Brisbane Secondary School Ranking: ATAR Results in Grade 12

If you are interested in finding the best schools in Brisbane by looking at the 2023 Brisbane high school ranking for year 12 results based on previous years data ATAR results, then this article is going to bring you up to speed on the top high schools in Brisbane and the latest information and what is happening with league tables now.

(You can find best high schools in Brisbane based on Year 9 NAPLAN results here)

This article will show you the best Brisbane high school ranking based on the last set of published data of academic performance published.

Summary of data announced today 15 December, 2023:

• 53,181 students graduated (received a Senior Education Profile)
• 48,948 students (92%) achieved a Queensland Certificate of Education
• 1,193 students (2%) received Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement
• 27,778 students received an ATAR
• 34 students received an ATAR of 99.95
• 1,429 students from 222 schools will receive a Certificate of Academic Commendation for ‘A’ grades in at least six General subjects
• 510 students from 150 schools achieved a perfect score of 100 out of 100 in at least one General subject or General (Extension) subject
• 36,897 students achieved a VET Certificate I, II, III, IV or Diploma qualification 
• 1,316 students studied a university subject while still at school

Brisbane secondary school ATAR results school ranking

What you will find below is the top high schools in Brisbane based on secondary school ranking for Brisbane published in in the last year they published such data.

This information is based on students OP scores from Year 12 students gained.  The rankings below for Brisbane schools are extracted from Year 12 OP results.

What? Why is this the latest data?

ATAR results from 2023 cohort will NOT be publicly published for 2024

In early May 2021, the Queensland Government announced that they would not be releasing the league tables for best Brisbane high schools based on ATAR results from previous years anymore. You can read their announcement here.

However, that does not stop other websites compiling their own data to create best school lists of the best schools in Brisbane.

But of course, pure academic results don’t tell the whole story about what makes a school the one of the best high schools in Brisbane.  Kids get so much more from school than simple academics, so if your school of choice isn’t one to the top schools in Brisbane based on THIS leaderboard for these results, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great place to send your child.

These are the statistics for you to draw your own conclusions. Brisbane high school ranking using the secondary school OP results table is a guide for parents.  BUT it’s NOT the be all and end all of choosing the right school for your child.

What are the best high schools in Brisbane?

The results you see below are the last set of data that will be published in this way. They were drawn from the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority. It is a large document and we have taken only a small amount of the data to display here so it is easy to understand.

You used to be able to use the link above to the QCAA to dig deeper into all of the Queensland results. You could find the results you needed for schools outside greater Brisbane as those are not collated on our list. Below we have only collated greater Brisbane schools data from the last data set available.

It will be more important than ever to visit a Brisbane High School OPEN DAY.  We update our school Open Day dates every month. – click here.

Top 10 high schools in Brisbane

Whilst many things can make a school one of the best and different people value different things, several high schools in Brisbane are consistently recognised for their academic achievements and overall excellence.

1. Brisbane State High School: Renowned for its strong academic programs, diverse extracurricular activities, and central location, providing students with a well-rounded education.
2. Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT): Focused on science, mathematics, and technology education, QASMT is recognized for its academic excellence and rigorous curriculum.
3. St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace: A private boys’ school with a commitment to academic excellence, offering a comprehensive education and fostering a strong sense of community.
4. St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School: Known for academic achievement and a supportive community, St Aidan’s places emphasis on a holistic education, including strong cultural programs.
5. St Peter’s Lutheran College: Committed to academic excellence and pastoral care, St Peter’s provides a comprehensive education with a focus on character development.
6. Brisbane Grammar School: A prestigious boys’ school with a long history, Brisbane Grammar is recognized for its academic achievements, leadership programs, and diverse extracurricular options.
7. Somerville House: Known for its academic rigor, Somerville House emphasizes a holistic education, including strong arts and sports programs.
8. Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie): Churchie is esteemed for its academic standards, emphasis on character development, and a wide range of extracurricular activities.
9. Brisbane Girls Grammar School: Renowned for its academic achievements and emphasis on the development of well-rounded individuals through a range of extracurricular and leadership opportunities.
10. Marist College Ashgrove: Recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, Marist College Ashgrove also places importance on fostering a sense of community and providing a supportive environment for students.

Best high school in Brisbane – academic results

The following list is the top schools in greater Brisbane that received the highest percentage of OP scores 1-5 from their cohort in 2019.

