About the school
Prairiewood High School (established in 1984) is a co-educational, local, comprehensive and partially selective high school located in South Western Sydney, accommodating just over 1200 students. The school boasts a diverse student population, with almost 80% of students being from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds (NESB), primarily of Vietnamese and Arabic heritage, fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates cultural diversity.
Academic Excellence
The school offers a wide variety of subjects, including innovative stage 5 electives like Astronomy and Philosophy, along with the full complement of Higher School Certificate (HSC) courses, including extension studies. Prairiewood High School provides sixty academically selective places on a competitive basis for years 7 to 12, with high demand for out-of-area enrolments despite limited availability. The academic performance of the student body has improved steadily over the past four years, demonstrating the effectiveness of the school's teaching approach.
Wellbeing and Support
Prairiewood High School is committed to student welfare and wellbeing, with a dedicated team of more than thirty staff members focusing on learning support and mental health initiatives. Programs are designed to create a culture of respect and cooperation, empowering students to reach their potential.
Extracurricular Activities
The school offers a comprehensive range of leadership development and extracurricular enrichment opportunities, including public speaking, drama, music, and sports, with many students competing at regional, state, and national levels. Prairiewood High School prides itself on its highly skilled and passionate teaching staff who foster a dynamic learning community.
Mission
Prairiewood High School is dedicated to nurturing the talents of all students, providing tailored support, and promoting equity and excellence through a strong community connection.
Location & Catchment Area
- Prairiewood High School
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A William Stimson Public School 658 m
- B Prairievale Public School 1.3 km
- C Smithfield West Public School 1.5 km
- D Bossley Park Public School 1.7 km
- E St Johns Park High School 1.8 km
- F Westfields Sports High School 1.9 km
- G Fairfield West Public School 2.3 km
- H King Park Public School 2.3 km
- I Governor Philip King Public School 2.6 km
- J Bossley Park High School 2.7 km
- K Fairvale High School 3.0 km
- L Smithfield Public School 3.0 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 1,288 (611 girls, 677 boys)
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 1,283.9
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 978 (percentile 37)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 44% / 26% / 19% / 11%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 123
- Indigenous students
- 2%
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 86%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 95.4
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 19.8
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Year 7 | 218 |
| Year 8 | 199 |
| Year 9 | 194 |
| Year 10 | 230 |
| Year 11 | 234 |
| Year 12 | 213 |
| Total | 1,288 |
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 | 1,288 | 611 | 677 | - | 978 | 95.4 |
| 2024 | 1,303 | 628 | 675 | 87.7 | 981 | 95.8 |
| 2023 | 1,281 | 603 | 678 | 89.4 | 980 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 1,278 | 592 | 686 | 84.3 | 972 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 1,276 | 595 | 681 | 89.9 | 975 | 91.3 |
| 2020 | 1,234 | 586 | 648 | - | 978 | 88.2 |
| 2019 | 1,194 | 572 | 622 | 89.8 | 978 | 86 |
| 2018 | 1,214 | 577 | 637 | 90.8 | 971 | 86.8 |
| 2017 | 1,226 | 586 | 640 | 90.5 | 973 | 87.5 |
| 2016 | 1,186 | 571 | 615 | 91.8 | 966 | 85.1 |
| 2015 | 1,184 | 571 | 613 | 92.3 | 971 | 84.3 |
| 2014 | 1,119 | 534 | 585 | 93 | 972 | 79.4 |
| 2013 | 1,040 | 489 | 551 | 94.6 | 981 | 75.1 |
| 2012 | 979 | 455 | 524 | 91.4 | 964 | 70 |
| 2011 | 962 | 450 | 512 | 91.4 | 958 | 69.5 |
| 2010 | 923 | 418 | 505 | - | 953 | 66.8 |
| 2009 | 905 | 399 | 506 | - | 974 | 65.5 |
| 2008 | 887 | 395 | 492 | - | 974 | 65.8 |
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.