NAPLAN 2025: The Victorian public schools outranking elite colleges
Victorian public schools have risen to the top of this year’s NAPLAN rankings, outperforming many private schools and challenging the belief that big fees guarantee better results.
Victorian public schools have emerged as top performers in this year’s NAPLAN, with many outranking elite colleges and challenging the idea that higher fees buy better results.
A Herald Sun analysis of year 9’s 2025 NAPLAN data results revealed 26 state government schools were in the top 100 with four selective-entry high schools maintaining their position as the state’s best.
Melbourne High School topped the list, averaging a score of 717.8, rising by 12.6 per cent from last year.
Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School came in second at 706.6, followed by Nossal High School at 702.8 and Suzanne Cory High School at 696.4.
Nossal High School principal Tracey Mackin said the work of staff at other schools contributed to their success.
“As an academically select school whose students begin in year 9, our NAPLAN results are uniformly excellent, but since the students have only been with us for about four months at the time of the test, we know that we have contributed much less to these outcomes than the teachers who have worked with our students in earlier years,” she said.
“Instead, we see NAPLAN as an opportunity to measure the outstanding work done by staff in other schools to prepare their high ability students for senior study.
“Our students have been taught by those teachers to value learning and growth, and we are proud to build on that foundation.”
Glen Waverley Secondary College and Balwyn High School were also high-achievers along with East Doncaster Secondary College who scored an average of 627.4 compared to 614 last year.
The school’s year 9 students were above average in spelling, grammar and numeracy and close to average in reading and writing.
Principal Karen Boyle said the school focused on “consistency across all classes”.
“We know how important it is for all students to experience success in their learning,” she said.
“Our evidence-based approach to teaching and learning combined with our strong focus on knowing our students as learners and as young people, is critical to achieving this.
“We focus on consistency across all classes which is underpinned by our school’s instructional model and our collaborative teaching practices.
“Teachers work in teams to identify the needs of our students and to determine the most effective strategies to ensure learning growth.”
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Highvale Secondary College, McKinnon Secondary College, University High School and Mount Waverley Secondary College also made the top 100.
McKinnon Secondary College in Melbourne’s southeast remains a popular choice amongst families with enrolments soaring by 30 per cent between 2019 and 2024.
Year 9 students were above average in all five test categories, showing a growth from 2023 when pupils scored below average in reading.
Principal Michael Kan said he was “very proud” of the school’s results.
“Our students are aspirational and work hard to achieve success, while our outstanding teachers always set high expectations,” he said.
“Over many years we have developed a rigorous and engaging curriculum that supports students at their point of need and drives improvements in learning outcomes.”
Education Minister Ben Carroll said: “According to the most recent NAPLAN data, Victorian students are not only the top performing in the country but also performing better than at any other time on record”.
Originally published as NAPLAN 2025: The Victorian public schools outranking elite colleges
