Penrith Selective High School was first opened in the 1930s as an intermediate school on the land adjacent to its current location. The school's location was then occupied by a mansion known as The Towers. During the 1940s, the mansion and the land was sold to the Department of Education, who demolished the mansion and built Penrith High School, which was officially established in 1950. The school became academically selective in 1989. Two of the original foundations of the mansion have been preserved and remain in the school grounds. Additionally, the original plaque commemorating the opening of Penrith Intermediate School has been transferred into the present school grounds, where it currently resides in the school's archives. In commemoration of The Towers mansion, the annual school magazine goes by the same name.
All Year 7 enrolments are managed by the High Performing Students Unit of the NSW Department of Education. Each October, application forms for the selective high schools test are available from government primary schools and from the Selective Schools Unit for Year 6 students and are due to be returned that November.
Years 8-12
Applications for entry into Years 8-12 are managed by the school, in line with High Performing Students Unit guidelines. Only a small number of places are available each year since a vacancy only occur when a current student leaves the school. Application packages become available from the school's website or the Selective Schools Unit in Term 2 each year and are returned to the school, along with supporting documentation, by the end of July. The deadline date for application each year is determined by the Selective Schools Unit. The selection committee arranges the applications in order of academic merit based upon the evidence submitted. The committee considers material that provides evidence of high academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities. Residential status requirements and family placement claims follow the Year 7 entry criteria. Students must be either Australia citizens or permanent residents.
Facilities
The school has a gymnasium, a field with multi-sport goal posts, a smaller field with portable hockey goal posts, and two basketball courts. It also has five computer labs, an extensive two-storey library, a large space for creative and performing arts, numerous classrooms with equipment and materials dedicated to specific faculties, and a school hall which is part of the original school structure, built in the early 1950s. The hall can accommodate approximately 450 seated guests, usually used for official school functions, performing arts exhibitions, and information evenings. The Penrith Selective High School Parents and Citizens Association operates a school canteen, from which all proceeds go towards improving the educational experience of PSHS students.
House system
At the beginning of Year 7, all Penrith Selective High School students are placed in one of the following four houses, sorted by last name:
House
Mascot
Colour
Blaxland
Bees
Lawson
Lions
Mitchell
Magic
Wentworth
Wolves
Every year three sporting carnivals are held, where students compete to earn house points. Students also compete for points throughout the year during numerous inter-house friendly competitions, including dance-offs and halloween performances. The winner of each carnival and of the overall house championship is announced each year.
Staff
As of 2020, the staff at Penrith High School includes the following:
In September 2015, Penrith High School drew controversy after it was discovered that some students had obtained the login information of a teacher and potentially tried to have their marks digitally altered for their HSC, with the school captain being among those involved. This was followed by an investigation from the Department of Education, though its conclusions are unknown.
