Selective high schools
Selective high schools cater for high potential and intellectually gifted students.
They help students learn by:
- grouping them with other gifted students
- using special teaching methods so students can learn concepts in more detail and more quickly
- supporting their wellbeing needs.
Most students in selective high schools enjoy learning more when their classmates have similar abilities and interests.
As well as providing for students’ academic development, selective high schools also offer a broad range of classes and extra-curricular activities such as: sports, creative and performing arts, music, and special interest clubs.
Types of selective high schools
There are 4 types of selective high schools:
- Fully selective
- Partially selective (includes classes with non-selective students)
- Agricultural selective high schools (some offering boarding)
- Aurora College—an online ‘virtual’ selective school for rural & remote students
Learn more at What are selective high schools.
Selective high schools are unzoned so you can apply no matter where you live.
Equity placement
We encourage applications from diverse students.
Our Equity Placement Model helps to make access fairer for high potential and gifted students who are currently under-represented in selective high schools. This helps make placement fairer for the following under-represented groups:
- students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds
- Aboriginal students
- rural and remote students
- students with disability.
Learn more at Equity Placement Model.
Access information in a different language
Tips for identifying if your child has high academic potential
Gifted and high potential students often have some, or all, of the following characteristics; they:
- enjoy learning
- have intense curiosity
- display a good memory
- ask complex questions
- enjoy learning new and often complex ideas or skills
- require fewer repetitions when learning new things
- are creative
- become intensely focused in their area of interest or passion.
Please keep in mind that these traits are only one way to indicate high potential students. Some high potential and intellectually gifted students may not act like this, for example, due to lack of opportunity, disability or disadvantage.
Ask your child’s teacher if you want advice about whether your child might benefit from attending a selective high school.
Download application information
Key Dates—Year 7 entry in 2024*
For entry to Year 7 in 2024, applications open on 18 October and close on 16 November 2022.
The Selective High School Placement Test will be held on 4 May 2023. The test will be paper-based.
| Date | Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 October 2022 | Applications open | |
| 16 November 2022 | Applications close | |
| 20 April 2023 | Test centre & Test authority advice released | |
| 4 May 2023 | Selective High School Placement Test | |
| 11 May 2023 | Illness/misadventure requests due | |
| Mid-August 2023 | Placement outcome expected to be released |
* There may be changes to key dates and procedures, please check the website regularly for any updates.
To learn more about how to apply visit:
Ready to apply?
Page metadata
Last updated: 09-Nov-2022
