Newtown High School of Performing Arts
Excellence in Performing Arts
About the school
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts is one of Australia's leading specialist performing arts schools, renowned for its excellence in the performing and creative arts. The school attracts students from across New South Wales through a rigorous audition process for Year 7 and Year 11, along with accommodating local students. The core values of the school—creativity, excellence, and equality—are integral to its community.
Academic and Artistic Curriculum
The school offers a diverse academic curriculum complemented by specialised programs in dance, drama, music, and visual arts, allowing students to excel intellectually and artistically. With around 40 extra-curricular activities, students can engage in various artistic endeavours, enhancing their skills beyond the classroom. The staff is dedicated to fostering a challenging and engaging educational environment, ensuring that students are well-prepared for future careers in the arts.
Community and Values
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts prides itself on its vibrant and inclusive community, where creativity is seen as essential to the human experience. The school is committed to inspiring a lifelong love of learning in its students, empowering them to explore their creativity and achieve their personal best. With excellent academic results consistently above the state average, the school aims to cultivate a supportive environment that celebrates diversity and challenges students to excel in both their academic and creative pursuits.
Mission
We strive for excellence in everything we do. Our school is a dynamic learning community committed to providing an engaging, safe and enjoyable educational environment. We have a harmonious diverse population and our parent and community support is outstanding. At Newtown High School of the Performing Arts we recognise that creativity is essential to the human experience and integral to all learning. Our goal is to inspire a lifelong love of learning.
Location & Catchment Area
- Newtown High School of Performing Arts
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A Newtown Public School 111 m
- B Australia Street Infants School 423 m
- C Erskineville Public School 733 m
- D Camdenville Public School 773 m
- E Newtown North Public School 1.1 km
- F Royal Prince Alfred Hospital School 1.1 km
- G Darlington Public School 1.3 km
- H Stanmore Public School 1.3 km
- I Central Sydney Intensive English High School 1.4 km
- J Bridge Road School 1.4 km
- K St Peters Public School 1.5 km
- L Marrickville Public School 1.7 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 1,145 (677 girls, 468 boys)
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 1,144.2
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 1127 (percentile 91)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 4% / 13% / 30% / 53%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 16
- Indigenous students
- 2%
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 29%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 76.1
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 14.4
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Year 7 | 205 |
| Year 8 | 183 |
| Year 9 | 189 |
| Year 10 | 202 |
| Year 11 | 171 |
| Year 12 | 195 |
| Total | 1,145 |
Year by year
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.
| Year | Enrolments | Girls | Boys | Attendance % | ICSEA | Teaching staff (FTE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,145 | 677 | 468 | - | 1127 | 76.1 |
| 2024 | 1,136 | 664 | 472 | 88.7 | 1131 | 75.6 |
| 2023 | 1,132 | 680 | 452 | 90.1 | 1131 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 1,128 | 663 | 465 | 86.9 | 1131 | 74 |
| 2021 | 1,118 | 679 | 439 | 91.7 | 1123 | 72.6 |
| 2020 | 1,099 | 675 | 424 | - | 1121 | 72 |
| 2019 | 1,066 | 675 | 391 | 92.3 | 1120 | 70.7 |
| 2018 | 1,043 | 661 | 382 | 92.7 | 1129 | 69.8 |
| 2017 | 1,042 | 647 | 395 | 94.1 | 1131 | 69.1 |
| 2016 | 1,061 | 674 | 387 | 94.8 | 1128 | 70.4 |
| 2015 | 1,050 | 670 | 380 | 92.6 | 1130 | 70.2 |
| 2014 | 1,027 | 649 | 378 | 93.2 | 1131 | 67.9 |
| 2013 | 989 | 622 | 367 | 92.6 | 1129 | 66.9 |
| 2012 | 995 | 629 | 366 | 91.7 | 1131 | 66.1 |
| 2011 | 947 | 600 | 347 | 92.6 | 1129 | 64.7 |
| 2010 | 890 | 565 | 325 | - | 1130 | 63.6 |
| 2009 | 882 | 560 | 322 | - | 1112 | 63.4 |
| 2008 | 848 | 534 | 314 | - | 1112 | 62 |
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.