About the school
St Ives High School, established in 1964, is situated on Sydney's upper north shore. The school's motto, 'Optima Optime', translates to 'the best things in the best possible ways', reflecting its commitment to fostering a well-rounded individual through an innovative curriculum. The school is renowned for its academic and sporting excellence, consistently achieving results that surpass the state average in NAPLAN, School Certificate, and HSC assessments. St Ives High is distinguished for being one of the first schools in New South Wales to establish a Gifted and Talented Program, which continues to attract numerous applicants each year.
The diverse curriculum offers a broad range of subjects across all key-learning areas, supported by advanced technological resources such as 22 interactive whiteboards and a comprehensive wireless computer network. The students at St Ives are encouraged to engage with the broader community, with opportunities for overseas excursions to countries like Japan, London, Paris, and China.
Extracurricular activities play a significant role in the school life, with a successful Performing Arts Unit encompassing musical theatre, dance, and drama, alongside various band programs. The school also supports a unique Hearing Support Unit catering to hearing-impaired students, demonstrating its commitment to inclusivity.
St Ives High School features extensive sporting facilities and has recently completed upgrades, including new commercial kitchens for enhanced learning experiences. The school prides itself on cultivating strong relationships within the community, as evidenced by the active participation of the Parents and Citizens Association and Student Representative Council. Overall, St Ives High School is dedicated to providing an educational environment that promotes self-discipline, tolerance, and personal growth.
Mission
- Respect
- Perseverance
- Growth
Location & Catchment Area
- St Ives High School
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A St Ives Public School 223 m
- B Gordon East Public School 1.2 km
- C Killara High School 1.9 km
- D St Ives Park Public School 2.1 km
- E St Ives North Public School 2.4 km
- F Pymble Public School 2.6 km
- G Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School 2.6 km
- H Killara Public School 3.3 km
- I Turramurra North Public School 3.3 km
- J Gordon West Public School 3.4 km
- K Lindfield East Public School 3.4 km
- L Davidson High School 3.6 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 1,756 (775 girls, 981 boys)
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 1,750.1
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 1125 (percentile 90)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 4% / 13% / 34% / 49%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 17
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 58%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 130
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 28.6
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Year 6 | 24 |
| Year 7 | 302 |
| Year 8 | 246 |
| Year 9 | 352 |
| Year 10 | 334 |
| Year 11 | 258 |
| Year 12 | 240 |
| Total | 1,756 |
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 | 1,756 | 775 | 981 | - | 1125 | 130 |
| 2024 | 1,748 | 781 | 967 | 90.8 | 1124 | 132.6 |
| 2023 | 1,779 | 778 | 1,001 | 91.9 | 1123 | 128.3 |
| 2022 | 1,512 | 657 | 855 | 88.1 | 1123 | 105.4 |
| 2021 | 1,278 | 556 | 722 | 92.6 | 1126 | 97.8 |
| 2020 | 1,112 | 468 | 644 | - | 1122 | 77.9 |
| 2019 | 1,046 | 446 | 600 | 92.3 | 1121 | 73.3 |
| 2018 | 1,006 | 431 | 575 | 93.9 | 1121 | 70.9 |
| 2017 | 947 | 411 | 536 | 93.8 | 1124 | 67.8 |
| 2016 | 944 | 409 | 535 | 93.9 | 1126 | 67.9 |
| 2015 | 930 | 390 | 540 | 93.5 | 1122 | 68.8 |
| 2014 | 918 | 372 | 546 | 94.5 | 1126 | 66.7 |
| 2013 | 906 | 364 | 542 | 93.8 | 1121 | 66.8 |
| 2012 | 830 | 329 | 501 | 93.3 | 1146 | 63.1 |
| 2011 | 838 | 324 | 514 | 93.7 | 1142 | 63.1 |
| 2010 | 861 | 346 | 515 | - | 1142 | 65 |
| 2009 | 849 | 349 | 500 | - | 1168 | 64.7 |
| 2008 | 866 | 355 | 511 | - | 1168 | 66 |
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.