Opportunity class

What is selective education?

Selective education is one of the ways that the Department of Education supports students with high academic potential. Selective education includes selective high schools and opportunity classes.

Selective education has many benefits, including:

• Students learn alongside, and form friendships with, other high potential and gifted classmates.
• Specialised HPGE teaching methods allow students to learn at a quicker pace and in more detail.
• Research shows that students benefit both academically and socially when learning with classmates who have similar abilities.

Opportunity classes and selective high schools are not zoned so you can apply to any one of them, even those outside your local enrolment area.

Use the following maps to find your closest:

• Opportunity classes
• Selective high schools

What are opportunity classes?

Opportunity classes are for high potential and gifted students in Year 5 and 6.

There is also an online opportunity class with Aurora College for students in rural and remote areas. Students will connect with teachers and classmates from around NSW through a virtual (online) learning environment, and study maths, science and technology and STEM.

Parents/carers apply for opportunity class placement when their child is in Year 3 and can apply up until February 2027, when their child is in Year 4.

You can include up to 4 school choices when you are applying for an opportunity class.

Is selective education the right fit for my child?

High potential and gifted students can be found across diverse family, socio-economic, language, cultural backgrounds, and geographic locations.

Your child may have high academic potential if they demonstrate some of the following:

• an intense curiosity
• a good memory
• the ability to ask complex questions
• enjoyment of learning new and often complex ideas or skills
• a need for fewer repetitions when learning new things
• creativity
• an intense focus in their area(s) of interest.

Note: Not all high potential and gifted students will display all of these characteristics, for example, due to disability, disadvantage and/or lack of opportunity.

Learn more about the department’s High Potential and Gifted Education Policy.

How do I apply for entry into an opportunity class or selective high school?

Parents/carers should visit the selective high schools and opportunity classes website to learn more about opportunity classes and selective high schools and complete an online application.

How are students placed in an opportunity class or selective high school?

Places are offered to students based on their performance on the free computer-based selective education placement tests. Within each co-educational opportunity class and selective high school there will be an equal number of places available for girls and boys.

We know that some high potential and gifted students are missing out because they experience educational disadvantage. The Equity Placement Model is designed to make entry fairer for these students by holding a percentage of places for high potential and gifted students:

• from low socio-educational advantage schools
• who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• from rural and remote areas
• with disability.

How should I prepare my child prepare for the placement tests?

Students may like to do a small amount of preparation for the placement test using the department’s free resources so they know what to expect on test day:

• Applying for an opportunity class: Student resource hub
• Applying for a selective high school: Student resource hub

Some practice helps students feel confident and prepared. Coaching is not necessary for sitting the OC and SHS placement tests nor is it endorsed by the department.