A Jewish school that strives to "make achievement cool" has leapfrogged its competitors to become the top VCE performer.
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Bialik College in Hawthorn East jumped from third to first place this year after achieving a median study score of 39, with 44.2 per cent of its study scores 40 or above.
It scored a median ATAR of 94.93, placing about half of Bialik's students in top 5 per cent of the state.
Bialik College VCE students Nicholas Serry, Jordan Sandler, Paige Roseman, Robbie Nestadt and Shahia Marabel-Whitburn. Photo: Eddie Jim
All the school's high achievers had balance in their lives, principal Jeremy Stowe-Lindner said.
He described the school's community as aspirational and passionate about education.
"We try to make achievement cool. When a kid is at an assembly and they are awarded a maths prize there is no cynicism, there is a genuine 'wow'."
As you can see in the table above, select-entry state school Mac Robertson Girls High School finished second. It achieved a median study score of 38 and 36.1 per cent of its study scores were 40 or above. This year is only the third time since 2003 that it has not been the top-ranked Victorian school.
There was not a great deal of movement among the top 10 schools – Yeshivah College, Mount Scopus Memorial College, Melbourne High School, Shelford Girls Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School, Ballarat Clarendon College, Loreto Mandeville Hall and Haileybury Girls College all making an appearance.
There are some clear winners when state schools are singled out.
The select-entry Nossal High school was the third top performing state school, with a median study score of 35 and 22.7 per cent of study scores 40 and over.
Melbourne Girls College recorded its best results in 14 years, ranking within the top 50 schools for the first time this year. It had a median study score of 34 and 18.6 per cent of study scores 40 and over.
The state school that has boosted local property prices – McKinnon Secondary College – also performed strongly with 17 per cent of its study scores 40 and over.
An independent school in Langwarrin South has rocketed up the list of top VCE performers, finishing just behind elite schools like Scotch, Caulfield Grammar and Haileybury. Woodleigh School achieved a median study score of 35 this year – jumping from 69 to 36th place. Almost 20 per cent of its study scores were 40 or above.
This analysis excluded schools with fewer than 30 students taking VCE subjects.
