Top High School Ranking by State

Based on ATAR Ranking for Senior High Schools

State Year
VIC VCE (ATAR) 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
NSW HSC (ATAR) 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
QLD (OP/IBD) 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
WA WACE (ATAR) 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

Top Primary Schools by State

Based on Naplan Acadamic Results for Primary Schools

State Year
VIC Melbourne 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
NSW Sydney 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
QLD Brisbane 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
SA Adelaide 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
ACT Canberra 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
WA Perth 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
NT Darwin 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
TAS Hobart 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

Top Secondary Schools by State

Based on Naplan Acadamic Results for Junior High Schools

State Year
VIC Melbourne 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
NSW Sydney 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
QLD Brisbane 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
SA Adelaide 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
ACT Canberra 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
WA Perth 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
NT Darwin 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
TAS Hobart 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

Frequently asked questions.

  • What is NAPLAN?

    The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It has been an everyday part of the school calendar since 2008.

    NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling and numeracy. The assessments are undertaken nationwide, every year, in the second full week in May.

    NAPLAN is made up of tests in the four areas (or ‘domains’) of:

    • reading
    • writing
    • language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
    • numeracy

    NAPLAN tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time through the school curriculum.

  • What is the ATAR?

    Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

    Tertiary institutions in Australia have found that a selection rank based on a student's overall academic achievement is the best single predictor of success for most tertiary courses. The ATAR provides a measure of a student's overall academic achievement in relation to that of other students. It is calculated solely for use by institutions, either on its own or with other selection criteria, to rank and select school leavers for their courses.

    The ATAR is a rank, not a mark.

    It is a number between 0.00 and 99.95 and indicates a student’s position relative to all the students who started high school with them in Year 7. So, an ATAR of 80.00 means that you are 20 per cent from the top of your Year 7 group, not your Year 12 group.

  • What is the ICSEA?

    ICSEA stands for the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage.

    ICSEA is a scale which allows for fair and reasonable comparisons among schools with similar students.

    ICSEA provides an indication of the socio-educational backgrounds of students; it has nothing to do with the staff, school facilities or teaching programs at the school. ICSEA isn’t a school rating.

    The Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) was created by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) specifically to enable fair comparisons of National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) test achievement by students in schools across Australia.

    What does the ICSEA value mean for you?

    ICSEA is set at an average of 1000. You can use this value as an ICSEA benchmark.

    The lower the ICSEA value, the lower the level of educational advantage of students who go to this school.

    The higher the ICSEA value, the higher the level of educational advantage of students who go to this school

  • Why is some data not available?

    Some primary schools do not have Year 3 and some secondary schools do not have Year 7. Results for schools with five students or fewer per Year-level sitting a test are not reported.