NAPLAN results for Wagga high schools: top performer revealed
An analysis of the latest NAPLAN scores has revealed the rankings of the city’s high schools. See the full list and where your school sits.
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Wagga’s private high schools have dominated their public school counterparts when it comes to average NAPLAN scores, an analysis of the latest data has revealed.
The data, which were independently compiled from the Federal Government’s MySchool website, shows all five private schools atop the list for the combined average scores for Years 7 and 9 in all test areas.
NAPLAN tests assess and provide snapshots of students’ basic skills: reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.
Saint Mary MacKillop leads the way with 618.6 followed by The Riverina Anglican with 577.6 then Mater Dei Catholic with 563.9.
Kooringal High is the best of the public schools with an average score of 543.4.
A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Wagga said the NAPLAN scores were one of the tools they used for improvement at both school and system levels.
“All diocesan schools have been implementing an improvement agenda that focuses on upskilling staff in collecting, analysing and using data to effectively support teaching, learning and decision making,” the spokesperson said.
“In recent years, CEDWW, in partnership with all schools, has implemented several system initiatives that address key trends and individual group.”
These included an initiative called ‘The Learning Collaborative’ by the University of Toronto’s Dr Lyn Sharratt and all diocesan schools.
In a bid to boost students’ maths levels, the diocese has also partnered with Ann Gervasoni, associate professor in numeracy at Monash University.
“These programs have further skilled teachers to identify and provide appropriate intervention strategies that support all students, including vulnerable learners,” the spokesperson said.
Saint Mary MacKillop, which is independent and not part of the Catholic Diocese, once again blitzing the field when it comes to the top score for 2016 to 2019 — it was the only school scoring above 600.
The college, which has been contacted for comment, also leads the way for the most improved school in 2016-19 with a percentage rise of 5.77.
No other school recorded an improvement of more than 0.50pc with the average score in the Wagga LGA being 0.31pc.
Its biggest improvement was in grammar, which jumped 276 points in the four years, followed by writing (37 points), spelling and numeracy (19 points each) then reading (six points).
The improvement rate is calculated based on the increase or decrease in a school’s combined total yearly NAPLAN scores for years 7 and 9 in 2016 to the same results in 2019.
The Department of Education has also been contacted for comment about Kooringal High being the top public school in Wagga.
As for primary education in Wagga, public schools are leading the way in the most improved.
This year’s NAPLAN testing, initially scheduled for May, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Overall ranking (average score)
- Saint Mary MacKillop: 618.6
- The Riverina Anglican: 577.6
- Mater Dei Catholic: 563.9
- Kildare Catholic: 559.2
- Wagga Christian: 553.9
- Kooringal High: 543.7
- Wagga High: 537.3
- Mount Austin High: 497.1
Year 7 ranking (average score)
- Saint Mary MacKillop: 570.4
- Riverina Anglican: 561.8
- Mater Dei Catholic: 546.6
- Kildare Catholic: 542.2
- Wagga Christian: 531.8
- Kooringal High: 529.8
- Wagga High: 521.4
- Mount Austin High: 478
Year 9 ranking (average score)
- Saint Mary MacKillop: 666.8
- Riverina Anglican: 593.4
- Mater Dei Catholic: 581.2
- Kildare Catholic: 576.2
- Wagga Christian: 576
- Kooringal High: 557.6
- Wagga High: 553.2
- Mount Austin High: 516.2
Improvement rates (%): 2016-19
- Saint Mary MacKillop: 5.77
- Kildare Catholic: 0.64
- The Riverina Anglican: 0.48
- Mater Dei Catholic: 0.18
- Mount Austin High: -0.22
- Wagga High: -0.19
- Kooringal High: -1.03
- Wagga Christian: -1.61