Some stories don’t need hype. A quiet letter, sent with intent and appreciation, tells this one. Twenty-four public high schools across New South Wales have been recognised by the state government for lifting Higher School Certificate (HSC) outcomes consistently over the years—no fanfare required.
The letter, co-signed by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car and the Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar, went out earlier this month. It landed on the desks of principals and staff across 14 metropolitan and 10 regional or rural schools that have not just had a good year, but have been getting better year after year.
These schools weren’t cherry-picked based on one-off scores or ATAR headlines. The recognition is based on seven years of consistent growth—year groups coming through and outperforming the one before. What set them apart wasn’t a sudden spike but a steady climb in the number of students performing in the higher HSC bands. Progress wasn’t confined to the top—gains were seen across various levels of achievement.
To put it in context, there are 452 public high schools in NSW, each helping shape the future of around 68,000 Year 12 students annually. From that crowd, these 24 schools stood out—not because they played to a particular demographic advantage, but because they kept showing up and doing the work.
The list includes names as diverse as Ashfield Boys and South Sydney High in the city, to Dubbo College Senior Campus and South Grafton High in the regions. Sports high schools, visual arts specialists, comprehensive schools—it’s a mixed bag, which is probably the most hopeful thing about it.
At the heart of this achievement? Teaching. Not gadgets, slogans, or social media hashtags—just effective, consistent teaching. Schools lifted outcomes by improving the clarity and delivery of what’s being taught, across subjects and classrooms. Teachers set high expectations and students responded.
Minister Prue Car said the success boiled down to students being taught by qualified professionals working with a strong curriculum. “We are setting high expectations for our schools and students across the board,” she said. “To ensure students aim high and work hard to meet their potential.”
This recognition comes not long after the government outlined new academic and attendance targets. It’s part of a push to lift overall student outcomes, and this list of schools is an early sign that the strategy may be hitting the right notes.
Dizdar, the Department’s Secretary, spoke about the broader mission. “Our Plan for Public Education speaks to our ambition as a system to provide opportunities for all and transform lives through learning,” he said. “These accomplishments are not achieved alone. It takes the combined efforts of the entire school staff.”
What’s being acknowledged here is not perfection but perseverance. These schools have leaned into the slow, unglamorous work of improvement. Behind every high-performing student is usually a team of teachers, support staff, school leaders—and sometimes a few cracked whiteboards and a broken aircon unit too.
And it’s worth remembering: this is public education. These are not elite campuses with glossy brochures and alumni donor boards. These are schools that take in whoever walks through the gates—kids who may not always have had the smoothest run—and still expect them to thrive.
If anyone still doubts the power of public education to lift lives, these schools have quietly written a reply.
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