We re-ranked schools by HSC average scores. Only one achieved more than 90

James Ruse, Normanhurst Boys and North Sydney Boys notched up the highest average scores in last year’s HSC, while top comprehensive schools achieved average marks on par with some fully selective schools.

A Herald analysis of HSC results at the state’s public schools reveals academic powerhouse James Ruse Agricultural High recorded an average HSC score of 90.6 when the mean of all subjects was taken, just ahead of Normanhurst Boys at 89.

Doonside High topped the list of Sydney’s most improved public schools from 2015 to 2024, followed by Marrickville High, Plumpton High, Endeavour Sports High and Ashfield Boys.

The Herald collected results published in 385 public school annual reports, analysing the average scores achieved in each HSC subject and the combined average for all subjects taken at each school.

Comprehensive schools with the highest averages last year were all single-sex: Cheltenham Girls, Balgowlah Boys and Willoughby Girls — narrowly eclipsing Newtown Performing Arts School and Epping Boys. All five had a combined average HSC score of 81 or above.

The biggest improver over the decade was Doonside High, lifting its combined average mark by 11 points to above 70.

Cheltenham Girls, Balgowlah Boys and Willoughby Girls each had a combined average mark for all subjects of 83, while fully selective schools Sydney Technical High and Caringbah High had averages of 83.7 and 83.6.

Balgowlah Boys achieved averages the same or better than some selective schools in English advanced and maths advanced, and similar scores in chemistry and physics. Cheltenham Girls and Burwood Girls matched some selective schools in English advanced, physics and modern history.

Advanced English and maths cohorts tend to be smaller at comprehensive schools as they also offer standard level courses, whereas most selective schools restrict access to standard subjects.

Among schools with the greatest gains in average HSC marks was Endeavour Sports High, which has also doubled its enrolments to 1300 students in the past decade.

Principal James Kozlowski credits the lift to overhauling the school’s culture, having a high expectations policy and ensuring sport and academic success “went hand in hand”.

“I emphasised to my teachers that we weren’t going to see overnight change. The big shifts will come several years down the track,” he said.

Several years ago, the school enlisted the retired former principal of Homebush Boys, Ian Paterson, to run an HSC mentoring program for students. During his decade in that role, Paterson helped the school become a beacon for boys’ education, improving literacy results and year 12 completion rates.

Endeavour, which offers 14 sports and enrols two-thirds of students in its targeted sports program, uses explicit teaching and regular teacher observation programs.

“Getting the right staff in the right positions is the most important thing, and having them buy into what we are doing here,” Kozlowski said.

“I also run an anonymous survey about my leadership. I want staff to feel comfortable giving and receiving feedback. We won’t allow poor practice to go uncommented on; we are going to address it.”

The school lifted its combined average score by more than five marks since 2019 while doubling the number of subjects offered, including modern history, physics and advanced maths.

The analysis of results shows Sydney’s fully selective schools still dominate the average score rankings, reflecting the end-of-year league tables which are based on band 6 results.

Every December, the Herald publishes school league tables, which are drawn from band 6 results – or marks over 90 – as a proportion of schools’ HSC entries. For the past two years, North Sydney Boys has topped these league tables.

The NSW government releases data only about students who achieve the top band in each subject. Experts argue this recognises only a limited definition of success and has distorted subject selection, creating a perverse incentive to push students into lower-level subjects.

The Herald’s analysis of average scores aims to put a spotlight on schools achieving strong and improved results across their entire student cohort. Private and Catholic schools are excluded from the analysis as many non-government schools do not report average subject scores.

On the average score measure, academic powerhouse James Ruse rose to the top with a combined mean above 90. Last year the school offered 15 subjects. Normanhurst Boys and North Sydney Boys offered 17.

Chatswood High, which is partially selective and the state’s second-largest public school, had a combined average of 81. It offers 36 courses – double the number of subjects at some selective schools. Cheltenham Girls offers 30 subjects and Burwood Girls 28.

James Ruse principal Matthew Dopierala said there were misconceptions that his school was an ATAR factory, and that their students’ interests beyond academics were extended through its 60 co-curricular activities and clubs, an annual musical and its cadet unit.

Subjects such as physics, chemistry and extension maths – in which average scores are above 88 – were all in high demand, he said. “We are looking at subject offerings, but we have to cater to what students want. I encourage them not to pick any particular pattern of subjects, but to follow their passion.”

Dopierala said the number of students taking accelerated HSC courses in year 10 and 11 had increased. “That’s happened for a number of reasons – some of it is to give them a chance to get a taste for the rigours of the HSC.”

More year 12 students are looking to apply to overseas universities, he said, including to Harvard and Oxbridge.

At South Sydney High School, which lifted its combined average score by more than five marks, teachers use formal assessment programs in early high school to help students get in the habit of sitting exams.

Principal Janice Neilsen said teachers focused heavily on exam technique and writing under timed conditions. “Getting students to believe they can achieve is so important,” she said, which is helped “through strong relationships between teachers and students”.

“We also reinforce the importance of attendance, kindness and respect, and building a positive and ordered learning environment across the whole school, from year 7 to 12,” Neilsen said.

While some private and Catholic schools include average HSC scores for each subject in their annual reports, many choose instead to publish the proportion of students achieving a particular band and how that compares to the state average.

Schools are not required to publish median ATARs or data on how HSC results are tracking over time.

The NSW Education Standards Authority, which oversees the HSC, has previously flagged that authorities are looking at “new and additional information to report the breadth of achievement of HSC students”.

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