The HSC ATAR Results for 2025 have now been released, marking a major milestone for 60,432 students across New South Wales.
This year’s cohort showed strong determination and academic growth as they completed their final year of schooling. With the latest data now available, students, parents, and educators can gain a clearer understanding of statewide academic performance and the top HSC schools for 2025. Whether you are results-curious or planning for the year ahead, here is a snapshot of what NSW students achieved this year.
Key HSC ATAR Statistics for 2025
The main statistics from the 2025 HSC ATAR release provide valuable insight into statewide performance:
- 60,432 students were eligible for an ATAR.
- 53 students achieved a perfect 99.95 ATAR (comprising 34 males and 19 females).
- 1,045 students achieved an ATAR of 99 or above.
- 17.3% of students received an ATAR of 90.00 or above.
- 34.6% of students received an ATAR of at least 80.00.
- 51.3% of students received an ATAR of at least 70.00.
- The median ATAR this year was 70.75, slightly lower than in 2024 (71.55).
- By gender, the median ATAR for females was 71.60, whereas the median ATAR for males was 69.80.
Note: A reminder that ATARs are a rank and not a score out of 100.
How to read the scores below and what they mean
What is the ATAR?
The ATAR stands for "Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank", being the percentile rank that is issued to every Year 12 student when they complete the HSC. The ATAR is how universities assess, rank and prioritise students so they know who to offer course admission to and in what order.
As a comparative ranking, the ATAR can be anywhere from 0.00 to 99.95 and reflects the percentage of the cohort that a student performed better than. For example, if a student receives a 70.00 ATAR, it means they performed better than approximately 70% of their cohort.
The highest ATAR that a student can receive is 99.95, meaning they performed better than 99.95% of their cohort. For that reason, a student cannot receive an ATAR of 100.
Aiming for a top ATAR score in 2026? Connect with a past high achiever.
Top Performing Schools in the HSC 2025
Based on publicly available data at the time of publishing, we have put together a list of some of the top performing HSC schools in New South Wales in 2025, including independent schools, select-entry schools, private schools and more. The list is ordered by % of Band 6 results (otherwise commonly referred to as "Success Rate") - a metric used in NSW to benchmark the academic strength of schools.
Note on Data: This list is evolving as more schools release their results. If you believe any data appears incorrect or you have official school data to share, please contact us at hello@learnmate.com.au.
This metric is calculated by dividing the number of Band 6 (90-100 marks) or E4 (45-50 marks in Extension courses) results by the total number of exam entries a school generates. A high proportion of Band 6s indicates not only a school's ability to get the best out of individual students, but across entire cohorts.
| Rank | Change (vs 2024) | School | % Band 6 | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | = | North Sydney Boys High School | 71.6% | North Sydney |
| 2 | = | James Ruse Agricultural High School | 70.43% | Carlingford |
| 3 | = | Sydney Grammar School | 60.99% | Darlinghurst |
| 4 | ▲ 4 | North Sydney Girls High School | 60.46% | Crows Nest |
| 5 | ▼ 1 | Normanhurst Boys High School | 57.73% | Normanhurst |
| 6 | ▲ 3 | Sydney Boys High School | 54.19% | Moore Park |
| 7 | ▼ 1 | Baulkham Hills High School | 51.53% | Hills District |
| 8 | ▼ 1 | Hornsby Girls High School | 51.05% | Hornsby |
| 9 | ▲ 5 | St Aloysius’ College | 48.03% | Kirribilli |
| 10 | ▼ 5 | Reddam House | 46.99% | Woollahra |
For the third year running, North Sydney Boys has topped the State, cementing its status as an academic powerhouse in NSW. While no longer #1 in Success Rate, James Ruse remains the ultimate destination for the perfect score. Producing nine students with a 99.95 ATAR in 2025 is elite and unmatched (see below).
Top Schools by Percentage of ATARs above 99
Achieving an ATAR of 99.00 or higher places a student in the top 1% of the state. It is the gold standard for entry into highly competitive courses such as Medicine and Law.
| Rank | School | % of cohort 99+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney Grammar School | 33.7% |
| 2 | Baulkham Hills High School | 23% |
| 3 | Hornsby Girls High School | 18% |
| 4 | Abbotsleigh | 13% |
| 5 | St Aloysius’ College | 12% |
| 6 | Knox Grammar School | 9% |
| 7 | Ascham School | 9% |
| 8 | Shore School | 6.7% |
| 9 | Loreto Kirribilli | 45 |
* Note: This table is based on scores that have been self-reported by schools. At the date of publishing, few schools have explicitly disclosed how their 2025 cohort performed for this metric.
