John Monash Science School

The John Monash Science School is a government-funded co-educational academically selective and specialist secondary day school, located on the Clayton campus of Monash University, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The school specialises in science and technologies and is the state's first specialist science secondary school. A joint venture between the Government of Victoria and Monash University, the school opened in 2009 with one Year 10 class; and as of 2010 it was running at its full capacity of approximately 660 students. The school is named in honour of Sir John Monash. Overview It is one of three recently built selective high schools in Victoria alongside Suzanne Cory High School and Nossal High School. The addition of these schools are the result of a policy of expansion, and doubles the number of fully selective government schools in Victoria. Prior to these schools, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Melbourne High School and the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School were the sole selective entry schools in Victoria. Entry into John Monash Science School is highly selective, with students first being required to sit an entrance exam (administered by EduTest), testing scientific and mathematical amplitude. The top 600 students are invited for an interview, out of which, 200 students will be selected for admission into the school for the following year. More than 20000 students sat the entrance exam in 2024 for the 200 places on offer in Year 10 (100 males & 100 females), where a 3% rule applies, stating that no more than 3% of the school's Year 10 cohort can be part of a single school. There are also a limited number of places for Year 11, with the number ranging from 30 to 40 students, depending on the cohort size. Typically, more than 400 prospective students apply for Year 11 entrance admission. The 3% rule does not apply to Year 11 entry. A variety of elective subjects are offered in Year 10 at John Monash Science School which cover nanotechnology, marine biology, biomedicine, geology (terraforming mars), bioinformatics, astrophysics, spectroscopy, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Materials Science. Year 10 students also do a year-long project named EEI (Extended Experimental Investigation), this results in a presentation at the John Monash Science School Science Fair (JMSSSF). John Monash Science School is also a regular contributor to Australia’s representation at the Australian Science Olympiads, with approximately one to two students each year selected for the national team. In past years, JMSS students have represented Australia at the International Physics Olympiad and the International Earth Science Olympiad, and they regularly appear in the Australian team for the International Young Physicists' Tournament — with some IYPT teams in certain years being made up entirely of JMSS students. In 2025, six JMSS students were selected to represent Australia in international competitions, including the International Geography Olympiad, the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the International Young Physicists' Tournament. John Monash Science School is a highly regarded state school in Victoria, consistently achieving strong academic results. In 2024, the school was ranked 4th among all state schools in Victoria and excels in specific VCE subjects. It is ranked 1st in Victoria for VCE Physics and VCE Environmental Science across all schools, 1st in Algorithmics (HESS) among all secondary schools, 2nd in Victoria for VCE Mathematical Methods, and 3rd in the state for VCE Psychology. Additionally, the school frequently ranks within the top 10 for VCE Chemistry, Specialist Maths and Biology in the state. House system The student body is divided into four houses: Flannery (green, house mascot a Griffin) Blackburn (purple, house mascot a Phoenix) Wood (silver, house mascot a Wolf) Doherty (blue, house mascot a Dragon) Each house is named after an accomplished Australian scientist: Tim Flannery, Elizabeth Blackburn, Fiona Wood, and Peter Doherty respectively. NBN Virtual School of Emerging Sciences On 13 February 2013, the NBN Virtual School of Emerging Sciences (NVSES) was launched in a coalition effort between John Monash Science School, Monash University, and Pearson Education. Utilizing the Australian government's National Broadband Network's (NBN) educational facilities, lessons are taught by JMSS staff and Monash University scientists via internet to schools all around Australia. Two subjects are currently offered: astrophysics (which leads on to quantum physics) and nanoscience (leading on to nanotechnology). Notable alumni Oliver Mulherin, spouse of Sam Altman See also List of schools in Victoria Monash Tech School References External links Official website Dept. of Education website NBN Virtual School of Emerging Sciences official website