Baulkham Hills High School
Baulkham Hills High School (BHHS, colloquially known as Baulko) is a government-funded academically selective co-educational secondary day school, located in Baulkham Hills in the Hills District of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The principal is Wayne Humphreys. In 2016, 2017 and 2020, the school was ranked second in New South Wales in the NSW Higher School Certificate. The school was ranked fifth in 2018, and ninth in 2019. In 2021, the school was ranked third. In 2010, the school was ranked the most popular school in NSW for high school applications. 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 (red), Suttor (blue), Meehan (yellow) and Hughes (green). Admissions and Enrolment. Total enrolment in junior years (Year 7 to Year 10) is approximately 180 students per year group, and around 200 per year group in senior years (Year 11 and Year 12), due to transfers from other schools. the total number of enrolments 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. , the lowest admitted score was 234 out of the maximum 300. Entry into  vacant places in later stages is based on a reserve list and other criteria; mainly reports and academic achievements from previous years. 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 (Combined High Schools). There are 2 teachers who are the sports organisers 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, soccer 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, soccer 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. 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 (the main open space in the centre of the school) 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. Creative and performing arts. The school offers various activities in the field of creative and performing arts, including: