Academic (Selective) schools in Australia

138 schools across NSW, VIC & QLD run a specialist program in Academic (Selective). Listed alphabetically within each state — this is an alphabetical list, not a ranking, and we do not rate schools.

Sources: QLD programs © State of Queensland (Dept of Education), CC BY 4.0; NSW specialist & selective schools © NSW Dept of Education; VIC select-entry high schools © State of Victoria. Two kinds of row, not one: 25 were recorded from a page that names the school, and 171 are derived by us from a flag in the NSW feed — their program name is ours, they carry no entry marker because nothing we hold says how entry works there, and their link goes to the department’s general specialisation page, which does not name the school. Use the specialty-program filter in the directory to combine this with location, sector and the score.

What an academic (selective) program is

“Academically selective” on this page is a label a state department publishes — not a judgement of ours, and not a description of a process we hold. On 27 of these rows the label is “Partially selective”, a selective stream running alongside an ordinary local intake, and 87 are an Opportunity Class inside a primary school that enrols its own area as usual. For those, where you live still matters and the zone is still worth checking; only the 21 fully selective rows sit outside that. We hold the label and nothing behind it: not the test, not the criteria, not the cut-off, not the number of places.

The 138 schools here are not all high schools: by type, 85 primary, 52 secondary and 1 central/community. Most of the list is primary, because a primary school running an Opportunity Class is tagged the same way a selective high school is. In our data they are every one of them a government school. 5 rows here were recorded from a page that names the school; the other 133 are derived by us from a flag in the NSW feed, carrying a name and an entry marker of ours rather than anyone else’s — see “Where these rows came from” below.

How entry works, and what the labels on these rows mean

Entry is set by each school or its department, never by us, and it differs school to school even inside one category. What this page carries is a marker per row — a short label of ours for the kind of entry that row is about — and, in the states that publish one, a selectivity label. Where a marker came from is not the same on every row, so the first definition below is the one to read first:

Where these rows came from: 5 of the 138 rows were recorded from a page that names the school and carry that page's own words. The other 133 are derived by us: the NSW feed records that the school has a specialisation, a selective stream or an Opportunity Class, and we turned that flag into the row. The program name is our wording, not a name anyone published; these rows carry no entry marker — we could guess one from the flag, but nothing states it, so we show none; and the “source” link goes to the department’s general specialisation page, which does not name the school. What the process actually is — the tests, the dates, the criteria, how many places — we do not hold at all for these rows.
Selective — academic test: The entry markers on this page, the same one on 5 of the 138 rows. A marker is our short label, never the school's wording and never the rule. On the 5 rows recorded from a page that names the school, it summarises what that page describes. The 133 rows we derived from a feed flag carry no marker at all: nothing we hold says how entry works there, so we show none rather than guess. “Selective — academic test” on a row is the whole of what we hold about getting in there: it does not tell you when, on what criteria, or how many places there are.
Fully selective · Partially selective: The NSW Department of Education's own labels, carried through unchanged — 21 rows fully selective and 27 partially selective. We do not assign them, and we hold nothing behind them: not the criteria, not the cut-off, not the number of places.
Opportunity Class: 87 of these schools are flagged as running one. Our source names it a gifted-primary class, which is why so much of this list is primary schools. The flag says the class exists at that school — nothing about entry to it, and nothing about the rest of the school, which enrols its area as usual.
No selectivity label at all: 5 rows carry neither a selectivity label nor an Opportunity Class flag. That means we hold no label, not that the school is not selective — the labels above are published by one state's feed, and rows sourced elsewhere simply have nothing in that field. Never read a blank as a “no”.
Specialty category: “Academic (Selective)” is our grouping, applied so that similar programs can be found together. 7 of these schools sit in another category as well, and appear on that page too.

Jump to: New South Wales (133) · Victoria (4) · Queensland (1)

New South Wales (133)

Alexandria Park Community School Alexandria, NSW — Academically selective entry
Alstonville Public School Alstonville, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Armidale City Public School Armidale, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Armidale Secondary College Armidale, NSW — Academically selective entry
Artarmon Public School Artarmon, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Ashfield Public School Ashfield, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Auburn Girls High School Auburn, NSW — Academically selective entry
Aurora College Lindfield, NSW — Academically selective entry
Balgowlah Heights Public School Balgowlah, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Balmain Public School Balmain, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Bathurst West Public School Bathurst, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Baulkham Hills High School Baulkham Hills, NSW — Academically selective entry
Beecroft Public School Beecroft, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Biraban Public School Toronto, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Blacktown Boys High School Blacktown, NSW — Academically selective entry
Blacktown Girls High School Blacktown, NSW — Academically selective entry
Blacktown South Public School Blacktown, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Blacktown West Public School Blacktown, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Blaxcell Street Public School Granville, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Blaxland East Public School Blaxland, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Bonnyrigg High School Bonnyrigg, NSW — Academically selective entry
Bradbury Public School Bradbury, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Brookvale Public School Brookvale, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Camden South Public School Camden, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Caringbah High School Caringbah, NSW — Academically selective entry
Caringbah North Public School Caringbah, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Casula Public School Casula, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Cessnock West Public School Cessnock, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Chatswood High School Chatswood, NSW — Academically selective entry
Chatswood Public School Chatswood, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Colyton Public School Mount Druitt, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Coonabarabran Public School Coonabarabran, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Cudgegong Valley Public School Mudgee, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Dubbo West Public School Dubbo, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Dural Public School Dural, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Earlwood Public School Earlwood, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Elizabeth Macarthur High School Narellan, NSW — Academically selective entry
Ermington Public School West Ryde, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School Calala, NSW — Academically selective entry
Fort Street High School Petersham, NSW — Academically selective entry
Georges Hall Public School Georges Hall, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Girraween High School Girraween, NSW — Academically selective entry
Glenbrook Public School Glenbrook, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Goonellabah Public School Goonellabah, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Gorokan High School Lake Haven, NSW — Academically selective entry
Gosford High School Gosford, NSW — Academically selective entry
Gosford Public School West Gosford, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Goulburn West Public School Goulburn, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Grafton High School Grafton, NSW — Academically selective entry
Granville Boys High School Granville, NSW — Academically selective entry
Greenacre Public School Greenacre, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Greystanes Public School Greystanes, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Harrington Street Public School Cabramatta, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Holsworthy Public School Holsworthy, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Hornsby Girls High School Hornsby, NSW — Academically selective entry
Hurlstone Agricultural High School Glenfield, NSW — Academically selective entry
Hurstville Public School Hurstville, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Illaroo Road Public School North Nowra, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Ironbark Ridge Public School Rouse Hill, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
James Ruse Agricultural High School Carlingford, NSW — Academically selective entry
Jewells Primary School Jewells, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Karabar High School Queanbeyan, NSW — Academically selective entry
Kingswood Public School Kingswood, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Kooringal High School Kooringal, NSW — Academically selective entry
Leumeah Public School Leumeah, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Lindfield East Public School East Lindfield, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Lithgow Public School Lithgow, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Macquarie Fields High School Macquarie Fields, NSW — Academically selective entry
Maroubra Junction Public School Maroubra, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Maryland Public School Maryland, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Matthew Pearce Public School Baulkham Hills, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Merewether High School Broadmeadow, NSW — Academically selective entry
Miranda Public School Miranda, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Mona Vale Public School Mona Vale, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Moorebank High School Moorebank, NSW — Academically selective entry
Moree Public School Moree, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Moss Vale Public School Moss Vale, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Neutral Bay Public School Neutral Bay, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
New Lambton South Public School New Lambton, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Newbridge Heights Public School Chipping Norton, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Normanhurst Boys High School Normanhurst, NSW — Academically selective entry
North Rocks Public School North Rocks, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
North Sydney Boys High School North Sydney, NSW — Academically selective entry
North Sydney Girls High School Crows Nest, NSW — Academically selective entry
Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus North Curl Curl, NSW — Academically selective entry
Parramatta High School Parramatta, NSW — Academically selective entry
Peel High School Tamworth, NSW — Academically selective entry
Penrith High School Penrith, NSW — Academically selective entry
Penrith Public School Penrith, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Picnic Point Public School Picnic Point, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Port Macquarie Public School Port Macquarie, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Prairiewood High School Prairiewood, NSW — Academically selective entry
Quakers Hill Public School Quakers Hill, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Queanbeyan South Public School Queanbeyan, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Richmond High School Richmond, NSW — Academically selective entry
Richmond Public School Richmond, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Rose Bay Secondary College Dover Heights, NSW — Academically selective entry
Rutherford Public School Rutherford, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Ryde Public School Ryde, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Ryde Secondary College Ryde, NSW — Academically selective entry
Sefton High School Sefton, NSW — Academically selective entry
Smithfield Public School Smithfield, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Smiths Hill High School Wollongong, NSW — Academically selective entry
Soldiers Point Public School Soldiers Point, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
South Grafton Public School South Grafton, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
St Andrews Public School St Andrews, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
St Clair Public School St Clair, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
St George Girls High School Kogarah, NSW — Academically selective entry
St Johns Park Public School St Johns Park, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Sturt Public School Wagga Wagga, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Summer Hill Public School Summer Hill, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Sutherland Public School Sutherland, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Sydney Boys High School Moore Park, NSW — Academically selective entry
Sydney Girls High School Surry Hills, NSW — Academically selective entry
Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus Rozelle, NSW — Academically selective entry
Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus Glebe, NSW — Academically selective entry
Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus Leichhardt, NSW — Academically selective entry
Sydney Technical High School Bexley, NSW — Academically selective entry
Tahmoor Public School Tahmoor, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Tamworth Public School Tamworth, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Tamworth South Public School Tamworth, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Tempe High School Tempe, NSW — Academically selective entry
Tighes Hill Public School Tighes Hill, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Toongabbie Public School Toongabbie, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Toormina Public School Toormina, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Wahroonga Public School Wahroonga, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Waitara Public School Wahroonga, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Wentworth Falls Public School Wentworth Falls, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Wilkins Public School Marrickville, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Wollongong Public School Wollongong, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Woollahra Public School Woollahra, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Wyong Public School Wyong, NSW — Opportunity Class (gifted primary)
Yanco Agricultural High School Yanco, NSW — Academically selective entry

Victoria (4)

MacRobertson Girls High School Melbourne, VIC — Select-entry high school (Years 9-12, girls) Selective — academic test
Melbourne High School South Yarra, VIC — Select-entry high school (Years 9-12, boys) Selective — academic test
Nossal High School Berwick, VIC — Select-entry high school (Years 9-12, co-ed) Selective — academic test
Suzanne Cory High School Werribee, VIC — Select-entry high school (Years 9-12, co-ed) Selective — academic test

Queensland (1)

Brisbane State High School South Brisbane, QLD — Academic selective-entry places Selective — academic test

What this page can and cannot tell you

What we hold

the school’s name, suburb and state, and a link to its full profile here
the program’s published name and entry route on 5 rows, in the words of the page that names the school
on 133 rows, only that the NSW feed flagged the school — the name and the entry marker on those rows are ours
the NSW selectivity label, on the rows whose feed publishes one
the Opportunity Class flag, where the feed records one
a link to the page each of the 5 rows came from
for the 133 rows we derived, a link to the department’s general specialisation page — which explains the scheme, not the school

What we do not hold

application or test dates, and no deadline of any kind
the name, format or content of any entrance test
cut-off marks, how many applied, or how many places exist
fees, levies, uniform or equipment costs
sibling, out-of-zone, transfer or appeal rules
how students in the program actually fare — we publish no results data and no rating

Nothing in that second list is guessed at on this page: where we hold no figure, we say so rather than print something plausible.

What to do next

Open the school, not just the row. Each school’s page carries its sector, size, year levels, the area figures for its suburb, its catchment zone where we hold one, and attendance where we hold that — plus the source link for this program.
Go to the school for anything with a date on it. Entry windows, tests and criteria live on the school’s own site or its department’s, and we mirror none of them. On the 133 rows we derived, our link goes to the department’s general page rather than to anything about that school, so the school’s own site is the place to start.
Ring the school and ask the specific question. “Is the academic (selective) program running next year, how do you get in, and what does it cost?” is a two-minute call and it is the only authoritative answer.
Combine it with what else matters to you. The directory filters the same 185 tagged schools by state, sector, type and specialty program together, and Zone check tests a real address against a mapped zone — we hold boundaries for NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS & ACT only, so it can answer nothing for a school elsewhere.

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