NSW public schools have recorded another solid performance in the 2025 NAPLAN assessment, marking the second consecutive year the state has outperformed the national average. According to data released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority on the My School website, NSW schools featured prominently among the 183 schools across Australia that scored above the national average.
More than one third of those high-performing schools are in NSW, with strong results across all year groups and all areas assessed. The Department of Education says the outcome reflects ongoing work in classrooms and a push towards explicit teaching backed by research from the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation.
Department Secretary Murat Dizdar praised teachers and school leaders for their contribution, saying the results show what is possible when evidence-based practice is consistently applied. He added that the department will continue investing in professional learning to support teachers and help students reach their potential. For those who need extra help, he pointed to ongoing initiatives such as permanent small group tuition to lift literacy and numeracy.
This year’s data release includes the 2025 Schools Making a Difference list, which highlights schools performing above expectations compared with similar schools. NSW has a strong presence here too, with Carlingford West, Artarmon, Chatswood, St Johns Park, Hurstville, Murray Farm, Matthew Pearce, Eastwood, Epping West, Girraween and Beecroft public primary schools all recognised. Canley Vale High School has also been acknowledged.
The department says these results form part of a broader picture of steady improvement, with attendance trending upwards across the state. ACARA’s attendance data shows an increase in the proportion of students attending school more than 90 per cent of the time. Daily attendance rose to almost 88 per cent. Internal departmental figures indicate student absences fell by nearly one million days between 2024 and 2025, representing a drop of close to 10 per cent.
While NAPLAN outcomes are one measure of system performance, department officials say they sit alongside a wider effort to broaden opportunities. Programs aimed at high potential and gifted education, as well as pathways in sports, arts, music, debating and public speaking, are being promoted as part of a more rounded school experience.
The department maintains that consistency in teaching practice, along with support for teachers, remains central to progress. The latest NAPLAN results suggest NSW’s approach is gaining traction, though education experts warn that long-term improvement requires steady investment and attention to equity across all school communities.
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