Parents and carers who are interested in having their child attend an opportunity class or a selective high school in 2026 can apply now.

From this year on, the application period for Year 5 entry to opportunity classes and Year 7 entry to selective high schools, will open at the same time and remain open over a longer period.

For 2026 entry, the combined opportunity classes and selective high schools’ application period is from 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025. Parents and carers must apply during the designated application period, as late applications will not be accepted.

As the application period for opportunity class placement is now open much earlier, students seeking placement in an opportunity class will still be in Year 3 when applications open and in Year 4 when applications close.

Students seeking selective high school placement are in Year 5 when applications open and in Year 6 when applications close.

Applicants can submit their application through a link that will be available on the Selective high schools and opportunity classes webpage. The application link is only available during the application period: 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025.

Students living in rural and remote areas can also apply for a place at Aurora College, which offers online selective high school and opportunity classes. Rural and remote students can access the online opportunity classes from more than 600 host schools and the online selective high school classes from about 180 host schools.

High potential and gifted students are supported across all NSW public schools through the High Potential and Gifted Education policy.

Computer-based test

The opportunity class and selective high school placement tests will be computer-based from 2025 and will be held at dedicated test centres from 2 to 4 May 2025. Applicants will be allocated a test date and time on one of those days. Laptops will be provided.

Where are selective high schools and opportunity classes located? 

The department’s website shows where opportunity classes and selective high schools are at Find an opportunity class and Find a selective high school.

Fair and equitable access 

The Equity Placement Model helps make access fairer for more high potential students in our community.

Under the Model, up to 20% of opportunity class places are held for high potential or gifted students from the following under-represented groups:

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

These students may be offered a place if their test performance is within 10% of the minimum general applicant first-round offer for the school. Learn more at Fair Access.

How to apply? Register your details online and complete the application at the Selective high schools and opportunity classes website. Applications close on 21 February 2025.

Once the application has been submitted your child will be invited to sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test or the Selective High School Placement Test at an allocated time between 2 to 4 May 2025. Places are offered for opportunity classes and selective high schools based on a students’ test performance.

For more information go to Selective high schools and opportunity classes.