2022 VCE results review: Top performing schools in regional Victoria
Regional Victoria offers a relaxed and laid-back lifestyle, with easy access to a range of amenities and attractions, including beautiful beaches, national parks and cultural activities. The region is home to a variety of quality public and private schools that provide excellent education, facilities and extracurricular activities.
- VCE results
- other school performance scores
- reputation
- location
- curriculum
- facilities.
According to the most recent academic performance results released by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), schools in regional Victoria continue to excel in providing quality education to their students. The VCE results in 2022 showed promising scores.
As an important indicators of success for schools and students, VCE results provide a good indicator of academic excellence to parents searching for a high school for their child.
This article explores the top-performing schools in regional Victoria based on two important metrics:
the percentage of students receiving a VCE score of 40 and above – an indicator of the proportion of students who have achieved the highest level of academic success
median VCE scores – an indicator of the overall academic performance of a school.
Best high schools in regional Victoria with a high percentage of 40+ VCE score
For schools with a high percentage of 40+ VCE score, Ballarat Clarendon College was the top-performing school in the region, with 36 per cent of its students achieving a score of over 40. Wycheproof P-12 College and Cann River P-12 College closely followed, with 25 per cent of their students scoring above 40.
Of all the regional Victorian schools with more than 10 per cent of their students achieving an above-40 VCE score in 2022, there were:- eight independent schools
- 10 public schools
- one Catholic school.
School name |
School type | Percentage of students with an over-40 VCE score |
Campus location |
Local government area |
Ballarat Clarendon College | Independent | 36 | Ballarat | Ballarat (City) |
Wycheproof P-12 College | Government | 25 | Wycheproof | Buloke (Shire) |
Cann River P-12 College | Government | 25 | Cann River | East Gippsland (Shire) |
Mallacoota P-12 College | Government | 23 | Mallacoota | East Gippsland (Shire) |
Goulburn Valley Grammar School | Independent | 20 | Shepparton | Greater Shepparton (City) |
Kerang Christian College | Independent | 17 | Kerang | Gannawarra (Shire) |
Corryong P-12 College | Government | 16 | Corryong | Towong (Shire) |
Kardinia International College | Independent | 13 | Bell Post Hill | Greater Geelong (City) |
The Geelong College | Independent | 13 | Newtown | Greater Geelong (City) |
Nathalia Secondary College | Government | 13 | Nathalia | Moira (Shire) |
Sacred Heart College Yarrawonga | Catholic | 13 | Yarrawonga | Moira (Shire) |
St Paul's Anglican Grammar School | Independent | 11 | Warragul, Traralgon | Baw Baw (Shire), Latrobe (City) |
Ouyen P-12 College | Government | 11 | Ouyen | Mildura (Rural City) |
Woodmans Hill Secondary College | Government | 11 | Ballarat East | Ballarat (City) |
East Loddon P-12 College | Government | 10 | Dingee | Loddon (Shire) |
Horsham College | Government | 10 | Horsham | Horsham (Rural City) |
Alice Miller School | Independent | 10 | Macedon | Macedon Ranges (Shire) |
Hopetoun P-12 College | Government | 10 | Hopetoun | Yarriambiack (Shire) |
Top high schools in Victoria achieving high median VCE scores
Results were stronger in the more densely populated Melbourne area, but there were promising scores from their regional counterparts in Victoria.
In terms of median VCE scores, Ballarat Clarendon College again demonstrated the strongest academic performance – with a median VCE score of 38 – followed by Wycheproof P-12 College, Goulburn Valley Grammar School and Corryong P-12 College, all achieving a median VCE score of 34.
The Greater Geelong region has a lot to be proud of based on the 2022 VCE results, as eight of its schools have made it onto the list of top schools in regional Victoria – with median VCE scores of above 30:- Kardinia International College
- The Geelong College
- Sacred Heart College Geelong
- Oberon High School
- St Joseph's College Geelong
- Saint Ignatius College
- Christian College Geelong
- Geelong Lutheran College.
