The Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts is a government-funded co-educational comprehensive and specialist secondary day school with speciality in performing arts, located in Fairy Meadow, a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1916, the school enrolled approximately 1,190 students in 2018, from Year 7 to Year 12, of whom five percent identified as Indigenous Australians and 25 per cent were from a language background other than English. The school is operated by the NSW Department of Education. Approximately one-third of students gain entry through auditions. The school focuses primarily on academic excellence and excellence in the performing arts and has examination results well above average and a high level of tertiary acceptance. History The school was established in 1916 in Smith Street Wollongong as Wollongong Home Science School, for girls only. At the time it was the only high school between Sydney and the Victorian border. Notable alumni Natalie BassingthwaighteAustralian singer and actress Ashley Fisherformer Tennis player Nicholas Cowdery former New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions Mark KerryOlympic gold medalist in swimming Stephen Martinformer politician Evelyn OwenInventor Mary Puckeyfirst female superintendent of an Australian hospital Leigh Joel ScottAustralian writer and actor DPR IanKorean-Australian singer, rapper and director See also List of government schools in New South Wales List of creative and performing arts high schools in New South Wales List of selective high schools in New South Wales References External links Educational institutions established in 1916 1916 establishments in Australia Creative and performing arts high schools in New South Wales Schools in Wollongong Public high schools in New South Wales Fairy Meadow, New South Wales