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Top performing Mackay/Whitsunday NAPLAN schools revealed in last 5 years

We’ve crunched the numbers and can reveal which are the best performing schools in the Mackay/Whitsundays region. SEE THE FULL LIST.

(From left to right) Whitsunday Anglican School students Chloe Ralph (Year 9), Asher Hobbs (Year 5), Ibrahim Musameh (Year 3) and Declan Loveless (Year 9). Picture: Contributed
(From left to right) Whitsunday Anglican School students Chloe Ralph (Year 9), Asher Hobbs (Year 5), Ibrahim Musameh (Year 3) and Declan Loveless (Year 9). Picture: Contributed

Whitsunday Anglican School is the top performing NAPLAN school in Mackay and the Whitsundays.

An independent analysis of five years of NAPLAN results has revealed the schools which consistently performed the best in the Year 5 and Year 9 tests between 2017 and 2021.

Over that five-year period, Whitsunday Anglican School, in Beaconsfield, had higher Year 5 annual results than any other school across Mackay and the Whitsundays, scoring an average of 2733.0 each year.

Coningsby State School in Farleigh was the second best for the region with an average score of 2578.8, while St Catherine’s Catholic College in Proserpine came in third with an average score of 2549.0.

The top performing Year 9 school was also Whitsunday Anglican School, where the average yearly result was 3019.0 over the five years.

Holy Spirit College in Mount Pleasant was the second best for the region with an average score of 2889.3, while Mercy College in South Mackay was the third best with an average score of 2869.5.

To determine how each school performed between 2017 and 2021, their average scores for each year were combined and the yearly average found.

Special schools, schools with fewer than 20 students enrolled in either year, and schools that did not report any results for NAPLAN subjects in either year were excluded from the analysis.

The figures were independently compiled from the Federal Government’s MySchool website.

Whitsunday Anglican School principal Andrew Wheaton credited his school’s consistently outstanding performance to an emphasis on core skills in literacy and numeracy.

“We believe very strongly in developing core skills in literacy and numeracy that carry through a student’s educational journey and into life beyond school,” he said.

“While NAPLAN is a great indicator of our strength in teaching and learning, it is just one of many factors we use to benchmark our approach.”

He also said the results reflected a commitment to the highest standards of teaching and learning.

“At Whitsunday Anglican School, we challenge and support our students to be the best they can be, in a supportive environment that allows them to thrive.

(From left to right) Whitsunday Anglican School students Chloe Ralph (Year 9), Asher Hobbs (Year 5), Ibrahim Musameh (Year 3) and Declan Loveless (Year 9). Picture: Contributed
(From left to right) Whitsunday Anglican School students Chloe Ralph (Year 9), Asher Hobbs (Year 5), Ibrahim Musameh (Year 3) and Declan Loveless (Year 9). Picture: Contributed

“Central to the school’s approach is an understanding that critical skills required for future success include creativity, curiosity, and innovation.

“Critical thinking and problem-based learning is a real focus area, embodied in our exciting new STEAM centre, due for completion in 2023.

“We want to challenge preconceptions that learning areas are separate and move past the outdated ‘I’m good at maths and science, so I’m not creative’ way of thinking.

“We invite students to develop a new way of thinking that is engaging, multifaceted and inclusive, with diversity of representation and thought.”

Mackay and the Whitsundays’ best performing Year 5 schools between 2017 and 2021:

Whitsunday Anglican School: 2733.0

Coningsby State School: 2578.8

St Catherine’s Catholic College the Whitsundays: 2549.0

Whitsunday Christian College: 2511.8

St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School: 2510.0

MacKillop Catholic Primary School: 2509.0

Emmanuel Catholic Primary School: 2480.0

Marian State School: 2478.5

Glenella State School: 2476.8

Glenden State School: 2476.3

Mackay and Whitsunday‘s best performing Year 9 schools between 2017 and 2021

Whitsunday Anglican School: 3019.0

Holy Spirit College: 2889.3

Mercy College: 2869.5

Whitsunday Christian College: 2859.5

St Catherine’s Catholic College the Whitsundays: 2844.5

Mackay State High School: 2803.3

Mackay Christian College: 2791.0

Mirani State High School: 2775.0

Proserpine State High School: 2771.8

Moranbah State High School: 2766.7

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/queensland-education/schools-hub/top-performing-mackaywhitsunday-naplan-schools-revealed-in-last-5-years/news-story/49c603829e0ec57b4cdc9ab5c0eb1079