The dominance of Sydney Grammar School in this metric is the most significant finding of the verified 2025 dataset. With 33.7% of its cohort achieving an ATAR of 99 or above, Grammar continues to demonstrate the 'scaling power' of its subject selection, particularly in Classical Greek, Latin, and Extension Mathematics.
Baulkham Hills High School also remains a standout, with 23% of its students achieving a 99+ ATAR. This result serves as a critical benchmark, demonstrating that the top-tier selective schools continue to produce top 1% scholars at a rate double that of many elite private schools.
Schools with the Most 99.95 ATAR Achievers
While the table above highlights the density of top 1% achievers, the race for the perfect score is an even more exclusive contest.
In the most recent HSC results, 53 students achieved the highest possible ATAR of 99.95, placing them in the top 0.05% of the state. These exceptional results came from a small group of high-performing schools, with James Ruse Agricultural High School leading the state by a clear margin.
- 9 perfect ATARs: James Ruse Agricultural High School
- 7 perfect ATARs: North Sydney Boys High School
- 6 perfect ATARs: Baulkham Hills High School, Sydney Grammar School
- 3 perfect ATARs: Barker College, Abbotsleigh, Roseville College, The King’s School, Knox Grammar School, North Sydney Girls High School
- 2 perfect ATARs: Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Pymble Ladies’ College
- 1 perfect ATAR: Meriden School, Scots College, St Aloysius’ College
Achieving a 99.95 ATAR is extraordinarily rare and reflects not only outstanding individual student performance, but also the strong academic cultures and support structures within these schools.
Top Schools by Percentage of ATARs above 95
Moving beyond the very top 1%, the following list ranks schools based on the % of students who achieved an ATAR of 95.00 or above (Top 5%). It reveals how well a school lifts its middle-ranking students. A high percentage here indicates that the school has a very "fat middle" of high achievers and a relatively small "tail" of lower-performing students.
| Rank | School | % of cohort 95+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney Grammar School | 72% |
| 2 | Girraween High School | 48% |
| 3 | Abbotsleigh | 45% |
| 4 | St Aloysius’ College | 44% |
| 5 | Reddam House | 40% |
| 6 | Knox Grammar School | 29% |
| 7 | Shore School | 26% |
| 8 | Loreto Kirribilli | 24% |
* Note: This table is based on scores that have been self-reported by schools. At the date of publishing, few schools have explicitly disclosed how their 2025 cohort performed for this metric.
Sydney Grammar School leads the verified list with a staggering 72% of students achieving an ATAR above 95. Notably, Girraween High School (48%) has performed exceptionally well, outranking many prestigious private schools in this 'fat middle' metric. This highlights the depth of talent in selective high schools beyond just the top 5 'brand names'. Abbotsleigh (45%) and St Aloysius’ (44%) continue to prove they are the premier choices for consistent high achievement in the independent sector.
Top Schools by Percentage of ATARs above 90
The following list ranks schools based on the % of students who achieved an ATAR of 90.00 or above in the HSC in 2025. A school with a high percentage in this band offers a high degree of "safety" for parents—attending the school almost guarantees a top-tier university pathway.
| Rank | School | % of cohort 90+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney Grammar School | 85% |
| 2 | St Aloysius' College | 68% |
| 3 | Abbotsleigh | 66% |
| 4 | Reddam House | 61% |
| 5 | Ascham School | 59% |
| 6 | Meriden School | 53% |
| 7 | Shore School | 52% |
| 8 | Loreto Kirribilli | 51% |
| 9 | Knox Grammar School | 46% |
* Note: This table is based on scores that have been self-reported by schools. At the date of publishing, few schools have explicitly disclosed how their 2025 cohort performed for this metric.
The data for the >90.00 tier reveals the 'floor' of these institutions. For Sydney Grammar (85%), an ATAR below 90 is effectively an outlier event. This consistency provides a high degree of certainty for parents investing in these educations.
St Aloysius' College (68%) and Abbotsleigh (66%) also demonstrate incredible consistency, ensuring that two-thirds of their students achieve a top-tier ranking. This 'safety net' of high performance is often the primary driver for families choosing these schools over local comprehensive options.
