Darwin High School was home to 13 of the 20 most successful students in 2024 – here’s the secret
With 13 of the top 20 Territory graduates in 2024 hailing from Darwin High School, the NT News sat down to learn the secrets to this school’s success. Here’s what the principal and three gun students told us.
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This year, 13 of the top 20 best performed year 12 students in the Territory were Darwin High School alumni.
The NT News sat down with principal Jill Hazeldine and three top graduates to discuss the school’s success and advice for students Territory-wide.
Ms Hazeldine has been the principal at Darwin High since 2017, supporting 3000 students to graduate in her time there.
“There’s a few things that contribute to our success,” Ms Hazeldine said.
“Student choice – we’ve become the place where students want to come because they can access subjects they may not be able to do at other places.
“For example, we still offer six languages: Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Greek, Italian and Spanish.
“We have a lot of really experienced staff who know the curriculum very well.
“They’re moderators and markers for the SACE [South Australian Certificate of Education] Board – so they have a lot of expertise.
“We also do case management of students well.
“Even though our cohorts are so big – anywhere between 350 to 400 students – the staff work really hard to help students through their pathway to graduation.”
Ms Hazeldine said the pathway could vary for each student, with some pursuing a school-based apprenticeships or work throughout their final years, while others might want an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) to enter university.
“There’s a place for everyone here,” Ms Hazeldine said.
Graduates Rupendren Manimaran, Paraskevi Diamandopoulos and Toby Koefoed agreed with this sentiment.
All three said their favourite thing about Darwin High was “the community”.
“Everyone has been super supportive and helpful,” school dux Rupendren said.
Rupendren achieved the equal highest ATAR in the Territory, scoring 99.90.
He hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue medicine.
Rupendren’s advice to students going into 2025 was to set goals.
“It’s really important to set goals for the short and long term,” Rupendren advised.
“Use these as a checkpoint to stay on track.”
Paraskevi and Toby also achieved exceptional ATARs, scoring 99.10 and 97.30 respectively.
Like Rupendren, who is a grade 5 singer, Paraskevi and Toby had outlets outside of school.
Toby is a violinist with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra and plays timpani in the school band.
“Playing music is one of my favourite ways to switch off focus from school,” Toby said.
Paraskevi, meanwhile, is a baker.
“I like making special things for friends and teachers,” she said.
“I also do bake sales to fundraise for special causes.”
Paraskevi cautioned future students that year 12 was “a rollercoaster”.
“You’ll face a lot of obstacles,” Paraskevi said.
“Just go through it, try your best and seek support if you need it.”
Toby’s advice to students was to find out which learning style suited them best.
“It’s all about having a good mindset and finding an approach to learning that works best for you,” he said.
Beyond their ATARs, Rupendren, Paraskevi and Toby are successful students in their own right.
Ms Hazeldine said this is emblematic of what success means at Darwin High.
“Success is every student achieving what they want to achieve,” the principal stated.
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