Students joined a cast of about 3600 public school students from places like Bathurst, Forbes and Orange.

The show's theme was Our Time, inspired by the song of the same name by Stephen Sondheim.

Dubbo Public teachers Monique Graham and Emma Trudgett helped co-ordinate their students, who danced to their theme of 'Time in the Country'.

"The students had an absolute ball and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for them," Ms Graham said.

She said Dubbo Public had not participated in dance before and she hoped they would take part in the event next year.

Students from the 21 schools danced, sang and played instruments in front of four 'huge' audiences on November 23 and 24.

Relieving director Sonja Benson said the year's theme ranked up with the best of the 29 Schools Spectacular events.

"Our theme, Our Time, was inspired by the Stephen Sondheim song and the performers really lived up to that inspiration," she said.

"Mr Sondheim wrote from New York encouraging the students in the Schools Spectacular. They performed as if they were those he wrote about - the movers, the shakers, those we will read about in tomorrow's papers."

She said the event was more like an experience than just a show and had no doubt it contributed to a student's success in school, work and life.

"They learn valuable lessons, such as collaborating with others, striving for goals, attaining new heights and sharing the success of a job well done," she said.

Local students may appear in the one-hour broadcast of the Schools Spectacular that will be televised across Australia at 6pm on December 16 on ABC1.