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Comprehensive data and research on selective school programs across Australia. Statistics sourced from official government education departments, with historical trends and acceptance rates for NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Last Updated: January 2025 | Data Sources: NSW Department of Education, Victorian Department of Education, Queensland Department of Education
Australia has a robust network of selective schools and gifted programs across all states and territories.
Selective Schools Nationwide
Annual Applicants (NSW)
Places Offered (NSW)
Avg. Acceptance Rate (NSW)
Source: NSW Department of Education | Updated: 2025
| Year | Applicants | Places Offered | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Projected) | ~52,000 | ~4,200 | ~8.1% |
| 2024 | 51,234 | 4,178 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 48,892 | 4,162 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 45,123 | 4,118 | 9.1% |
| 2021 | 42,567 | 4,095 | 9.6% |
Key Insight: NSW selective school applications have increased by approximately 20% over the past 4 years, while the number of available places has remained relatively stable, leading to increasingly competitive entry.
| Year | Applicants | Places Available | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Projected) | ~18,000 | ~2,000 | ~11% |
| 2024 | 17,456 | 1,980 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 16,234 | 1,956 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 15,123 | 1,920 | 12.7% |
Total OC Schools: 76 schools across NSW offer Opportunity Classes for gifted Year 5-6 students.
Test Components: Reading (30 min), Mathematical Reasoning (40 min), Thinking Skills (30 min)
Including James Ruse, Sydney Boys, Sydney Girls, North Sydney Boys, North Sydney Girls
Schools offering selective streams alongside comprehensive classes
Primary schools offering Opportunity Classes for Years 5-6
Source: Victorian Department of Education | Updated: 2025
| Year | Applicants | Places Offered | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Projected) | ~14,000 | ~1,600 | ~11.4% |
| 2024 | 13,567 | 1,580 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 12,890 | 1,560 | 12.1% |
| 2022 | 11,456 | 1,540 | 13.4% |
Source: Queensland Department of Education | Updated: 2025
| Year | Applicants | Places Offered | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ~3,500 | ~600 | ~17% |
| 2023 | 3,234 | 580 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 2,890 | 560 | 19.4% |
Annual Applicants
Places Offered
Acceptance Rate
Schools: Glenunga International HS, Adelaide HS, Marryatville HS, Brighton Secondary School
Top schools: Perth Modern School, Shenton College, Rossmoyne SHS
Across all Australian states, selective school applications have increased by 15-25% over the past five years, while the number of available places has remained relatively stable. This trend reflects growing awareness of selective education benefits and increased population in major cities.
NSW fully transitioned to computer-based testing in 2022 for both OC and Selective School tests. Victoria and Queensland are progressively adopting similar formats. This shift has changed preparation strategies significantly.
In NSW, approximately 70% of selective school applicants come from Greater Sydney, with particularly high concentrations in the Northern Sydney, Inner West, and Parramatta regions. This creates significant variation in competitiveness by geographic area.
High Performing Students team, annual placement reports, school allocation data
Selective Entry High Schools annual intake reports
Queensland Academies admission statistics
National school performance data, NAPLAN correlations
Statistics marked with "~" are estimates based on available public data and may vary from official figures. Where exact numbers are not publicly available, we use conservative estimates based on historical trends and official press releases. This page is updated quarterly.
Citation: When referencing this data, please cite as: "Australian Selective School Statistics 2025, BrainTree Coaching Australia, braintreecoaching.com.au/australian-selective-school-statistics"
BrainTree Coaching Australia is an Australian educational company specializing in selective school test preparation. We help families across Australia prepare for NSW Selective Schools, Opportunity Class (OC), HAST, Victorian Selective Entry, and Queensland Academies entrance exams.
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