List of schools in the Hunter and Central Coast

In New South Wales, a high school generally covers Years 7 to 12 in the education system, and a central or community school, intended to provide comprehensive education in a rural district, covers Kindergarten to Year 12. An additional class of high schools has emerged in recent years as a result of amalgamations which have produced multi-campus colleges consisting of Junior and Senior campuses.

While most schools are comprehensive and take in all students of high school age living within its defined school boundaries, some schools are either specialist in a given Key Learning Area, or selective in that they set examinations or other performance criteria for entrance. In the Hunter and Central Coast region, Gorokan, Gosford and Merewether High Schools are selective, whilst Hunter School of Performing Arts and Hunter Sports High School are specialist.

Special schools are public schools designed for children or youth with chronic disabilities or who for other reasons cannot be accommodated in the comprehensive school system.

In New South Wales, Catholic primary schools are usually (but not always) linked to a parish. Prior to the 1970s, most schools were founded by religious institutes, but with the decrease in membership of these institutes, together with major reforms inside the church, lay teachers and administrators began to take over the schools, a process completed by approximately 1995. The Catholic Education Office (CEO), located in the Newcastle-Maitland and Broken Bay dioceses of the Church, is responsible for coordinating administration, curriculum and policy across the Catholic school system. Preference for enrolment is given to Catholic students from the parish or local area, although non-Catholic students are admitted if room is available.

The Government of New South Wales recognises a registration category known as "Prescribed Non-Government Schools" which serve the same purposes as Special Schools but are privately operated.