VCE 2025 results reveal who are the top private and state schools across the state
Two newly opened government schools have stunned the state by topping VCE rankings, overtaking long-dominant selective-entry and elite private schools. Check out the full list here.
Two newly opened government schools have stunned the state by topping VCE rankings, overtaking long-dominant selective-entry and elite private schools.
Clyde Secondary College, which opened in 2022 and has 1096 students, recorded an exceptional median study score of 39, with 44.4 per cent of its results above 40, placing it at the very top of the state.
Not far behind was Cranbourne West Secondary College, which opened in 2021 and matched Clyde with a median of 39 but had 40.5 per cent of its study scores above 40.
Cranbourne West Secondary College principal Rob Duncan said all students sitting Unit 3 and 4 exams this year were Year 10 and 11 students.
“There’s no year 12 students, there’s actually 131 study scores made up of Year 11 and one class of Year 10 students so they’re very young and it’s their first go at it,” he said.
“We’ve really tried to build a strong positive culture in the school of wanting to do your best.”
The school had strong results across the board, with maths having 27 study scores of 40 plus.
Meanwhile, nine out of 14 students got 40s in health and nine out of 19 got over 40 in psychology.
“We were really impressed with our business management and data analytics results because even though nominally there were less 40s, in terms of growth and the capacity of students in those particular subjects they really performed extraordinarily well.
“It was a genuine commitment from the kids.”
The Victorian College for the Deaf – which is the state’s oldest school for deaf and hard of hearing students – also posted a standout median of 39 and 40 per cent of study scores above 40.
This is a significant improvement from 2023, where the school achieved a median VCE study score of 24.
These results saw all three schools knock Victoria’s most competitive selective-entry colleges – which require students to sit a test prior to their enrolment – from their perch.
Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School recorded a median of 37, the same score that saw them at the top of the state in 2024.
In a further shake-up, Heritage College Knox soared to the top of the state’s private schools after their very first year 12 cohort completed VCE exams this year.
The Ferntree Gully Christian school – which has fees of about $11k for a Year 12 student – leapt to a median study score of 38, propelling it past last year’s standout private school Ballarat Clarendon College.
“Our first year of ATAR exams has brought incredible dedication and focus, and the study score they achieved is absolutely brilliant — a true reflection of their hard work and academic strength,” a statement from Heritage College Knox said.
Ballarat Clarendon College, which charges about $24,705 per Year 12 student, maintained strong results with a median of 37 to match their 2024 results.
Principal Jen Bourke said behind the results were “countless hours of effort”.
“These outcomes show what is possible when young people commit themselves to learning and growth,” she said.
“They remind us that regional students can, and do, achieve outstanding success.
“Their determination, combined with high-quality teaching and evidence-informed practices, creates an environment where progress is inevitable.”
Melbourne High also maintained its median of 36 from last year, while its fellow selective entry schools Nossal High and Suzanne Cory both rose one point to 37 and 35 respectively.
A tight cluster of private schools recorded medians of 36, including Haileybury Girls College, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Melbourne Grammar, Ruyton Girls’ School, Huntingtower, Camberwell Girls Grammar, Mount Scopus, Bialik, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Leibler Yavneh College, Loreto Mandeville Hall and The King David School.
The biggest improvements were by Murtoa P-12 College which jumped by five to a median of 31, Rainbow P-12 College jumped by six points to 30 and Lorne P-12 College also jumped by six to 29.
Yeshivah College dropped to a median of 34 after notching a 37 last year to place them at the top of the state.
A buzz cut to celebrate an outstanding ATAR
After achieving standout VCE results, Chris Boey is marking the milestone with a bold buzz cut.
The Mazenod College graduate received a stellar ATAR of 99.30, placing him in the top one per cent of students across the state.
The 18-year-old opened his results on Thursday surrounded by family and friends on a Gold Coast volleyball court while representing the college in the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup.
Chris said he planned to celebrate his success with a buzz cut.
“Last year, I was thinking of doing it if I got a good study score in my Unit 3 and Unit 4 subject but it never happened,’ he said.
The cellist and chess captain said he achieved his high rank through hours of studying.
“During the school year, I think I did five hours per day and in the lead up to exams, probably around eight hours per day,” he said.
“I had a friend I could study with so it made it a lot easier.”
Chris achieved four study scores above 40 including 43 in English and maths methods, 41 in specialist maths and 40 in chemistry.
He said he hoped to study either biomedicine or medicine at the University of Melbourne or Monash University.
“My dream job is to become a doctor,” Chris said.
“That’s why I was aiming for a high ATAR.”
The graduate said he will also work part-time at Mazenod College while he is at uni.
“I want to keep my connections with the school,” he said.
“They offered me to be a cello teacher, it sounds really fun so I really want to do it.”
Originally published as VCE 2025 results reveal who are the top private and state schools across the state
Geelong, Surf Coast schools reveal 2025 duxes as ATARs released
