根据州教育部的最近的改革，现在OC班取消了原来的分区设置，也就是说你可以替你的孩子报考任何区带OC班的小学，报考OC班和你现在所居住区或者当前所读学校无关。理论上说，上面名单里的任何小学OC你都可以报考，但是如果你考虑实际的路程，交通和居住状况，选择也不会太多。

73所带OC的小学和整个新南威尔士州1600多所小学比，实在是很小的比例，基本上要好几个学区才会有一个带OC班的小学。所以有OC班的小学所在的区就会会变成租房买房的热门区，北区很典型的区就是Artarmon，这个区的租赁和买卖市场一直很活跃，房子价高难求，就和这个区的Artarmon Public School很有关系，这个带OC班小学是北区大家公认的口碑好的学校，甚至有种说法说是新南威尔士州最好的小学。

因为小学没有什么客观的指标排名，所以很多家长就以有没有OC班来作为考虑小学好坏的标准，其实这并不准确，诚然教育部选中开设OC班的小学肯定有过人之处，但是就单凭academic来说也未必就比没有OC的好的哪里去。比如有校长忽悠你说，我们小学考入精英中学（Selective High）的比例很高是30%，又有OC班，所以我们小学如何如何好，其实你仔细想想，一个600人左右的小学Year 6一般就3个班（不超过100人），其中一个是OC班，已经占了三分之一，OC班大概全考上的精英中学（很常见）不就是30%的比例吗？其他在普通班里你的孩子不是前一二名的话基本上是没戏了，这不是和很多普通的小学也没啥两样嘛，你能说这个小学的质量很高吗？简单的道理，入学有OC班的小学，不意味着你的孩子就占了OC的光，考不上还是没用啊，所以选小学还是要综合考虑，一个小学的口碑很重要，有时候多打听本区家长们的风评比光看这些（有没有OC）要重要的多。

要读OC班，必须在Year 4的当年五月份报名，当年7月底8月初参加招生考试Opportunity Class Placement Test，录取以后是从五年级开始到六年级上两年。

入学考试成绩并不是决定性的，只是以是三分之二成绩计入，另外三分之一是平时在校的成绩（school assessment marks），一般是Year 3下半年和Year 4的上半年学生在校的表现。

OC班非常难考，比精英中学还难。一般来说10000多考生中也就录取1600多名，6:1的比例，考虑到还有很多学生根本没有报名，所以录取比例是相当低的。相较之下精英中学（selective High School）录取倒是有大概有4:1比例，比OC容易多了。

提到OC就不能不提补习学校（coaching school），这是民间给孩子课外补习的一种“昂贵”的学校。华人家长们为了让孩子考上OC和Selective High，花了很多钱让孩子课外补习，在澳洲主流社会里有很多非议，论坛里的相关争论也非常多。华人孩子大规模上补习学校的结果就是OC和Selective High里高比例的华人人群，洋人们说这很不公平啊，我的孩子一周上五天课，华人孩子一周要上六天甚至更多，我们如何竞争？一种主流的意见就是现在OC这个制度已经偏离了原本要选拔智力超群的孩子本意了，大家都成了“考试机器”了。所以我们看到教育部在OC选拔考试里的方向有所变化，比如2009年OC考试的题目就大幅度的提高了阅读理解的难度，让很多以数学和知识见长的一些华人孩子有些不知所措。不过因为大部分华人家长的传统教育观念就是走OC—》Selective High—》University的academic的路线，所以只要这个制度不取消，相信华人家长还是会“前赴后继”，补习学校继续会赚大钱。

一个题外话，其实考OC班还不是最难的，最难的是私校的奖学金（Private School Scholarship）。录取比例大概要35:1，这大概是读书的最高境界了吧。如果你听到周围那个人跟你讲，我们没钱上私校，但孩子很争气，考到了私校的奖学金，替我们省了很多钱，这个可不是一般的“牛”，是“极品牛”，这一年我们在新足迹论坛里也逐渐看到这样的“极品牛”。

