Using official Scottish Government statistics, Scotland’s Data on a Map publishes an annual league table rating how well the country’s state high and secondary schools have done, after the National and Higher exam results are released each year. They are ranked based on what Scotland’s Data on a Map describes as the ‘gold standard’ - the percentage of students who sat their Highers that year that passed five or more of them.
While this school year’s candidates are still waiting on their results, parents might want a little more insight into how schools encourage their pupils to achieve to the best of their abilities.
The most recent data currently available is from the 2022/23 school year, which saw a whopping 57 schools reach that gold standard with at least half of their students who sat their higher exams. But just ten schools hit the prestigious mark of having 70% or more of their students attain five or more Highers.
Here were the top 25 scoring state schools overall:
5. Boroughmuir High School
Boroughmuir is a state secondary school in Edinburgh. In the 2022/23 school year, 76% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google
6. Boclair Academy
Boclair is another state secondary school in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire. In the 2022/23 school year, 74% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google
7. Woodfarm High School
This is a secondary school in Woodfarm, East Renfrewshire. In the 2022/23 school year, 73% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google
8. Williamwood High School
Williamwood is a secondary school in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire. It drew with nearby Woodfarm last year, also having 73% of its students achieve five or more Highers. | Google