James Ruse Agricultural High School | High School Guide

Interested in finding out more about James Ruse Agricultural High School and why it is consistently number 1? In this overview, we look at its history, famous alumni, and the experience of past students.

All of our information is sourced from the NSW Department of Education website: James Ruse Agricultural High School.

What’s in the James Ruse Agricultural High School Guide?

We’ve created this Guide to provide information to parents and students so they can make an informed decision about applying for James Ruse.

This guide includes additional articles discussing:

• Admission requirements and process
• Applying to James Ruse for Year 7 admission
• How to enrol at James Ruse in Years 8-11
• Student Life at James Ruse
• Success Secrets from James Ruse Students and Alumni

In this overview article, we will discuss:

• • Overview
  • History
  • Famous alumni
  • Key statistics
  • HSC subjects offered

Overview

James Ruse Agricultural High School has ranked as NSW’s top school for 25 consecutive years, based on student performance in the HSC. The school is built on the land of the Darug people of the Eora Nation, who are its Traditional Custodians. James Ruse is an academically selective high school, and one of four government agricultural high schools in NSW.

Students can gain entrance into year 7 through the Selective High Schools Test, while a smaller portion of students are admitted in years 8 to 11 by directly applying to the school.

History

The school initially formed a part of Carlingford District Rural School in 1956 with Charles Mullavey as the Master in Charge. However, by 1959, the school became independent of the Carlingford District Rural School and gained a full high school status as “Carlingford Agricultural High School”. In April the same year, the school was renamed to what we know it as today: “James Ruse Agricultural High School”.

The change was inspired by the then Headmaster, James C. Hoskin. He had become interested in James Ruse, a Cornish farmer who significantly contributed to Australia’s early agricultural development after his arrival on the First Fleet. Moreover, Hoskin noted that the school was serving more than just the Carlingford area, contrary to what its name suggested.

The school was established as a boys’ selective school in 1959, but it gradually became co-educational after an initial intake of 24 female students in Year 11 in 1977. During Hoskin’s time as headmaster, James Ruse Agricultural High School developed its reputation as a quality selective, agricultural and public school. For Hoskin’s service which extended until his retirement at age of 65 in 1978, he was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Order of Australia for Services to Education in 1990.

In 1996, James Ruse AHS placed first in the HSC rankings and has continued to maintain this rank for 25 consecutive years to this day. Since its modest beginnings as a wooden five-room classroom block, a small staff-room and ablution facilities, James Ruse AHS has continued to solidify its reputation as NSW’s best performing high school under its current principal, Rachel Powell.

Famous Alumni

James Ruse is responsible for producing some significant public figures in government, politics, science, arts, and business.

Business, science, and public service

Sports

Religious

Military

Entertainment and the arts

Key statistics

How many students go to James Ruse? What’s the student diversity like? How does it perform? Let’s take a look.

Student Profile

The total number of students enrolled had stayed relatively consistent over the years, as has the ratio of female and male students. There was approximately 23% more male students compared to female students in 2019.

HSC Performance

These results are a snapshot of the consecutive 25 years that the school has led the HSC results. James Ruse Agricultural High School students also make up a significant portion of the top performers for each subject (having achieved a state rank). The full list of school rankings can be found here.

Note: If you want to learn more about what high school rankings, including what Unique B6/E4 students and success rates mean, check out our Beginner’s Guide to High School Rankings.

HSC subjects offered

Accelerated subjects

Non-accelerated subjects

These subjects are typically not available for accelerated students, however, faculty heads may permit exceptional students to join a class taught at a higher year level. This may include Olympiad students, or students who have transferred from other schools at which they undertook an accelerated subject.

What’s next?

Now that you know a little bit about James Ruse, do you want to attend it? Well, in the next article, we go through the entrance requirements for James Ruse High School! Read now.