读完小学Kindergarten – Year 6，接下来就是Year 7 - Year 12 Secondary School。

一般被称为High School，就是我们国内说的中学。

澳洲实行十二年国民义务教育，小学六年，中学六年。其中中学的最后二年，Year 11和Year 12算是高中，为考大学作准备。读到中学Year 10（初中）毕业时，孩子已经年满十五岁。从法律上说就是“准”成人了，可以决定自己今后的生活走向。如果无心向学，或者因为别的什么原因不能继续学业。可以在Year 10的时候时拿到初中毕业文凭后，离开学校踏上社会，溶入劳动大军。很多洋人的孩子（初）中学毕业十六七岁去当学徒工，汽车修理，餐馆厨房，建筑木匠，砖瓦，水电。各行各业都有招收学徒工。但是在应征想从事的行业时，用人单位会要求提供中学毕业成绩单，孩子们的学习成绩，对于想从事的行业还是有影响的。中学毕业当了几年的学徒工，掌握了一定的实践经验，要想成为真正的技师，还需要进入技术专科学校，比如TAFE。技术专科学校为劳动大军增加专业知识起到了很好的作用，在澳大利亚从事或者经营许多行业需要有执照，而执照的申请，首先要有技术专科学校结业的文凭。如电工，水管工，园丁，理发，美容等等。有了技术专科学校结业的文凭。就可以开设自己感兴趣的小生意，自己给自己当老板。这也是一条走向社会的道路。

不过很多华人家长们的愿望就是希望孩子最后读大学，所以让孩子把整个中学阶段都会念完（Year 7 – Year 12）。

上公立中学和公立小学一样，你的居住地决定了上那个中学。公立中学按照其Catchment Zone来招生，一般来说只要你住在学区范围内就肯定能够上这个中学。但是请注意，如果普通公立高中是一个single sex的中学，比如Cheltenham Girls' High School是一个公立普通女子中学，就可以有例外，如果当年报名人太多，你的居住地里学校不够近，学校有权拒绝你的入学申请。事实上，往往这样的single sex的High School都是普通公立中学里的佼佼者，所以都会很热门（报名人数超过其招生名额），所以有很多家长未雨绸缪，买房子就按照以学校为圆心的半径来考虑。媒体报道每年为了上这些热门中学，伪造居住证明（账单，租房合同等等）的大有人在。

和国内一样，在华人圈子里也有说“垃圾中学”和“重点中学”。“垃圾中学”说法有些过分，其实就是普通公立中学，不一定不好。但是很多华人家长对孩子的期望就是上“重点中学”，也就是Selective High School。

在新南威尔士州，这样的重点中学数量可不多，2010年统计一共有45个。

17所Fully Selective High Schools
23所Partially Selective High School（high school with selective classes）
4所Agricultural High School。

