Victoria’s best primary and secondary schools ranked by NAPLAN results

As thousands of Victorian kids start their Naplan testing, see the schools that achieved the best results last year.

Selective state high schools, single-sex private colleges and eastern suburbs primary schools dominate the list of Victoria’s best educational institutions.

The top 100 schools list has been complied by the Herald Sun based on average 2021 NAPLAN year five and nine reading and writing results.

The top four positions on the list are filled by selective schools, with Melbourne High School achieving an average NAPLAN score of 708 – the best in the state.

The top 10 is filled by private schools, with Glen Waverley Secondary College the top non-selective state school at number 20.

The list includes a total of 10 boys’ schools – nine private colleges and the government-funded Melbourne High School.

This compares to the 21 girls’ schools on the list, which are all private except for two selective government girls’ school, Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School.

There are only 12 coeducational schools in the top 30, most of them private.

Outstanding results have also been achieved by The Knox School and Presbyterian Ladies’ College. Along with the selective schools, they have posted well above-average NAPLAN results at every year level and subject area.

Their results have been deemed to be outstanding when compared to other students of a similar background.

The Knox School, which is located in Wantirna, draws 64 per cent of students from the top-socio economic profile and has fees of up to $24,400 for year 12.

The topscoring primary school is Balwyn Primary, followed by Beverley Hills, Serpell and Oakleigh South Primary Schools.

Non-selective high schools on the list also include Balwyn High, University High, McKinnon Secondary College and Box Hill Senior Secondary College.

Melbourne High School principal Dr Tony Mordini said his school’s students were very driven to do their best. “They work hard to do their best, they are young people who want to perform well irrespective of what task they’re given,” Dr Mordini said.

“Maths is a very big thing in our school and just about every student does maths right up to year 12. They see it as a core important skill for many of the professions that they inspire to go into.”

Balwyn High School was one of the few non-selective high schools on the list.

Australian Primary Principals Association president Malcolm Elliott said the results from NAPLAN “are a reflection of the effort of students, parents, teachers and school leaders through long periods without regular schooling”.

“However, students for whom life has been a struggle against disadvantage were no better off. Access to technology, general support and the time and space to get on with their work was often impeded by a range of hampering factors,” he said.

“The psychological impact of three years of fires, floods, the pandemic and strain on households is yet to be fully understood.

“In the face of all this change and uncertainty many students have done very well. This is a credit to them, their families and all the educators who have been in the frontline.”