Gold Coast schools jump ahead in leaps and bounds for OP scores

Gold Coast educators continue their reign as state leaders, with four local schools topping a list for most improved OP rankings.

GOLD COAST educators continue their reign as state leaders, with four local schools topping a list for most improved OP rankings.

The results, compiled by the Bulletin, reveal giant improvements in the state rankings of Gold Coast high schools.

Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority data reveals Marymount College at Burleigh Waters to be the third biggest mover in the state.

FULL LIST: COAST’S TOP SCHOOLS

Two kids from Marymount College. Picture Glenn Hampson

It jumped from a statewide OP ranking of 258 in 2008 to 171 this year, a whopping 87 places.

OTHER NEWS:

‘It’s scary … but I’ll continue to surf’

Graduation day at Bond University

Moped smash horror: ‘Am I going to die?’

Varsity College, one of the Gold Coast’s largest public independent schools, jumped 56 places to a ranking of 99, out of over 400 schools.

Emmanuel College at Carrara and Palm Beach-Currumbin State High also jumped ahead this year by 36, and 22 places respectively.

The Bulletin analysed data from 2008 and compared it to the most recent 2018 Year 12 Outcomes Report, released this week by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Gold Coast schools are getting ahead.

COAST STUDENTS CELEBRATE TOP OP RESULTS

Among the biggest improvers with regards to OP1-5 school rankings were state secondary schools, including Varsity College, Kedron State High School and Mount Gravatt State High School.

Another standout was Corinda State High School who, in 2008, had about 8 per cent of their OP-eligible students ranked in the OP1-5 bracket.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN — JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS

But by last year that number had skyrocketed, with more than 22 per cent in the top bracket.

Executive Principal Helen Jamieson is about to begin her 13th year as head of the school, and said increasing the Year 12 OP ranking results had been one of her goals from the beginning.

“My mission was to get them up there with the best,” she said.

Ms Jamieson said over the past eight years all of their Year 12 students finished school with a Queensland Certificate of Education, with assigned coaches to each child to help with academic outcomes.

“It was about having a culture change, for staff and students, and believing in the kids … and they really rise to the expectations,” she said.

Top Gold Coast improvers, ranking

Marymount College:

2008: 258th

2018: 171st

Current OP 1-5 rate: 17.76 per cent

Varsity College:

2008: 155th

2018: 99th

Current OP 1-5 rate: 23.08 per cent

Emmanuel College:

2008: 61st

2018: 22nd

Current OP 1-5 rate: 37.04 per cent

Palm Beach-Currumbin State High:

2008: 222nd

2018: 200th

Current OP 1-5 rate: 15.83 per cent

*Schools with less than 100 OP eligible students excluded.