This selective, co-educational high school is one of four agricultural high schools in the state. Agriculture is studied by all junior students. Situated in the Carlingford Hills, the school has a five-hectare farm that includes an orchard, individual student plots and grazing paddocks for sheep and cattle. James Ruse strives to provide a caring and challenging environment in which the pursuit of excellence is complemented by the development of self-esteem through peer support and personal achievement.
Facilities: Farm, integrated sports facilities, library, computer rooms, technology laboratories, lecture theatre.
Electives Years 7 to 10: History, Geography, Commerce, Agriculture, Visual Arts, French, Information Processes and Technology, Japanese, Music, Design and Technology, Drama, Software Design and Development.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Mathematics, PD/Health/PE, Drama, Agriculture, Information Processes and Technology, Economics, Modern History, Ancient History, Geography, French, Japanese, Music, Visual Arts, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Software Design and Development.
Sport: Most competitive sports as well as a broad range of recreational activities.
Co-curricular activities: Debating, drama, ISCF, Interact, cadets, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, chess, bands, orchestra, jazz groups, inter-school musical activities.
Welfare and personal development: An active SRC and peer support are enthusiastically supported. A careers adviser and school counsellor are on staff. Work experience is offered to Year 10 students and careers education is taught in Year 10.
Special features: The focus on agriculture is fostered at both the theoretical and practical levels. School work is supplemented by frequent excursions to places of agricultural interest. The school has consistently obtained outstanding results in public examination, while excellent performances have been recorded in state, Australian and international competitions in a variety of intellectual pursuits. Most James Ruse students proceed to university with considerable success in a variety of tertiary studies.