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  • 2027 test, 2028 entry

Is a selective school right for my child?

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A selective high school can suit a child who loves learning, would enjoy moving faster and deeper with classmates of similar ability, and is ready for a new school and perhaps a longer trip each day. It is one option among several: every NSW public school supports high potential and gifted students, and there are no fees to apply, sit the test or enrol.

Facts checked Last updated Sources

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Who are selective high schools for?

Selective high schools are for high potential and gifted students, in the Department's own description. Selective high schools and opportunity classes are one of the ways the Department supports high potential and gifted students: students whose intellectual potential exceeds that of students of the same age.

The Department's parent flyer gives a short list of signs that a child may benefit from selective education:

  • learns quickly and easily
  • goal-driven
  • asks complex questions
  • curious and creative
  • deeply explores passions
  • good memory

Treat the list as a prompt for a conversation, not a test your child has to pass. Not all high potential and gifted learners show all of these signs, for example because of lack of opportunity, disability or disadvantage. Some children's high potential may be hidden, and the Department says being in an opportunity class or selective high school could help.

What changes for your child, on both sides?

A selective school changes who your child learns with, how fast the work moves, the trip to school and their friendships, and each of these can help or cost something. The table sets out both sides. Where the Department has said something, we print its words; the rest is our plain observation, framed as things to think about rather than outcomes.

Weighing a selective school: what may help and what to think about. The Department's statements are listed under Sources; the rest is our observation.
AreaWhat may helpWhat to think about
Learning and peersStudents learn with classmates of similar ability, so teachers can use special teaching methods to move through the curriculum faster and in more depth.Your child may go from near the top of the class to the middle of it. Some children find that freeing; others find it unsettling for a while.
ActivitiesSelective high schools and opportunity classes also offer co-curricular activities such as sport, creative and performing arts, music and special interest clubs.Check what each school on your list actually offers in the activities your child loves now.
Friends and a new startSome students feel anxious about going to a school where they might not know anyone. The Department says the schools plan activities to help students get to know each other.Many primary school friends may go to other schools. Ask your child how they feel about starting again.
TravelYou can apply to selective high schools outside your local enrolment area.A long trip to school can limit before- and after-school activities, and the Department says research shows excessive travel can affect academic performance and wellbeing.
CostThere are no fees to apply or to sit the placement test, and no extra fees to enrol in a selective high school or opportunity class.Selective high schools are public schools and do not charge attendance fees, except for boarding at agricultural high schools. Schools may ask parents to pay for curriculum-related resources such as textbooks and subject materials, and for excursions or sports. Fares or driving for a longer trip are a cost too.
Workload and pressureSome students and parents worry a selective school will be overly competitive. The Department says its selective schools and classes encourage students to focus on learning and wellbeing, not competing.A faster pace can mean more homework and a busier week. Watch how your child handles a busy term now.

No row decides it alone. A short trip may matter more to one family, and a class of like-minded classmates to another. Try the trip at the time your child would travel, and see the schools, their types and locations on NSW selective high schools.

Which children may find a selective school hard?

The Department says a child who worries a lot about not being at the top, or who often compares themselves with others, may not find a selective school the right choice. In its own words:

“Students who worry too much about not being the 'best' or are regularly comparing themselves to other students and their achievements, may not find an opportunity class or selective high school is the right choice for them.”
NSW Department of Education, What are selective high schools and opportunity classes? · © State of NSW (Department of Education), CC BY 4.0

A child who is happy and stretched where they are, or who would give up a lot they love for a long trip, may also be well placed to stay. There is a middle path too. There are 4 types of selective high schools: fully selective, partially selective, agricultural high schools and Aurora College. There are 27 partially selective high schools in NSW for entry in Year 7. They have both selective classes and non-selective classes for local students. For some children that may feel like a smaller change.

Selective or a private scholarship?

You do not have to choose between them before you start: the selective placement test and a private school scholarship are separate processes, and a family can do both. The selective test is run by the Department for public selective high schools. A scholarship is run by each private school, with its own application, assessment, dates and conditions, so ask each school directly what it involves and what it covers.

If more than one offer arrives, the timing and the rules for each are separate too. For selective offers, the Department's rules on choices and offers are on how to apply for a selective school and the selective reserve list. You cannot decline an offer in order to get a later offer from one of your lower-choice schools, so order your choices carefully.

What if a selective school is not right for us?

Your child's local public school supports gifted students too. High potential and gifted students are supported in every NSW public school. The Department's guide says schools' support may include lessons that challenge and inspire, enrichment activities and extra-curricular programs, grouping with students of similar ability, acceleration when appropriate, and support for wellbeing and social skills.

Every public school in NSW offers high potential and gifted education (HPGE) activities. Your child's school website has the details. High potential and gifted education is part of every school, and specialist public schools in sport, music and performing arts may also be good options. The Department's guide for parents on high potential and gifted education (HPGE) explains what that support looks like.

How do we decide, and do we need coaching?

Decide together, with your child and their teacher, and without paid coaching. The Department recommends discussing the option with your child and looking through its information, or the Student Resource Hub, together. The Department suggests asking your child's teacher, or other staff who know them well, whether they think selective education will suit your child.