Have we missed your school's results? Please send any official data to hello@learnmate.com.au so we can update our rankings.
IB Results in NSW in 2025
While the HSC dominates the headlines, the International Baccalaureate (IB) results released Wednesday, 17 December, highlighted some additional exceptional performances across NSW independent schools:
- 4 perfect scores: Newington College emerged as a standout achiever in 2025, recording 4 perfect scores of 45 (equivalent to an ATAR of 99.95). This was backed up by 52% of their IB cohort achieving a score of 40 or above.
- 2 perfect scores: Trinity Grammar School also delivered a strong set of results, securing 2 perfect scores of 45 and a further 5 students achieving a near-perfect 44. Kambala matched this feat at the very top, celebrating 2 perfect scorers of their own.
- 1 perfect score: Other notable individual perfect scores were recorded at St Andrew's Cathedral School and Ravenswood School for Girls, with each school celebrating a student achieving the coveted 45.
MLC School, historically a powerhouse for 45s, presented a unique profile in 2025 with 6 students achieving a score of 44/45 (equivalent to an ATAR of 99.75), highlighting a consistent standard of excellence across its cohort rather than just isolated top scores.
Understanding HSC Scaling in 2025: What the Data Tells Us
Scaling is often misunderstood as "bonus points," but the 2025 UAC data reveals what it really is: a reflection of cohort strength. By looking at the Maximum ATAR achieved by students in specific courses, we can draw powerful conclusions for students choosing their subjects for 2026 and beyond.
The "99.95" Myth: You don't need just Maths and Science
A common misconception is that you must study 4-unit Maths and Physics to get a perfect ATAR. The 2025 data proves this wrong. Students achieved the maximum 99.95 ATAR with diverse subjects in their mix, including Biology, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Modern History, and Music 2.
What's the takeaway? You can achieve the highest possible rank in "popular" subjects if you outperform your cohort. Prioritising subjects you enjoy (and can rank highly in) is often a safer bet than struggling through "high scaling" subjects you dislike.
Watch out for the "Subject Ceiling"
While most "Category A" subjects allow for a 99+ ATAR, the data highlights that some subjects do have a mathematical "ceiling" due to the scaling of their cohorts and the top ATARs achieved by students who completed these subjects in 2025:
- Maths Standard 1: The maximum ATAR achieved by any student taking this course was 91.90. If your goal is a 95+ ATAR, taking this subject makes that statistically unlikely.
- VET Subjects: While excellent for practical skills, many VET courses had lower ATAR ceilings in 2025, such as Automotive (88.65), Construction (97.45), and Hospitality (98.95).
- English Standard vs Advanced: While English Standard is often seen as a "cap," the top student still achieved a 99.80. However, English Advanced, Extension 1, and Extension 2 all produced students with 99.95.
The Power of Extension & Language Units
The data confirms that Extension units and tough languages remain high-yield subjects for students who are capable of them and looking to achieve top ATARS:
- Maths & English Extensions: Maths Extension 1 & 2 and English Extension 1 consistently produced 99.95 scorers. Notably, 97% of students taking Maths Extension 2 had it count towards their ATAR—the highest "success rate" of almost any subject.
- Languages: Courses like Latin Continuers, Classical Greek, French Extension, and German Extension all saw students achieve 99.95. The "Percentage who counted course" in these subjects is often very high (e.g., 93% for Italian Extension), indicating that these units almost always contribute positively to a student's top 10 units.
Advice for Future HSC Students in 2026 and Beyond
The performance trends from the 2025 HSC offer important guidance for future students:
- Check the ceiling: If you are aiming for an ATAR of 90+, ensure your subject combination doesn't statistically cap you below that number (e.g., avoid taking multiple lower-scaling VET or Category B subjects).
- Play to your strengths: Since a 99.95 is possible in Business Studies just as it is in Physics, choose the one where you can rank in the top 5% of the state.
- Don't drop extensions lightly: The data shows that if you take an Extension course, it is overwhelmingly likely to count towards your ATAR. Stick with it if you can.
Conclusion
The HSC ATAR Results for 2025 reflect the hard work and commitment of thousands of NSW students. With strong results across the top schools and impressive individual achievements, the Class of 2025 has set a high benchmark for future cohorts. As families, educators and students look ahead to the coming years, these insights will be valuable in guiding preparation and academic planning.
If you’re looking to maximise your performance in 2026, Learnmate offers expert HSC tutoring services to help you succeed. Start your HSC journey today!
