One of the most common questions parents ask when preparing for the OC test is: "Which school should we aim for?" The answer depends on more than just your child's score — location, available places, and the gap between the most competitive schools and the rest all play a role.
This guide covers every OC school in NSW: their placement numbers, NAPLAN performance rankings, how they group into tiers, and what that means for your child's preparation strategy. For our top picks by region, see our guide to the best OC schools in Sydney.
How Many OC Schools Are There?
As of the 2026 OC Placement Test (for Year 5 entry in 2027), there are 88 Opportunity Class schools across NSW, plus Aurora College, a virtual school offering 100 additional OC places for students in remote areas.
That's a total of approximately 1,840 Year 5 places — with about 1,740 at physical schools and 100 through Aurora College's virtual program.
Starting from the 2027 intake, a new gender balance requirement applies: in 15-place OC classes, places are allocated as 7 boys + 7 girls + 1 based on merit regardless of gender. This is a significant change from previous years where placement was purely score-based.
Understanding OC School Tiers
Not all OC schools produce the same academic outcomes. NAPLAN results from OC students vary significantly across schools, which correlates roughly with the calibre of students each school attracts (determined largely by cutoff scores).
Based on cross-referencing 2024 and 2025 NAPLAN data with historical cutoff patterns, OC schools fall into four broad tiers:
| Tier | Estimated Cutoff Range | School Count | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier S (Elite) | 240+ | ~5 schools | Consistently in NSW Top 10 overall. Extremely competitive. |
| Tier A (Top) | 220–239 | ~15 schools | In NSW Top 50. Strong academic outcomes. Most sought-after. |
| Tier B (Mid-High) | 200–219 | ~20 schools | In NSW Top 100–200. Solid programs with good results. |
| Tier C (Standard) | 160–199 | ~47 schools | Outside Top 200 or no OC-specific ranking data. Variable results. |
Important caveats: Exact cutoff scores are not published by NSW Education. These ranges are estimates based on community data and historical patterns. Cutoff scores shift every year based on the applicant pool. A school that required 225 last year might need 215 or 235 the next.
Top 20 OC Schools by NAPLAN Performance
The following ranking is based on 2025 NAPLAN whole-school performance (where OC students are a significant contributor to results) cross-referenced with 2024 OC-specific NAPLAN rankings from third-party analysis.
| Rank | School | Area | OC Places | 2025 NSW Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beecroft Public School | Hills / Upper North | 30 | #3 | S |
| 2 | Matthew Pearce Public School | Baulkham Hills | 30 | #7 | S |
| 3 | Sutherland Public School | Sutherland | 30 | #9 | S |
| 4 | Ermington Public School | West Ryde | 30 | #10 | S |
| 5 | Summer Hill Public School | Inner West | 30 | #14 | S |
| 6 | Hurstville Public School | Hurstville | 60 | #16 | A |
| 7 | Artarmon Public School | North Shore | 30 | #17 | A |
| 8 | Waitara Public School | Upper North | 30 | #21 | A |
| 9 | Dural Public School | Hills | 30 | #24 | A |
| 10 | North Rocks Public School | Hills | 30 | #26 | A |
| 11 | Balmain Public School | Inner West | 30 | #27 | A |
| 12 | Woollahra Public School | Eastern Suburbs | 30 | #28 | A |
| 13 | Neutral Bay Public School | Lower North | 30 | #31 | A |
| 14 | Lindfield East Public School | Upper North | 15 | #36 | A |
| 15 | Greystanes Public School | Western Sydney | 30 | #38 | A |
| 16 | Ashfield Public School | Inner West | 30 | #40 | A |
| 17 | Blacktown South Public School | Western Sydney | 15 | #46 | B |
| 18 | Caringbah North Public School | Sutherland | 15 | #48 | B |
| 19 | Kingswood Public School | Penrith | 15 | #50 | B |
| 20 | Ironbark Ridge Public School | Rouse Hill (NW) | 15 | #51 | B |
A note on rankings: NAPLAN rankings fluctuate year to year. Woollahra, for example, was ranked #3 in 2024 but dropped to #28 in 2025. A school's tier is more stable and useful than its exact rank in any given year.
All 88 OC Schools: Complete List
Sydney Metro Schools (24 schools, 675 places)
North Shore & Hills District — 9 schools, 240 places The highest concentration of competitive OC schools in NSW. The Hills District (Beecroft, Matthew Pearce, Dural, North Rocks) consistently dominates NAPLAN rankings.
