What term is used for schools that select students based on their academic performance?

The term that refers to schools selecting students based on academic performance is grammar schools. These institutions have entrance criteria that typically involve academic assessments, such as entrance exams, to determine which students are admitted. They aim to provide a rigorous academic environment for academically gifted students, focusing on subjects like mathematics and the humanities.

On the other hand, community schools do not have selective admissions and serve local areas regardless of academic ability. Private schools may have their own admissions processes, but they are not specifically defined by a selection based solely on academic performance. Faith schools, while they may have specific religious criteria for admissions, also do not exclusively select students based on academic aptitude. Therefore, grammar schools are uniquely characterized by their selective nature based on academic merit.