Waitara Public School OC: Opportunity Class Guide

Waitara Public School hosts an Opportunity Class (OC) — a two-year gifted-education program for high-potential students in Years 5 and 6 — and is one of the larger OC schools on Sydney's Upper North Shore. Entry is by the OC Placement Test. If Waitara is on your child's list, here's an honest profile and a clear explanation of how OC entry works.

School Snapshot

• Type: NSW public primary school (K–6) hosting Opportunity Classes
• OC program: Years 5–6 — two OC classes, one at each year level
• Location: Edgeworth David Avenue, Wahroonga, on Sydney's Upper North Shore (Hornsby area)
• Enrolment: more than 940 students
• Community: students from over 50 cultural backgrounds

What the OC Class Is Like

Waitara Public School runs two Opportunity Classes — one Year 5 class and one Year 6 class — describing them as an integrated part of the school community rather than a separate stream. The school's stated approach centres on problem-solving activities, creative thinking challenges, advanced research skills, and working in a variety of group structures, with the aim of helping students guide their own learning. Collaboration and critical thinking are named as core to school life.

Beyond the classroom, OC students take part in competitions including the First Lego League robotics competition, Tournament of Minds, the STEM Video Game Challenge, visual arts competitions, and the National History Challenge, alongside accelerated programs in mathematics and English.

An OC is a distinct academic class within the school, not a separate school — your child joins in Year 5 and continues in the OC to the end of Year 6.

How OC Entry Works

The OC Placement Test — Year 4 for Year 5 entry

For 2027 entry, Waitara Public School offers 30 Year 5 opportunity-class places according to the NSW Department of Education (15 boys and 15 girls). Children apply in Year 4 and sit the OC Placement Test, with places offered for Year 5 the following year. The test is computer-based and covers:

• Reading
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Thinking Skills

You nominate up to four OC schools in order of preference on the one application — one more than the selective high school test allows. Preference order never changes your chances at any single school; it only decides which offer you receive if your child qualifies for more than one.

The 2027 gender balance change applies to OC

From the 2027 intake, OC places are split equally between boys and girls, so Waitara's 30 places are offered as roughly 15 to boys and 15 to girls, with each competing within their own half (any leftover place goes on academic merit). This does not change how your child is assessed — the OC Placement Test is identical for everyone.

Getting There

The school sits on Edgeworth David Avenue in Wahroonga, a short walk from Waitara station on the T1 North Shore line, with Wahroonga station also close by. Hornsby — a major interchange for the North Shore, Northern and Central Coast lines — is one stop away, which makes the school unusually reachable for families travelling in from across the Upper North Shore and the Central Coast corridor. As OC classes are not zoned like a local primary, families do travel in from well outside the immediate area.

Waitara and Nearby OC Options

The Upper North Shore has several OC schools within a short radius, so families in this area often fill more than one of their four preferences locally. Nearby options include Beecroft Public School and Wahroonga Public School, while Chatswood and Artarmon sit further down the North Shore line. Use the full NSW OC schools directory to check places and suburbs before you lock in your order.

One practical note: a school with 30 places gives your child roughly double the chance of the many OC schools that offer only 15. That does not make a 30-place school "easier" — demand varies — but it is worth understanding when you build your preference list.

What a Competitive Application Looks Like

There's no published cut-off, so aim for a strong, balanced result across all three sections of the OC test. A lopsided result — strong maths but weaker Reading or Thinking Skills — can be overtaken by a more even performer. The most reliable preparation is consistent practice with realistic, OC-style questions in the same computer-based format used on test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Waitara Public School have an opportunity class?

Yes. The school runs two Opportunity Classes — one Year 5 class and one Year 6 class — for high-potential and gifted students, entered through the NSW OC Placement Test.

How many OC places does Waitara have?

30 Year 5 places for 2027 entry (15 boys, 15 girls).

What is an Opportunity Class?

A two-year class (Years 5 and 6) in a public primary school for high-potential and gifted students, entered by the OC Placement Test. Your child stays in the OC for both years.

What score do you need to get in?

There's no officially published cut-off, and any specific number online is an unofficial estimate. Entry is decided by OC Placement Test performance.

How many OC schools can you apply for?

Up to four, in order of preference, on the one application. Order doesn't affect your chances at any single school.

Does the OC test include writing?

No. The OC Placement Test covers Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. (Writing is part of the selective high school test, not the OC test.)

Related reading

• How to apply for OC and Selective: 2028 entry
• OC test dates 2028
• How OC placement scores are calculated
• The OC reserve list explained
• Find OC schools near you in NSW

Prepare for the OC Test with AcePath

Whichever OC schools you're aiming for, the OC Placement Test decides your child's options. Start with a free AcePath sample quiz to see where they stand in Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills, then build an exam-ready routine with our OC practice test packs, which mirror the real computer-based format used on test day.