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Guide · State schools

Selective schools and programs in Brisbane

QASMT, QACI and 146 programs at 39 state high schools: when to apply, and who can apply from outside the catchment.

  • 2 academies
  • 146 programs
  • Checked 26 Oct 2026

Apply a year early for these programs

Most programs take Year 7 applications while your child is in Year 6. These close the year before, while they're still in Year 5:

Every school's programs

What each school offers, from the school's own pages. The first thing to check: can you apply from outside the catchment?

Tap a school for its programs, how students are picked and when to apply.

4 schools in our guide list no selective programs: Brisbane Bayside State College, Fortitude Valley State Secondary College, Sunnybank State High School, Whites Hill State College.

Questions parents ask

What is the difference between QASMT, QACI and a program of excellence?

QASMT and QACI are whole schools where every student is selected, and anyone in Queensland can apply. QASMT takes students from Year 7 and Year 10; QACI from Year 10. A program of excellence is a class or academy inside an ordinary state high school, for students strong in one area such as maths, music or a sport. The rest of the school is not selective.

Can a program get my child into a state high school outside our catchment?

Sometimes. 28 schools in this guide say out-of-catchment students can apply for their programs, and for several (such as Brisbane State High, Brisbane South and Cavendish Road) it is the main way in. Others, such as Forest Lake, Glenala and most programs at Mansfield, take local-catchment students only. Where a school's program pages don't say, we've used its enrolment management plan.

When do applications close?

Usually in Year 6 for Year 7 entry, often between May and June. But some close a year early, while children are in Year 5: Brisbane State High School, Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology, Brisbane South State Secondary College, Kenmore State High School, Indooroopilly State High School. QACI and QASMT's Year 10 entry close in Year 9. Pick your child's year above to see each school's window.

What tests do schools use?

Each school chooses its own. You will see ACER tests (General Ability, HAST or AGAT), Edutest (QASMT and QACI) and school-set exams, usually alongside school reports and NAPLAN. Music programs audition, sport programs run trials or testing days, and arts programs ask for an audition, a video or a folio.

Do programs cost extra?

Some do. Application or test fees range from about $65 to $420 where a school publishes one, and some programs add a yearly levy (often $100 to $300). Each school's fee is listed below where it publishes one.

Is a selective program right for my child?

A program is a few classes a week; the school around it is the other 80% of their day. Before applying, look at the whole school: the culture, wellbeing and how the program class fits in. That's what the reviews on each school's page are for.

How we put this together

We read the program, enrolment and selective entry pages of 45 Brisbane state high schools and both Queensland Academies campuses, last on 26 October 2026, including PDFs and flow charts they link to. We only use the schools' own pages, not search results or second-hand lists. "Who can apply" is what the school says; where its program pages say nothing, we use its enrolment management plan, as in our out-of-catchment guide. Where a school gives last year's dates rather than this year's, the planner works out when the same window falls for your child and marks it as an estimate. Schools change their programs and dates, so confirm with the school before you rely on anything here. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@schoolinsights.com.au with a link.

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A program is a few classes a week. The school is the rest of their day.

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