The school in position 1 on this list gained 55.6% of their cohort with OPs 1 – 5.

The school in position 60 on this list gained 21.4% of their cohort with OPs 1 – 5.

Top high schools in Brisbane

1. Queensland Academy (Science, Maths Technology) Toowong Campus
2. Brisbane Girls Grammar, Brisbane
3. Brisbane Grammar School, Brisbane
4. St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School, Corinda
5. Brisbane State High School, Brisbane
6. Cannon Hill Anglican College, Cannon Hill
7. Anglican Church Grammar, South Brisbane
8. Ormiston College, Ormiston
9. Queensland Academy Creative Industries, Kelvin Grove
10. Somerville House, South Brisbane
11. Brisbane Boys College, Toowong
12. Mt St Michael’s College, Ashgrove
13. Ambrose Treacy College, Indooroopilly
14. St Joseph’s College (Gregory Terrace), Brisbane
15. Saint Rita’s College, Clayfield
16. St Peter’s Lutheran College, Indooroopilly
17. All Hallows School, Brisbane
18. Calvary Christian College, Carbrook
19. Cavendish Rd State High School, Holland Park
20. St Johns Anglican, Forest Lake
21. The Gap State High School, The Gap
22. St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Ascot
23. Loreto College, Coorparoo
24. Villanova College, Coorparoo
25. The Lakes College, North Lakes
26. Citipointe Christian College, Carindale
27. John Paul College, Daisy Hill
28. Moreton Bay College, Manly West
29. The Springfield Anglican College, Springfield
30. Kenmore State High School, Kenmore
31. Brisbane School of Distance Education
32. Lourdes Hill College, Hawthorne
33. Sandgate District High School, Deagon
34. Clayfield College, Clayfield
35. Stuartholme, School, Toowong
36. Mansfield State High School, Mansfield
37. Sheldon College, Sheldon
38. Marist College, Ashgrove
39. St Paul’s School, Bald Hills
40. Indooroopilly State High School, Indooroopilly
41. West Moreton Anglican, Karrabin
42. St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe
43. Padua College, Kedron
44. Wynnum State High School, Manly
45. Mary MacKillop, Nundah
46. Northside Christian College, Everton Park
47. Redeemer Lutheran College, Rochedale
48. St Peter’s Lutheran College, Springfield
49. Redlands College, Wellington Point
50. Iona College, Lindum
51. Holland Park State High School, Holland Park
52. Kelvin Grove State College, Kelvin Grove
53. Rochedale State High School, Rochedale
54. Craigslea State High School, Chermside West
55. Brisbane Adventist College, Mansfield
56. St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Boondall
57. St Laurance’s College, South Brisbane
58. Aspley State High School, Aspley
59. Faith Lutheran College, Redlands
60. Kedron State High, Wooloowin

Are they the top high schools in Brisbane?

Remember, these Brisbane school rankings on this league table are only based on the % of students who received a OP Score of 1-5. Any league table based on any single outcome measure tells very little about the effectiveness of a school program or what students really get out of their 13 years at school. Such lists fail to recognise that a good education is more than just preparation for exams. Schools design their curriculum to meet the particular needs of their students and help them to reach their potential.

This table does not take into account the other ranges of OP scores – to see a larger sample with the range of OP Scores 1-15 use the link above to the QCAA results for the whole of Queensland (be ready, it is a HUGE document!!)

Catchment, school reviews and other Brisbane school information

Many state primary and secondary schools in Brisbane have a catchment limitation.  This means that if you’re not in the area, you’re likely not in the school!  Learn more about primary & secondary school catchments here. 

Families Magazine also provides Parent Fact Sheets on top schools in the greater Brisbane area which give an overview of many primary and secondary schools – visit our schools & education articles to find all the information you need when considering a school for your child. If you’re considering a school that doesn’t have a fact sheet, please comment below – we’ll get right on it!

Again, just because these are the top performing secondary schools in Brisbane, doesn’t mean that your secondary school isn’t a wonderful match for your child!  Secondary school rankings only rate one area of school life! At Families Magazine, we believe that education is a life long journey, not a test result!

What’s the difference between the OP rank and ATAR?

The ATAR is a finer-grained rank order of students than the OP and is commonly used in other states and territories. It’s a number between 0.00 and 99.95 with increments of 0.05, whereas the OP consists of 25 bands. The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) is responsible for calculating students’ ATARs.

Find out about how the ATAR  system will affect your child by reading our detailed article here.