其名单如下

•        Alexandria Park Community School (co-educational, partially selective)
Park Road, Alexandria
Web: www.alexpark-cs.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Armidale High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Butler Street, Armidale
Web: www.armidale-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Baulkham Hills High School (co-educational, fully selective)
Windsor Road, Baulkham Hills
Web: www.baulkhamhillshighschool.com.au/
•       Blacktown Boys High School (boys, partially selective)
Sunnyholt Road & Fifth Ave, Blacktown
Web: www.blacktownb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Blacktown Girls High School (girls, partially selective)
Fifth Ave, Blacktown
Web: www.blacktowng-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Bonnyrigg  High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Elizabeth Drive, Bonnyrigg
Web: www.bonnyrigg-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Caringbah High School (co-educational, fully selective)
Willarong Road, Caringbah
Web: www.caringbah-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Chatswood High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Centennial Avenue, Chatswood
Web: www.chatswood-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Duval High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Crest Road, Armidale
Web: www.duval-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Elizabeth Macarthur High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Waterworth Drive, Narellan
Web: www.elizabeth-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School (boarding and day students; boys only; agriculture is a compulsory subject from Year 7 to 10.)
Calala Road, Tamworth
Web: www.farreragri-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Fort Street High School (co-educational, fully selective)
Parramatta Road, Petersham
Web: www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Girraween High School (co-educational, fully selective)
Gilba Road, Girraween
Web: www.girraween-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Gorokan High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Goobarabah Ave, Gorokan
Web: www.gorokan.hs.education.nsw.gov.au/
•        Gosford High School (co-educational, fully selective)
Racecourse Road, Gosford
Web: www.gosford-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Grafton High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Oliver and Mary Streets, Grafton
Web: www.grafton-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Hornsby Girls High School (fully selective)
Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby
Web: www.hornsbygir-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Hurlstone Agricultural High School (boarding and day students; coeducational; agriculture is a compulsory subject from Years 7 to 10 and for students entering the school in Year 11)
Roy Watts Road, Glenfield
Web: www.hurlstone.com.au/
•        James Ruse Agricultural High School (day students only – co-educational – agriculture is a compulsory subject up to Year 10)
Felton Road, Carlingford
Web: www.jamesruse.nsw.edu.au
•       Karabar High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Donald Road, Queanbeyan
Web: www.karabarhigh.com.au
•        Kooringal High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Ziegler Avenue, Kooringal North
Web: www.kooringal-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Macquarie Fields High School (coeducational, partially selective)
2 Harold Street, Macquarie Fields
Web: www.macfields-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Merewether High School (co-educational, fully selective)
Chatham Street, Broadmeadow
Web: www.merewether-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Moorebank High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Bangalow Avenue, Moorebank
Web: www.moorebank-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•       Normanhurst Boys High School (fully selective)
Pennant Hills Road, Normanhurst
Web: www.normanhurb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        North Sydney Boys High School (fully selective)
Falcon Street, Crows Nest
Web: www.nsbhs.nsw.edu.au
•        North Sydney Girls High School (fully selective)
Pacific Highway, Crows Nest
Web: www.northsydgi-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•       Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus (co-educational, fully selective)
Abbott Road, North Curl Curl
Web: www.nbscmanlys-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Parramatta High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Great Western Highway and Pitt Streets, Parramatta
Web: www.parramatta-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•       Peel High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Gunnedah Road, Tamworth
Web: www.peel-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•       Penrith High School (co-educational, fully selective)
158-240 High Street, Penrith
Web: www.penrithhighschool.nsw.edu.au
•       Prairiewood High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Prairievale Road, Wetherill Park
Web: www.prairiewoodhigh.com.au/
•       Rose Bay Secondary College (co-educational, partially selective)
Hardy Street, Dover Heights
Web: www.rosebay-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Ryde Secondary College (co-educational, partially selective)
5 Malvina Street, Ryde
Web: www.rydesc-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Sefton High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Hector Street, Sefton
Web: www.sefton-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Smiths Hill High School (co-educational, fully selective)
Gipps Street, Wollongong
Web: www.smithshill-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        St George Girls High School (fully selective)
Victoria Street, Kogarah
Web: www.stgeorgegi-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Sydney Boys High School (fully selective)
Moore Park, Surry Hills
Web: www.sydneyboyshigh.com
•        Sydney Girls High School (fully selective)
Anzac Parade, Surry Hills
Web: www.sghs.nsw.edu.au
•        Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus (co-educational, partially selective, Years 7 – 10 only)
Terry Street, Rozelle
Web: www.balmain-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•       Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus (co-educational, partially selective, Years 10 – 12 only)
Taylor Street, Glebe
Web: www.glebe-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•       Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus (co-educational, partially selective, Years 7 – 10 only)
210 Balmain Road, Leichhardt
Web: www.leichhardt-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Sydney Technical High School (boys only, fully selective)
Forest Road, Bexley
Web: www.sydneytech-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Tempe High School (co-educational, partially selective)
Unwins Bridge Road, Tempe
Web: www.tempe-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
•        Yanco Agricultural High School (boarding students only; co-educational; agriculture is a compulsory subject from Years 7 to 10 and for students entering the school in Year 11)
Euroley Road, Yanco
Web: www.yancoag-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

大家可以看到数量很少，但是幸运的是它们超过一半都在大悉尼地区。

Fully Selective High School就是整个学校（所有的班）就是个重点中学，比如在悉尼North Shore地区有 Hornsby Girls High，Baulkham High，Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus, North Sydney Boys High, North Sydney Girls High。一般这样的全制精英中学都是每年HSC中排名靠前的佼佼者。

Partially Selective High School就是部分重点中学，整个学校的大部分班级是普通中学的标准（Community Class），但是有一两个班是“重点班”（Selective Class），比如在悉尼North Shore地区有Chatswood High，Ryde Secondary College。一般这样“半制”精英中学，除了那个重点班好一些，其他普通班和别的普通公立中学也没啥大区别。在HSC的考试排名里我们就会看到，有一大半的Partial Selective High综合成绩远远不如一些普通公立中学。