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beecroft PS | Beecroft 2119 | 30 | #3 | S |
| Artarmon PS | Artarmon 2064 | 30 | #17 | A |
| Waitara PS | Wahroonga 2076 | 30 | #21 | A |
| Dural PS | Dural 2158 | 30 | #24 | A |
| North Rocks PS | North Rocks 2151 | 30 | #26 | A |
| Neutral Bay PS | Neutral Bay 2089 | 30 | #31 | A |
| Lindfield East PS | East Lindfield 2070 | 15 | #36 | A |
| Chatswood PS | Chatswood 2067 | 30 | #69 | B |
| Wahroonga PS | Wahroonga 2076 | 15 | #95 | B |
Inner West — 6 schools, 180 places A strong cluster with several Tier S and A schools. Summer Hill and Balmain are the standouts.
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Hill PS | Summer Hill 2130 | 30 | #14 | S |
| Balmain PS | Balmain 2041 | 30 | #27 | A |
| Ashfield PS | Ashfield 2131 | 30 | #40 | A |
| Earlwood PS | Earlwood 2206 | 30 | #61 | B |
| Alexandria Park CS | Alexandria 2015 | 30 | #182 | C |
| Wilkins PS | Marrickville 2204 | 30 | #196 | C |
Eastern Suburbs — 2 schools, 45 places Limited options in the east. Woollahra is a strong Tier A school.
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woollahra PS | Woollahra 2025 | 30 | #28 | A |
| Maroubra Junction PS | Maroubra 2035 | 15 | #178 | C |
Southern Sydney — 4 schools, 120 places Sutherland and Hurstville are the major draws. Hurstville is the only school with 60 places (likely two OC classes).
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutherland PS | Sutherland 2232 | 30 | #9 | S |
| Hurstville PS | Hurstville 2220 | 60 | #16 | A |
| Caringbah North PS | Caringbah 2229 | 15 | #48 | B |
| Miranda PS | Miranda 2228 | 15 | — | C |
Northern Beaches — 3 schools, 60 places
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookvale PS | Brookvale 2100 | 15 | #97 | B |
| Mona Vale PS | Mona Vale 2103 | 30 | #99 | B |
| Balgowlah Heights PS | Balgowlah Heights 2093 | 15 | #104 | B |
Greater Western Sydney (25 schools, 480 places)
The largest regional cluster by school count. Results vary widely — from Tier S (Ermington, Matthew Pearce) to Tier C.
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Pearce PS | Baulkham Hills 2153 | 30 | #7 | S |
| Ermington PS | West Ryde 2114 | 30 | #10 | S |
| Greystanes PS | Greystanes 2145 | 30 | #38 | A |
| Blacktown South PS | Blacktown 2148 | 15 | #46 | B |
| Kingswood PS | Kingswood 2747 | 15 | #50 | B |
| Richmond PS | Richmond 2753 | 30 | #52 | B |
| Picnic Point PS | Picnic Point 2213 | 15 | #58 | B |
| Quakers Hill PS | Quakers Hill 2763 | 30 | #66 | B |
| Ryde PS | Ryde 2112 | 30 | #68 | B |
| Blaxcell Street PS | Granville 2142 | 15 | #90 | B |
| Newbridge Heights PS | Chipping Norton 2170 | 15 | #98 | B |
| Colyton PS | Colyton 2760 | 15 | #136 | C |
| Casula PS | Casula 2170 | 15 | #140 | C |
| St Johns Park PS | St Johns Park 2176 | 15 | #143 | C |
| Harrington Street PS | Cabramatta West 2166 | 15 | #146 | C |
| Holsworthy PS | Holsworthy 2173 | 15 | #160 | C |
| Toongabbie PS | Toongabbie 2146 | 15 | #181 | C |
| Georges Hall PS | Georges Hall 2198 | 15 | #188 | C |
| Blacktown West PS | Blacktown 2148 | 15 | #189 | C |
| Smithfield PS | Smithfield 2164 | 15 | — | C |
| Penrith PS | Penrith 2750 | 15 | — | C |
| St Clair PS | St Clair 2759 | 15 | — | C |
| Greenacre PS | Greenacre 2190 | 15 | — | C |
| Guildford West PS | Guildford West 2161 | 15 | — | C |
| Doonside PS | Doonside 2767 | 15 | — | C |
North West & South West Sydney (6 schools, 90 places)
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironbark Ridge PS | Rouse Hill 2155 | 15 | #51 | B |
| Bradbury PS | Bradbury 2560 | 15 | #139 | C |
| Leumeah PS | Leumeah 2560 | 15 | #183 | C |
| Camden South PS | Camden South 2570 | 15 | — | C |
| St Andrews PS | St Andrews 2566 | 15 | — | C |
| Tahmoor PS | Tahmoor 2573 | 15 | — | C |
Central Coast & Hunter (8 schools, 150 places)
| School | Suburb | Places | 2025 Rank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Lambton PS | New Lambton 2305 | 15 | #148 | C |
| Gosford PS | Gosford 2250 | 30 | #156 | C |
| Tighes Hill PS | Tighes Hill 2297 | 15 | #175 | C |
| Biraban PS | Toronto 2283 | 15 | #186 | C |
| Jewells Primary | Jewells 2280 | 15 | #190 | C |
| Wyong PS | Wyong 2259 | 30 | — | C |
| Maryland PS | Maryland 2287 | 15 | — | C |
| Rutherford PS | Rutherford 2320 | 15 | — | C |
Blue Mountains, Illawarra & Regional NSW (25 schools, 345 places)
These schools typically have 15 places each and lower cutoff scores. They serve as important access points for gifted students outside Sydney.