On coaching, the Department is clear. The Department says coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary, and that extra paid coaching will not give a child an advantage. Some families still choose a tutor, and that is their call. In our view, knowing the format matters more than extra lessons, and our guide to preparing for the selective test keeps preparation light.

If you are still unsure, there is time to keep talking it over. The dates for the next cycle are tracked on selective test dates. Weighing an opportunity class first? See is OC right for my child and OC vs selective. Everything else is in the main selective guide.

Sources

Each fact on this page, the page we checked it against and the source's own words. An “Expected” date is our estimate from past years, not the Department's.

  1. What are selective high schools and opportunity classes?

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 March 2026

    • Who selective education is forPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Selective high schools and opportunity classes are one of the ways that the department supports high potential and gifted students. These are students whose intellectual potential exceeds that of students of the same age.”
    • Not every gifted child shows every signPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Not all high potential and gifted learners will display all of these characteristics, for example, due to lack of opportunity, disability or disadvantage.”
    • Classmates of similar ability, faster and deeperPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Students get to learn together with classmates who have similar abilities. This allows their teachers to use special teaching methods to move students through the curriculum at a faster pace and in more depth.”
    • Co-curricular activitiesPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Selective high schools and opportunity classes also offer a broad range of co-curricular activities such as sports, creative and performing arts, music and special interest clubs.”
    • Starting where they know no onePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Some students may feel anxious about going to a school where they might not know anyone. Don't worry, the schools know this and they plan activities to help students get to know each other.”
    • CompetitionPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Some students and parents are worried that the school will be overly competitive. Like all New South Wales public schools, our academically selective schools and classes encourage students to focus on learning and wellbeing, not competing.”
    • Children who worry about being the bestPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Students who worry too much about not being the 'best' or are regularly comparing themselves to other students and their achievements, may not find an opportunity class or selective high school is the right choice for them.”
    • Gifted support in every public schoolPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “High potential and gifted students are supported in every NSW public school.”
    • Specialist public schoolsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “High potential and gifted education is part of every school, and there are many specialist New South Wales public schools, in the areas of sport, music and performing arts, that may also be good options for your child”
    • Discuss it with your childPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “We recommend discussing the option with your child and looking through the information here together or on the relevant Student Resource Hub.”
  2. Applying for my child to attend an opportunity class or selective high school (PDF)

    NSW Department of Education

    • Signs your child may benefit (Department flyer)PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Here are some signs that your child may benefit from selective education. learns quickly and easily goal- driven asks complex questions curious and creative deeply explores passions good memory”
    • Potential may be hiddenPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Keep in mind, some children's high potential may be hidden. Being in an opportunity class or selective high school could help.”
    • No fees to apply, sit the test or enrolPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Please note there are no fees to apply and sit for the placement test, and there are no extra fees to enrol in a selective high school or opportunity class.”
    • Ask the teacher whether it will suitPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Ask your child's teacher (or other staff who know them well) whether they think selective education will suit your child.”
  3. Selective high schools (list of schools)

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 10 September 2026

    • Schools outside your local areaPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “You can apply to fully selective, partially selective and agriculturally selective high schools that are outside your local enrolment area.”
    • No attendance fees (except boarding)PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “NSW selective high schools are public schools and do not charge attendance fees – except for boarding at agricultural high schools.”
    • Schools may ask for some costsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Schools may ask parents to make payments for curriculum-related resources, such as textbooks and materials needed for some subjects.”
    • Types of selective high schoolsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are 4 types of selective high schools: - fully selective high schools - partially selective high schools - agricultural high schools - Aurora College.”
    • Partially selective high schoolsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are 27 partially selective high schools in NSW for entry in Year 7.”
  4. Choosing a school

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 June 2026

    • Travel timePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “A lengthy travel time can affect your child's ability to take part in before and after school classes and extracurricular activities. Research tells us that excessive travel can impact on academic performance and student wellbeing.”
    • You cannot decline to move down your listPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “You cannot decline a placement offer to get a later offer from one of your lower-choice schools.”
  5. Inspire - High Potential and Gifted Education in NSW public schools: a guide for parents and carers (PDF)

    NSW Department of Education

    • How schools support gifted studentsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “These may include: • lessons that challenge and inspire students • enrichment activities and extra-curricular programs • grouping students with others of similar ability • advanced learning pathways such as acceleration (moving through the curriculum faster) when appropriate”
    • Check the school website for HPGE activitiesPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Every public school in NSW offers HPGE activities. Please refer to your child's school website for more details.”
    • Think your child may be gifted? Talk to the teacherPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If you think that your child may have high potential or may be gifted, please discuss this with your child's teacher.”
  6. Selective high school practice tests

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 20 March 2026

    • The Department says coaching is not necessaryPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “It is important to know that coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary.”

Quotes from NSW Department of Education pages are © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), used under CC BY 4.0.

Not affiliated with the NSW Department of Education. SelectiveReady (ABN 53 930 169 401) is an independent practice product. Every fact here is checked against the Department's own pages, and changes are logged.

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