Baulkham Hills High School


Baulkham Hills High School is a government-funded academically selective secondary school. It lies within Baulkham Hills, [New South Wales|Baulkham Hills] in the Hills District of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The school is renowned for its academic achievement and ranked second in the NSW Higher School Certificate in 2016, 2017 and 2020. It also ranked fifth in 2018, ninth in 2019 and ranked third in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2010, the school was ranked the most popular school in NSW for high school applications.
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History

Baulkham Hills High School was established in 1971 as a public comprehensive high school. It was officially opened on 23 March 1974 by the then Governor, Sir Roden Cutler. For the first year, students and teachers at the school were relocated to nearby Castle Hill High School whilst Baulkham Hills High School was still under construction. The school's first selective cohort was in 1990, with all grades being selective by 1995.
The school was built on the site of a former orange orchard, with the region having once been a major orange producing area of Sydney. This history is acknowledged by the use of an orange on the school logo. The use of the word "Persevere" as the school motto encourages students to persevere in all their studies.
"The school emblem consists of the school name and the motto "PERSEVERE". It also shows an orange, as Baulkham Hills area was one of the main orange producing areas of the State, with the school being built on a former orange orchard."
Acknowledgement of the agricultural history of the area is also reflected in the naming of the four intramural sports houses of the school, which are named after four prominent early European settlers in the area: MacDougall, Suttor, Meehan and Hughes.

Admissions and enrolment

Total enrollment in junior years is approximately 180 students per year group, and around 200 per year group in senior years, due to transfers from other schools. the total enrollment was 1,230 students.
As a selective school, entry into the school in Year 7 is based upon results in a statewide examination known as the Selective High Schools Test. In 2020, the lowest admitted score was 234 out of the maximum 300. For students falling below the lowest admitted score, admission is determined using a reserve system and an assessment of their academic record.

Facilities

Departments and staff rooms

There are ten staff rooms for all of the faculties.

Extracurricular activities

The school holds annual sports carnivals for swimming, cross country and athletics. Selected students compete in wider regional competitions, from Zone and Area to the CHS. There are 2 teachers who are the sports organizers overseeing sport.

Tri-School Tournament

The Tri-School Tournament was first held in 2011 between Baulkham Hills, James Ruse Agricultural High School and Girraween High School. Teams from each school participated in basketball, association football and touch football. Baulkham Hills obtained first place in both the 2011 and 2012 tournaments.

Quad School tournament

Starting 2013, Penrith High School joined the sporting tournament previously known as the Tri-School Tournament between Baulkham Hills High School, James Ruse Agricultural High School and Girraween High School. In addition to basketball, association football and touch football, Penrith hosted table tennis in 2013. Again, Baulkham Hills High School won the tournament. The competition returned in 2014, with Baulkham Hills hosting basketball, Girraween hosting touch football, James Ruse hosting soccer and Penrith hosting volleyball. Again, Baulkham Hills High School won the tournament.
Since the introduction of Quad-schools, Baulkham Hills have won the competition 11 times, 9 of them being consecutively, and Penrith has won once.

Academic

A variety of academic extra-curricular activities are offered, in various subject areas.

Sport

In addition to sporting competitions and tournaments such as Zone, Area and CHS, the school offers additional sporting activities to selected students, including:

Cadets

Australian Army Cadets is a youth development organisation with ties to the Australian Army. Cadets parade in the school quadrangle every Thursday afternoon. In this time, recruits and intermediate cadets are instructed by older students who have earned the rank of a non-commissioned officer, in drill, military traditions, navigation, survival, fieldcraft and leadership. Furthermore, Cadets parade in the school gymnasium on remembrance day and on 11 November.

Creative and performing arts

The school offers various activities in the field of creative and performing arts, including:
  • School Bands, including Junior, Intermediate, Concert, Senior, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
  • *Specialized bands, including String Ensemble, Big Band, and Orchestra.
  • School Choir
  • Music Nights
  • Variety Night
  • Drama Club
  • Photography Club
  • Art Club
  • Badminton Club

Other extracurriculars

  • Leo Club
  • Chess Club
  • Green Group
  • Outreach
  • Baulko Bulletin
  • T-Soc
  • B-Soc
  • B-Well
  • Soul Purpose
  • Spectrums
  • Coding Club
  • French Club
  • Numismatics Club

Notable alumni

Notable teachers