Agricultural High School就是农业中学，它们的教学内容里的确有务农方面的知识，但是大家别嫌名字土，整个新南威尔士州最有名的精英中学是James Ruse Agricultural High School，在悉尼西北面的Carlingford。这个学校是一个BOB（Best  of Best），也就是说是个“极品牛”。它的HSC考试（Year 12的毕业会考）成绩优秀率的排名最近十年来一直是新南威尔士州的冠军。这具体是个什么概念呢？比如去年的HSC成绩，James Ruse学生参加1100人次的单科考试项目，出现90分以上的频率有834人次，优秀率（Distinguished Achiever Ratio）达到了惊人的74%。也就是说这个学校里高三毕业的考生大概有四分之三的比例考到了90分以上的好成绩，在报考大学的时候基本上热门专业或者“钱途”良好的专业就随便挑了。2008年HSC排名第二是Baulkham Hill High School，这是个悉尼西北山区赫赫有名的精英中学，优秀率也只不过53%。北区著名的女子私校Pymble Ladies College2008年仅仅是38%。基本上我们可以这样说，未来五到十年里不可能有别的学校挑战James Ruse的王者地位。有就是因为james Ruse在academic上的表现是如此的优异，所以社会上对此的议论也很多。典型的说法就是，这个中学里全是“书呆子”将来毕业不是医生就是律师之类的学术型的精英，而成不了所谓主流的社会精英。但是无论怎样，我本人对能够考入这个中学和能够从这个中学毕业的学生和其背后辛勤付出的家长们表示深深的敬佩。

Selective High School和OC一样，是面向整个新南威尔士州招生的，和你住在那个区无关（没有居住地区限制）。精英中学Year 7的入学，主要是根据孩子在学校的平时成绩和精英中心招生考试（Selective High Schools Test）的成绩来决定的。校内成绩在报名时又孩子所在的学校提供，精英中心招生考试在报名之后的下一年的3月份举行。精英中学还可以在Year 8到Year12入学，是根据每个学校的招生委员会设定的标准来评估学生的能力，评估方法包括内部和外部的考试，对学科竞赛成绩的评估和最后的面试。

一般流程是，在Year 5的当年10月份报名精英中学Year 7。在当年的6月份报名下一年度入读Year 8 到 Year 12。报名是可以最多申请4所学校。如果是报读 Year 7，在申请表上要按优先顺序填，最后只会得到按照优先顺序排在最前面的学校名额。如果是报读 Year 8 至 Year 12，可以选择4所学校，但是需要分别申请寄给学校。

