About 20 students from Dubbo College are enrolled to challenge themselves in advanced-level subjects alongside peers from across NSW without leaving their own playgrounds.
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The students are part of the first intake of Aurora College, a pioneering partially-selective virtual high school that will open in 2015.
Also among its expected enrolment of 150 students are Higher School Certificate candidates wishing to study subjects not available at their home schools.
Aurora College's opening comes after the past five years of the xsel Virtual Selective High School Provision operating in western NSW.
Students in year 5 are eligible to sit the test for Aurora College and applications for it close Monday November 17 .
Yesterday xsel manager Pauline Freeburn said Aurora College was a larger statewide version of a model that had "achieved fabulous outcomes".
Dubbo College South Campus principal Darryl Thompson advocated Aurora College as a way gifted students could maximise their potential while continuing to live in Dubbo.
Dubbo College Delroy Campus teacher Emmeline Smith was enthusiastic about teaching science to Aurora College students through virtual classrooms.
"One of the best things is we get to do this professional opportunity and we don't need to leave our own schools," she said.
An allocation of $8 million was made for the establishment of the school under the NSW government's Rural and Remote Blueprint for Action.