NAPLAN results 2023: How every NT school performed
New data has revealed the NT’s best and worst performing NAPLAN 2023 schools. See how each school ranked.
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A school-by-school breakdown of the nation’s newly-released 2023 NAPLAN results has revealed the top performing schools in the Territory.
An analysis conducted by the NT News determined the highest Year 5 and 9 performers in the NT.
Haileybury Rendall School took out the top spot among 161 schools with primary-aged students with an average score of 522.4.
It is the second year in a row the school has landed on top – HRS’ average 2022 score was 555.8.
Haileybury Rendall principal Andrew McGregor said the school was ‘very pleased’ with its results.
“It’s nice to be the highest performing school for the third year in a row,” Mr McGregor said.
“While 2023 is the beginning of the new NAPLAN scoring system, compared to other ‘like’ schools, we continue to show improvement, which is an absolute credit to our dedicated teachers and hardworking students.
“Our NAPLAN results are just part of a well-rounded curriculum we offer here at HRS which includes focused learning in the classroom and the many opportunities available to our students outside the classroom, such as music, performing arts and sport.
“We believe our results are directly attributed to our Explicit Instruction teaching model as well as our focused professional development for teachers on the best evidence-based teaching practices.”
The Essington School ranked highest among the NT’s 126 secondary schools with an average score of 623.6.
The school also topped the rankings last year with an average 2022 score of 617.2.
The Essington School Head of Learning and Development Heidi van Brdegraven said her students excelled across every subject and surpassed both the Australian and NT averages.
“Our students’ dedication extends beyond NAPLAN, showcasing consistent effort throughout their academic journey, which is consistently mirrored in our results,” she said.
“Essington strives for excellence for all students and we take joy in witnessing their progress.
“While NAPLAN serves as a valuable tool in gauging student achievement, it is just one facet we consider.
“Our team meticulously analyse both class-wide and individual student data, seeking out prevailing trends - consequently, we have identified two specific areas for improvement and have already initiated program adjustments based on this year’s results.”
Also performing well in NAPLAN this year was Dripstone Middle School, with principal Nektaria Pikoulos excited by the progress of students.
“Teachers have been able to use individual results to plan for targeted learning in their classrooms,” Ms Pikoulos said.
“We saw great progress with our Year 9s, who have been here for three years. Our Year 7s have been only with us a couple of months. We’ve seen great improvements in reading, writing, conventions of language and numeracy.
“These results will allow teachers to design programs that will be targeted to individual student’s strengths and growth areas.”
Nightcliff Primary School came in at third best performing for primary schools, with principal Jo Glennon revealing the school was congratulated by the Department of Education for being above Australian Mean in all NAPLAN categories this year.
“Our goal is to continue to extend students to reach their potential,” Ms Glennon said.
“Our enrichment groups for maths, reading and technologies assist students to reach above their expected year level and avoid cruising. This is an accolade to the great teachers at Nightcliff Primary School and their dedication to students over all of the years that build up to NAPLAN years from Preschool (on campus) onwards.
“The test being taken at the very beginning of the year level further indicates the importance of foundation work done in earlier years.
“I am proud of the teachers at Nightcliff Primary School as this validates the great effort that our teachers put in, over all of the years of schooling.”
Principal of Larrakeyah Primary School, Fathma Mauger, was also thrilled with her school’s results.
“We are very happy with the school’s NAPLAN results. Our students performed very well,” she said.
“Results cannot be compared to previous years due to the new testing format. This year there was a move from NAPLAN band levels to proficiency levels for the first time.
“However, our students still showed high results across all areas.
“NAPLAN results impact on the annual school improvement plan 2024. It is one form of data used to identify school/cohort/individual strengths and weaknesses so that focus areas for improvement can be established with set targets.”
NT’s highest performing primary schools:
1. Haileybury Rendall School – 522.4
2. The Essington School – 521.4
3. Nightcliff Primary School – 503.4
4. Larrakeyah Primary School – 501.2
5. Nakara Primary School – 499.2
NT’s highest performing secondary schools:
1. The Essington School – 623.6
2. Darwin Middle School – 591.4
3. Alice Springs School of the Air – 575.6
4. St Philip’s College – 572.4
5. Haileybury Rendall School – 571.2
Each school’s 2023 performance was compiled from the MySchool website and calculated by determining the average score among all five tests taken by Year 5 and 9 students.
The analysis excluded special schools, schools with fewer than 20 students enrolled, and schools that did not report any results for NAPLAN subjects.
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Originally published as NAPLAN results 2023: How every NT school performed
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