter to you.
Where can I check a school’s NAPLAN results?
Use My School ↗ for official school-level NAPLAN information. Treat NAPLAN as one part of a broader school comparison.
Why do some schools have no Sport or Arts tag?
Our program list may not cover everything a school offers. Check the school website for the latest sport, arts and other program information.
Can I rely on this page to decide whether a house is in a school zone?
No. Use NSW School Finder for the exact address and verify the current enrolment rules with the school.
Are private-school fees exact?
Where fees are shown, use them as a guide only. Always check the school’s current fee schedule and compulsory charges.