Selective education is one of the ways that the department 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.
Special 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 schools outside your catchment area.
Use the following maps to find your closest:
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:
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/s of interest.
Note: Not all high potential and gifted students will display all of these characteristics, for example, due to disability, disadvantage or lack of opportunity.
Learn more about the department’s High Potential and Gifted Education Policy.