After years of rapid population growth and increasing pressure on local schools, the Hills District is set to welcome two new public schools, providing long-awaited relief for families across the region.
The NSW government has announced two new public schools in Bella Vista – a high school due to open in 2029 and a primary school with an early learning centre. Each will cater for more than 1,000 students.
The announcement follows the Hills Fairer petition, which attracted more than 20,000 signatures last year calling for additional school infrastructure and other essential services.
The Hills Shire Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne said the announcement was a direct result of the Fight for a Fairer Hills Future campaign.
The new schools form part of the NSW Government’s broader investment in public education announced in the recent State Budget, which includes funding for new schools and upgrades to existing facilities. The record investment includes five new schools and is expected to help ease enrolment pressure at existing schools and support future growth.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car told H2H the 2026–27 Budget delivers a record $9.2 billion investment in school infrastructure over four years, including $4.1 billion for new and upgraded schools across Western Sydney. She said Hills families had rightly advocated for more school infrastructure following years of rapid growth and pressure on local services.
Ms Car said the new Bella Vista High School will help ease pressure on Castle Hill High School, which currently has 41 demountable classrooms.
Funding has also been allocated in the 2026/27 Budget to plan for the long-term future of Castle Hill High School infrastructure. The Department of Education continues to monitor population trends and enrolment data to guide future demand and works closely with the Department of Planning to determine where new schools or additional classrooms are needed.
Dr Byrne welcomed the new schools but said they were only a starting point.
“While this is welcome progress, the Hills is still woefully behind in its fair share of schools.
The latest data shows 46 per cent of Hills Shire schools are more than 100 students over their enrolment cap.”
She said the NSW Government should also commit to three primary schools and a K–12 school in Box Hill, along with a new primary school for the Hills Showground precinct.
Dr Byrne also raised concerns about infrastructure to support the new schools, saying road investment must keep pace with development. She said the Bella Vista High School site, located between Memorial Avenue and Balmoral Road, would rely heavily on Old Windsor Road for access.
While the NSW Government has committed $400 million to upgrade Windsor Road, she said the works do not extend to the new school area. Dr Byrne said the Windsor and Old Windsor Road corridor, which runs through The Hills and Blacktown LGAs will support major population growth and would require further investment to meet demand.