School name | School type | Median VCE score | Campus location(s) | Local government area(s) |
Ballarat Clarendon College | Independent | 38 | Ballarat | Ballarat (City) |
Wycheproof P-12 College | Government | 34 | Wycheproof | Buloke (Shire) |
Goulburn Valley Grammar School | Independent | 34 | Shepparton | Greater Shepparton (City) |
Corryong P-12 College | Government | 34 | Corryong | Towong (Shire) |
Kerang Christian College | Independent | 33 | Kerang | Gannawarra (Shire) |
East Loddon P-12 College | Government | 33 | Dingee | Loddon (Shire) |
Kardinia International College | Independent | 32 | Bell Post Hill | Greater Geelong (City) |
The Geelong College | Independent | 32 | Newtown | Greater Geelong (City) |
St Paul's Anglican Grammar School | Independent | 32 | Warragul, Traralgon | Baw Baw (Shire), Latrobe (City) |
Horsham College | Government | 32 | Horsham | Horsham (Rural City) |
Goroke P-12 College | Government | 32 | Goroke | West Wimmera (Shire) |
Casterton Secondary College | Government | 32 | Casterton | Glenelg (Shire) |
Mallacoota P-12 College | Government | 31 | Mallacoota | East Gippsland (Shire) |
Nathalia Secondary College | Government | 31 | Nathalia | Moira (Shire) |
Ouyen P-12 College | Government | 31 | Ouyen | Mildura (Rural City) |
Alice Miller School | Independent | 31 | Macedon | Macedon Ranges (Shire) |
Ballarat Grammar | Independent | 31 | Wendouree | Ballarat (City) |
Braemar College | Independent | 31 | Woodend | Macedon Ranges (Shire) |
Loreto College Ballarat | Catholic | 31 | Ballarat | Ballarat (City) |
Sacred Heart College Geelong | Catholic | 31 | Newtown | Greater Geelong (City) |
Holy Trinity Lutheran College | Independent | 31 | Horsham | Horsham (Rural City) |
St Aloysius College | Catholic | 31 | Torquay | Surf Coast (Shire) |
The Hamilton and Alexandra College | Independent | 31 | Hamilton | Southern Grampians (Shire) |
Mortlake College | Government | 31 | Mortlake | Moyne (Shire) |
Charlton College | Government | 31 | Charlton | Buloke (Shire) |
Derrinallum P-12 College | Government | 31 | Derrinallum | Corangamite (Shire) |
Cann River P-12 College | Government | 30 | Cann River | East Gippsland (Shire) |
Sacred Heart College Yarrawonga | Catholic | 30 | Yarrawonga | Moira (Shire) |
Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College | Catholic | 30 | Leongatha | South Gippsland (Shire) |
Warracknabeal Secondary College | Government | 30 | Warracknabeal | Yarriambiack (Shire) |
Oberon High School | Government | 30 | Belmont | Greater Geelong (City) |
Boort District P-12 School | Government | 30 | Boort | Loddon (Shire) |
St Joseph's College Geelong | Catholic | 30 | Herne Hill, Newtown | Greater Geelong (City) |
Saint Ignatius College, Geelong | Catholic | 30 | Drysdale | Greater Geelong (City) |
Gippsland Grammar | Independent | 30 | Sale, Wy Yung | Wellington (Shire), East Gippsland (Shire) |
Christian College Geelong | Independent | 30 | Highton, Waurn Ponds, Belmont, Drysdale, Belmont, Torquay | Greater Geelong (City), Surf Coast (Shire) |
St Augustine's College | Catholic | 30 | Kyabram | Campaspe (Shire) |
Geelong Lutheran College | Independent | 30 | Armstrong Creek, Geelong | Greater Geelong (City) |
Sacred Heart College Kyneton | Catholic | 30 | Kyneton | Macedon Ranges (Shire) |
Foster Secondary College | Government | 30 | Foster | South Gippsland (Shire) |
Apollo Bay P-12 College | Government | 30 | Apollo Bay | Colac-Otway (Shire) |
Donald High School | Government | 30 | Donald | Buloke (Shire) |
How to choose the best secondary school for your child
These impressive results reflect regional Victorian schools’ continued commitment to academic excellence. This is a tremendous achievement for the schools, their teachers and their students, who have worked hard in attaining those results.
When choosing the best schools for your children, however, it's important to consider factors beyond VCE scores, such as the:- gender ratio
- religious affiliation
- extracurricular activities
- student to teacher ratio.
Location and price
Another factor to consider in choosing a suitable high school is its location and price. Is this the closest house? Does the location make for easy transportation?
If your child is in a junior high school, it may help ease their transition.
Remember that schooling in central places is generally more costly than those in the suburbs and public schools cost you much less than private schools. Check our our school fees page for more information.
School profile and characteristics
Take advantage of our search function to compare schools, and choose the most suitable one for your child.
You will find the unique qualities and strengths of each school, comparing them through our breakdown of each school type or profile including:- whether it is a government or non-government school
- its academic performance as indicated by selected VCE or IB results
- the school fees
- its curriculum.
Open days
Many high schools offer open days, where parents and students can tour the campus and meet teachers and students.
You can do this on The Good Schools Guide to get an idea of whether a school you're considering will be a good fit for your child.
Find out which local schools are holding open days in 2023.