Notable schools include Wollongong PS (#134, 30 places) and Glenbrook PS (#133, 30 places), which are the strongest performers in this group.
The remaining 19 regional schools span from Alstonville near Byron Bay to Queanbeyan near Canberra, with 15 places each.
Aurora College — Virtual OC Program (100 places)
Aurora College provides 100 virtual OC places for students who don't live near a physical OC school. Classes are delivered online, allowing gifted students in rural and remote NSW to access the OC program.
How to Use This Data for Your Strategy
1. Be Realistic About Tier Targets
Only about 5 schools are consistently in Tier S. With approximately 150 places across those schools, out of roughly 13,000 students sitting the test, the odds of securing a Tier S placement are roughly 1 in 85.
If you're aiming for Tier A (about 15 schools, ~400 places), the odds are better but still highly competitive — roughly 1 in 30 among test-takers.
2. Consider Geography
OC placement isn't purely score-based. You list school preferences, and allocation considers both your child's score and the schools you've ranked. Understanding which schools are in your area and their competitiveness helps you build a realistic preference list. Wondering how OC compares to Selective High School as a pathway? Read our detailed comparison of OC vs Selective School.
3. Don't Fixate on Rankings
A Tier B school with a great OC teacher can provide a better experience than a Tier S school where your child feels overwhelmed. Rankings measure test scores, not teaching quality or school culture.
4. Use Rankings to Calibrate Preparation
If your child's mock test scores are consistently around the 200 mark, focusing preparation towards Tier B schools (and listing some Tier A schools optimistically) is more strategic than assuming a Tier S placement will happen with a few more weeks of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score does my child need for a specific OC school?
Exact cutoff scores are not published by NSW Education. The tier ranges in this guide are estimates based on historical data and community reports. Cutoffs shift each year depending on the applicant pool. Your best approach is to maximise your child's score and list schools strategically.
Can my child attend an OC school outside our local area?
Yes. There is no geographic restriction on OC school preferences. However, consider the daily commute — some families choose a closer Tier B school over a distant Tier A school for practical reasons.
Do OC school rankings change every year?
Yes, sometimes significantly. Woollahra, for example, moved from #3 in 2024 to #28 in 2025 in whole-school NAPLAN rankings. Tier groupings are more stable than exact rankings, which is why this guide emphasises tiers over precise positions.
How many OC schools should we list as preferences?
You can list as many preferences as you like. A common strategy is to list 2-3 "aspirational" schools (where your child's score might just reach), 2-3 "target" schools (where the score is a comfortable fit), and 2-3 "safety" schools. This approach maximises your chances of placement.
Are regional OC schools less competitive?
Generally yes. Regional schools (Tier C) have lower cutoff scores because fewer students in those areas sit the OC test. However, "less competitive" is relative — your child still needs to score well above average to gain placement.
Start With a Clear Baseline
Understanding where the 88 OC schools sit relative to each other is useful context. But the most important number isn't a school's ranking — it's your child's current skill level and where they need to improve.
A diagnostic mock test that breaks performance down by subject and sub-skill gives you the data you need to build an effective preparation plan — and to set realistic school targets.
Take a free diagnostic mock test →
Last updated: March 2026. Rankings are based on 2025 NAPLAN data and 2024 OC-specific performance analysis. Data sourced from NSW Education, ACARA My School, and third-party analysis platforms.
Read our complete OC Test 2026 Guide → Compare free OC mock test platforms →