Parents and carers who are interested in having their child attend an opportunity class or a selective high school in 2027 can apply now.

Selective high schools and opportunity classes are some 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.

Selective high schools are for students in Years 7 to 12, and opportunity classes are for students in Years 5 and 6.

The application period is from 6 November 2025 to 20 February 2026. Parents and carers must apply during this application period as late applications will not be accepted.

• Students seeking placement in an opportunity class will be in Year 3 when applications open and in Year 4 when applications close.

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

How to apply? 

Complete the online application (approximately 5 mins) – visit: Application process.

Where are selective high schools and opportunity classes located? 

Selective high schools and opportunity classes are located across NSW. You can apply for opportunity classes and selective high schools that are outside your local enrolment area.

Aurora College provides online opportunity classes and selective high school classes for students living in rural and remote locations. These classes are available at over 600 public primary schools and 180 public high schools. 

To search for a school near you visit Find an opportunity class and Find a selective high school.

Placement test

Once you have submitted your application, your child will be allocated to sit the placement test. Test admission tickets are issued to parents and carers approximately 2 weeks before the test dates. The tests will be held in early May 2026. The placement tests are computer-based (laptops provided by the department) and will be held in public high schools.

Following the test, places are offered based on a student’s test performance.

Fair and equitable access 

The department is committed to ensuring that all students have fair access to opportunity classes and selective high schools.

Currently, there are more boys than girls in selective education. To address this, we are introducing a gender parity model so that there is an equal number of places for boys and girls in co-educational selective high schools and opportunity classes. Learn more at Fair Access.

The existing Equity Placement Model holds up to 20% of selective high school and opportunity class places 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.

Does my gifted child need to go to a selective high school or opportunity class?

Selective high schools and opportunity classes are just some of the ways that the department supports high potential and gifted students. Gifted students are also supported to achieve their potential across all of our public schools through the High Potential and Gifted Education policy.

Under new and expanded programs, your local comprehensive high school also offers a vibrant learning environment with programs designed to cater for your child’s academic potential. Visit your local high school’s website to learn more.

Where do I go for more information?

Visit our website selective high schools and opportunity classes.