Longreach State High School has highest percentage of OP1-5 students in 2016

QUEENSLAND’S leading OP schools of 2016 have been revealed, but the state’s top performer with the highest percentage of OP1-5 students is not from where you would expect.

QUEENSLAND’S leading OP schools of 2016 have been revealed, with Longreach State High School topping the list with 63 per cent of its students receiving OP scores of 1-5.

However, there was a catch, with the school only having eight students eligible to receive an OP last year.

Brisbane Grammar School had 56 per cent of its 254 2016 students receiving the state’s highest grades.

Brisbane Boys’ College had 63 OP1-5 students (55 per cent), while St Aidan’s at Corinda had the highest percentage among girls’ schools with 46 per cent (36 students).

Federal MP Andrew Laming, who is Chair of the Education Standing Committee, urged caution when comparing schools on OP results.

“We know selective private schools and State schools from wealthy suburbs get the highest results.

“Data showing that schools starting with or recruiting smart children also end with lots of high OPs is meaningless,” he said.

The Queensland based politician said it is more powerful to look at Naplan results in early high school years and see which schools perform unexpectedly well by year 12.

“In 2015, they were overwhelmingly State schools,” Mr Laming said.

“It is important to recognise outstanding state schools that change lives for the better, and to step in where schools aren’t delivering.”

Caboolture State High School had 12 OP1-5 students, and one of them already has dozens of academic accolades under his belt.

Caboolture graduate Callum Young, 18, was one of 34 Year 12 students recognised as Queensland’s brightest and best during an awards ceremony in Brisbane on the weekend.

Callum Young wants to become a neurosurgeon.

Next week he will begin studying medicine at the University of Queensland with a Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, but his ambitions run much deeper.

“I want to become a neurosurgeon because I saw a documentary about (neurosurgeon) Ben Carson when I was in Grade 6 or 7 and I just thought it would be great to use my hands to save lives like that,” he said.

Despite his busy academic schedule, Callum still found time to play tuba in an ensemble at the Queensland Conservatorium, topped a UQ Chinese writing competition, and won the Premier’s Anzac Prize.

“I made a video about the ANZAC spirit for the prize and I got to attend the dawn service at Gallipoli on the 100th Anniversary so that was really special,” he said.

Callum scored an OP1 and said he owed it to the support of his school, teachers and parents, who are both teachers at Caboolture schools.

QUEENSLAND’S TOP SCHOOLS FOR OP1-5 STUDENTS (minimum 10 eligible students)

Brisbane Grammar School: 142 students — 56 per cent of schools OP eligible students

Brisbane Boys’ College: 63 — 55 per cent

St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace: 119 — 52 per cent

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School: 36 — 46 per cent

Anglican Church Grammar School: 85 — 46 per cent

Brisbane State High School: 195 — 46 per cent

Somerville House: 65 — 45 per cent

Brisbane Girls Grammar School: 101 — 43 per cent

Clayfield College: 22 — 42 per cent

The Lakes College: 7 — 41 per cent

Annandale Christian College: 9 — 41 per cent

Somerset College: 42 — 40 per cent

Matthew Flinders Anglican College: 50 — 39 per cent

Ormiston College: 45 — 38 per cent

St Andrew’s Anglican College: 24 — 37 per cent

Stuartholme School: 37 — 37 per cent

Mt St Michael’s College: 42 — 37 per cent

Cannon Hill Anglican College: 45 — 36 per cent

Sheldon College: 31 — 35 per cent

Saint Stephen’s College: 26 — 35 per cent

St Paul’s School: 44 — 34 per cent

Sunshine Coast Grammar School: 30 — 34 per cent

All Hallows’ School: 73 — 33 per cent

St Rita’s College: 40 — 33 per cent

Villanova College: 46 — 33 per cent

A B Paterson College: 27 — 33 per cent

Moreton Bay Boys College: 10 — 32 per cent

Townsville Grammar School: 37 — 32 per cent

Toowoomba Grammar School: 41 — 31 per cent

Concordia Lutheran College: 17 — 31 per cent

Benowa State High School: 17 — 30 per cent

Mansfield State High School: 90 — 30 per cent

Marist College Ashgrove: 49 — 30 per cent

Fairholme College: 28 — 30 per cent

All Saints Anglican School: 45 — 30 per cent

Emmanuel College Carrara: 32 — 30 per cent

Agnew School: 8 — 30 per cent

Hillbrook Anglican School: 33 — 29 per cent

Prince of Peace Lutheran College: 12 — 29 per cent

St Augustine’s College: 30 — 28 per cent

Trinity Lutheran College: 18 — 28 per cent

Indooroopilly State High School: 41 — 28 per cent

Whitsunday Anglican School: 16 — 28 per cent

John Paul College: 31 — 28 per cent

Kelvin Grove State College: 43 — 28 per cent

Redeemer Lutheran College: 25 — 28 per cent

Malanda State High School: 8 — 28 per cent