About our data

How the Guide compares schools

Although there is some consensus among parents about the features they consider essential in a secondary school, each parent and each child is different. It is important to consider a range of criteria. The following details within the school profiles will highlight and compare different aspects of schools and help you make the best decision possible for your child.

Key facts

Basic facts about costs or voluntary contributions, uniform, size and gender balance are based on the most recent information available from public domain sources.

Size is based upon the number of secondary enrolments.

The curriculum

Overview

This includes the curriculum range — an indicative ranking based on the number of senior secondary studies offered at the school’s campus(es) in 2016 (i.e. no sharing arrangements with another school apply). This information was provided by the relevant curriculum and assessment authority. Timetabling restrictions will often impact on decisions made about subject offerings.

Study scores

The percentage of student study scores of 40 and above. A perfect score is 50 and an average score is around 30.

Median study scores

The midpoint of all study scores obtained by students in one school, ranked from highest to lowest. This represents a typical level of achievement within that school.

VCE completion

The percentage of students who were enrolled in and satisfactorily completed the VCE in 2015.

VET completion

The number of Year 12 students enrolled in VCE VET units and the percentage of satisfactory VCE VET completions in 2015.

Selected 2015 results — Victoria only

See ‘How is the VCE assessed?’ for a more detailed explanation of study scores and the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Activities and support

This includes all music, sport and other activities available to the students of the school. These may contribute to your child’s involvement and satisfaction with their overall schooling experience.

Destinations

This indicates which pathway students of the school take after graduation. This may assist you in gaining an overall impression of a school if you have a specific destination in mind.

Where does the information come from?

The information in this Guide comes from three sources:

• public authorities, including state departments of education and state curriculum and assessment authorities, and the federal Department of Education
• surveys completed by the schools themselves
• other public sources such as websites, school reports and publications and newspapers.