This dataset includes the numbers of NSW Government schools by type, from 1848 to 2018.

This dataset makes use of historical categories, which is not easily comparable to other published data. For this reason, the dataset will no longer be updated. Recent data featuring counts of government schools can be found elsewhere on the Data Hub, including NSW Government schools by type.

Data notes:

• From 1848 to 1959 the figures are for schools open at the end of each year or during part of the year, the exception being 1866 where the figures represent only schools open at the end of the year; from 1960 the figures include only those schools open on the day of the annual census.

• Evening public schools, evening continuation schools, nursery schools, sport and recreation centres and environmental education centres are not included. Schools now incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory education system are included until 1973.

• Figures for public schools include superior public, district, district rural, junior technical, home science, central and other schools which enrolled both primary and post-primary pupils. The correspondence schools (later distance education centres) and the school of air are also included.

• Half-time schools represent individual schools, except between 1867 to 1869 when half-time schools were counted in pairs or groups.

• No numbers are available for individual teaching “stations” in house to house schools. As such, the figures for these schools represent the number of groups of teaching stations. From 1908, house to house schools include the small number of travelling schools.

• The figures for special schools include hospital schools, schools for intellectually, physically or emotionally disabled children and community care schools. These schools are now known as schools for specific purposes (SSP).

• For further information about this dataset, please refer to the glossary of school types and database facts from the history of government schools website.

Data source:

• Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, NSW Department of Education.