这里列举一个2008年HSC考试的学校排名，是以DA（90分以上的优秀率）来决定名次的

1. James Ruse Agricultural High School .......... 1110 .......... 834 .... 75.14
2. Baulkham Hills High School ................... 1220 ........... 651 .... 53.36
3. North Sydney Girls High School ............... 1039 ........... 550 .... 52.94
4. Sydney Girls High School ..................... 1011 ........... 499 .... 49.36
5. Hornsby Girls High School ..................... 718 ............ 336 .... 46.8
6. North Sydney Boys High School ................. 974 ............ 443 .... 45.48
7. Sydney Boys High School ...................... 1287 ........... 576 .... 44.76
8. Sydney Grammar School ........................ 1229 ........... 543 .... 44.18
9. SCEGGS Darlinghurst .......................... 628 ............ 277 .... 44.11
10. St George Girls High School Kogarah .........942 ............ 410 .... 43.52
11. Malek Fahd Islamic School ................... 311 ............ 134 .... 43.09
12. Moriah College .............................. 853 ............ 352 .... 41.27
13. Masada College .............................. 333 ............ 136 .... 40.84
14. Kambala .....................................539 ............ 219 .... 40.63
15. Northern Beaches Secondary College,
Manly Selective Campus .......................... 685 ........... 258 ...... 37.66
16. Abbotsleigh ................................. 1010 ........... 354 .... 35.05
17. Roseville College ........................... 404 ............ 141 .... 34.9
18. Ravenswood School for Girls ................. 710 ............ 242 .... 34.08
19. Ascham School ............................... 518 ............ 176 .... 33.98
20. Caringbah High School ....................... 889 ............ 302 .... 33.97
21. Frensham School ............................. 296 ............ 99 ..... 33.45
22. Girraween High School ....................... 833 ............ 274 .... 32.89
23. Pymble Ladies' College ...................... 1431 ........... 464 .... 32.42
24. Hurlstone Agricultural High Scho..............1053 ........... 339 .... 32.19
25. Merewether High School ...................... 1080 ........... 339 .... 31.39
26. Queenwood School for Girls ................... 389 ............ 119 .... 30.59
27. Tangara School for Girls .................... 170 ............ 52 ..... 30.59
28. Fort Street High School Petersham ............932 ............ 284 .... 30.47
29. St Aloysius College ......................... 853 ............ 258 .... 30.25
30. Presbyterian Ladies College Sydney ...........880 ............ 263 .... 29.89
31. Wenona School ............................... 568 ............ 167 .... 29.4
32. Gosford High School ......................... 1018 ........... 299 .... 29.37
33. Sydney Technical High School Bexl..............879 ............ 252 .... 28.67
34. Normanhurst Boys High School ................ 749 ............ 212 .... 28.3
35. Loreto Kirribilli ........................... 825 ............ 226 .... 27.39
36. Conservatorium High School .................. 188 ............ 51 ..... 27.13
37. The King's School ........................... 999 ............ 267 .... 26.73
38. Newcastle Grammar School .................... 426 ............ 107 .... 25.12
39. MLC Burwood ................................. 869 ............ 217 .... 24.97
40. Kincoppal - Rose Bay ........................ 613 ............ 152 .... 24.8
41. SHORE Sydney CoE Grammar School..............1120 ........... 274 .... 24.46
42. Brigidine College St Ives ................... 622 ............ 152 .... 24.44
43. Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College .............896 ............ 218 .... 24.33
44. St Catherine's School ....................... 473 ............ 115 .... 24.31
45. Penrith High School ......................... 918 ............ 218 .... 23.75
46. Sefton High School .......................... 895 ............ 211 .... 23.58
47. Self-Tuition Students .............,..........30 ............. 7 ...... 23.33
48. St Ignatius' College ........................ 1447 ........... 332 .... 22.94
49. Meriden School .............................. 310 ............ 71 ..... 22.9
50. Loreto Normanhurst .......................... 868 ............ 196 .... 22.58
51. Barker College .............................. 1796 ........... 399 .... 22.22
52. International Grammar School ................ 380 ............ 82 ..... 21.58
53. Mercy Catholic College 
54. Reddam House (Bondi Campus)
55. Canberra Grammar School
56. Willoughby Girls High School 
57. Redfield College
58. Smith's Hill High School
59. Cheltenham Girls' High School
60. Newington College
61. Knox Grammar School
62. Cherrybrook Technology High School 
63. St Luke's Grammar School
64. Cranbrook School 
65. Hunter Valley Grammar School 
66. Killara High School
67. The Illawarra Grammar School 
68. St Mark's Coptic Orthodox College
69. Tara Anglican School for Girls
70. Trinity Grammar School
71. The Scots College
72. Santa Sabina College
73. Homebush Boys High School 
74. Pittwater House Girls College
75. Emanuel School
76. Strathfield Girls High School
77. Parramatta Marist High School 
78. St Ursula's College
79. Kinross Wolaroi School
80. Killarney Heights High School
81. St Patrick's College, Strathfield .
82. Sule College, Prestons
83. Marist Sisters' College Woolwich 
84. St Joseph's College 
85. St Mary and St Mina's
Coptic Orthodox College
86. Brigidine College Randwick
87. Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta
88. The Scots School Albury 
89. Christadelphian Heritage College
90. Blue Mountains Grammar School
91. IPEKA International Christian School
92. New England Girls' Schoo
93. Xavier Catholic College
94. St Pius X College
95. Northholm Grammar School
96. Carlingford High School 
97. Pal College
98. Macarthur Anglican School
99. St Vincent's College 
100. Burwood Girls High School 

前100名里，有20所公立精英中学，普通公立中学只有13所，其他67所都是私立（包括教会）学校。其他方面不论，就以academic来说，私校的平均水平远远高于公立学校。如果要看到前200名各自的比例，精英中学25所，普通公立中学45所，其他130所全部是私校，所以结论也差不多。

前20名里，公立精英中学和私立学校各占一半，但是前十名里，公立的精英中学占了TOP 7的位置，说明academic上顶尖的学校都是公立精英中学，也就是说尖子们大部分都在公立精英中学里。

在华人圈子里说来说去的精英中学James Ruse Agricultural High，Baulkham Hills High，North Sydney Girls High，Sydney Girls High，Hornsby Girls High，North Sydney Boys High，Sydney Boys High School，St George Girls High School就是这几个成绩最好的全制精英学校。