Mission
Our mission, to develop young people confident in their abilities, secure in their identity, aspiring in their purpose, and valued for their contribution, reflects a culture of high achievement and enriched learning across our student, staff and community.
Values
The Para Hills way
Upon joining our community, students are expected to embrace and model the values of Para Hills High School in their actions.
Our community has come together to define what these values look like at school, at home and in the community, and we hold each other accountable for living these values every day. To view the detail of what these mean for each member of our community, click here.
School Profile and context
Para Hills High School is a vibrant medium-sized school with a wonderful multi-cultural community and a strong focus on supporting and empowering students and families to excel in whatever field they choose. We aim to create life-long learners who are passionate, resilient and can positively impact a changing world. Our school develops young people to be confident in their abilities, secure in their identity, aspiring in their purpose, and valued for their contribution. We do this by instilling and living the values of Respect, Perseverance, Confidence and Community.
We believe in empowering our graduates with the ability to choose their own paths, rather than confining them to a single direction. Our aim is for students to leave Para Hills High School equipped with the skills, confidence, and agency necessary to adapt seamlessly to changing opportunities and aspirations. We know our students well and we get to know them quickly when they arrive. Our school places a strong emphasis on understanding each student’s unique strengths and needs and responds with tailored support that often goes beyond traditional methods. For instance, our recently updated literacy strategy ensures that every new student receives targeted assistance to help them excel, regardless of their starting point. We believe that fostering confident readers and writers lays a vital foundation for lifelong success. SACE achievement is exceptional, with over 70% of our students’ grades being A or B for the last 3 consecutive years. Our strong pedagogical approach focuses not only on delivering the requirements of the curriculum, but beyond this. We focus on developing life-long skills and learner agency. Our students, as early as year 7, have the opportunity to take part in business simulations and real-life learning, developing skills that they take with them into adulthood. Ours staff are encouraged and supported to be innovative, creative and driven in their approach.
Para Hills High School is proud to offer two Special Interest Streams that showcase our commitment to innovation in education. The Unlocking Potential (UP) program focuses on emerging technologies, including 3D modelling and printing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and more. This stream is further strengthened through our partnership with Fuji Technologies in Japan. Our Artists Making Performances (AMP) stream has provided students with opportunities to excel in the creative industries, with many participants achieving recognition for their professional-standard work. In 2025, our school was honoured with a 5-Star Innovators Award, reflecting the breadth of our forward-thinking programs. This achievement builds on our continued success at Public Education Awards, which have recognised our leadership in student agency and the development of strong, collaborative partnerships in learning.
Over the past five years, Para Hills High School has undergone significant facility upgrades to support our vision for innovative education. These developments include the addition of a new Performing Arts Centre and major enhancements to our STEAM facilities. These upgraded spaces have enabled advancements and enriched learning opportunities across a range of contemporary fields. We have established strong partnerships with universities to provide scholarships in Medicine, Dentistry and Engineering. There has been a rapid increase in students pursuing pathways in engineering, health and medicine, education, law and business making our university partnerships critical for our students.
Para Hills High School has a long-standing commitment to supporting and safeguarding student wellbeing. We are proud of the positive culture and sense of harmony that characterise our school, creating an environment where all learners feel safe, included and able to thrive. Our Student Voice program has grown to over 80 students, providing meaningful opportunities for young people to develop their leadership capacity, strengthen school culture and build a strong sense of belonging across the site. We welcome visits and enquiries at the school. Parents refer to us as a bit of a hidden gem, with some fascinating and pleasant surprises in store. At Para Hills High School, ”We are confident, creative and persevere with lifelong learning in a community that is united through respect.