Australia’s Top 100 Public High Schools: Tasmania’s 30 best government secondary schools ranked 

Which Tasmanian public schools are a class above at providing an exceptional and affordable education? See the full list of the state’s 30 top-ranking schools here. 

Flinders Island District High School has been named Tasmania’s best public secondary school, The Mercury can reveal.

Principal Nicole Jones said the recognition in News Corp’s rankings of Australia’s Top 100 Public High Schools reflected the “passion and commitment” of the small, tight-knit school community.

“We may be a small island school, but this achievement shows the big things that can happen when a whole community works together for its young people,” Ms Jones said.

Flinders Island District High was the only Tasmanian school to make the national top 100, placing 88th overall.

It was followed by Taroona High School in second place in the state rankings and Penguin District High School in third, with regional schools, including St Helens District High School and Latrobe High School, also making the top 10.

Every secondary or combined school in Tasmania where students participated in year 9 NAPLAN testing was assessed on a range of criteria that included academic performance, student attendance levels, student-teacher ratio, average fees and level of socio-educational advantage.

Ms Jones said Flinders Island District High’s staff “put their heart and soul into creating engaging and supportive learning opportunities”.

“For our students, (the ranking) proves no matter where you live you can achieve amazing things with determination and the right support,” she said.

“We are incredibly grateful for our families, our community, and everyone who backs our school.”

Flinders Island District High School principal Nicole Jones with student leaders Ella Mollineaux and Jaxon Scown.

The sentiment was echoed by student leader Ella Mollineaux, who gave much of the credit for the recognition to her teachers.

“Because we’re from a remote place, people sometimes see us as the underdogs, but this shows how great our school really is,” the 15-year-old said.

“Our teachers are awesome. They give us heaps of opportunities and are always keen to help us with what we want to do now and in the future.”

Flinders Island District High School ranked highly due to factors including its year 9 NAPLAN results and exceptional student-teacher ratio of just 7.1.

Taroona High School principal Charles White said at his larger school, staff worked “incredibly hard” to support the 1159 students.

Taroona High School principal Charles White with year 10 students Lilith Fleming, Eisen Chan, Isabella Trinh and Evie O'Neill. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Taroona High School is a fantastic school that has an explicit focus on improving the teaching and learning every day,” Mr White said.

“We have been successful recently because we have an unrelenting focus on improving the wellbeing of our students to allow them to be the best learners possible.”

Mr White said the school’s values – which included respect, innovation, creativity, honesty and integrity – were embedded within every “discussion, interaction, and communication” between staff, students and their families.

He said these values lent themselves to a “positive learning environment”.

“A positive learning environment is one where everyone is welcome, everyone is accepted and where every learner is supported for where they are up to and where they are going in their learning,” he said.

“Our public education system is the only system that supports the whole Tasmanian society across every corner of our state.

“Each school works tirelessly with their communities to make a positive learning environment and the sense of connection and focus on growth is inspiring for the wide range of students and their families.”

Originally published as Australia’s Top 100 Public High Schools: Tasmania’s 30 best government secondary schools ranked