Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and Nossal High School were the top-performing large government schools in Victoria in the 2025 VCE, each with a median study score of 37. Melbourne High School (36), Suzanne Cory High School (35) and John Monash Science School (35) followed. Four of the top six large government schools are selective entry.
The best non-selective public schools in Melbourne were Balwyn High, Glen Waverley Secondary College and McKinnon Secondary College, each with a median study score of 33.
How Victorian schools are ranked
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) publishes VCE results for every school. Two numbers are used:
- Median study score. Study scores run from 0 to 50, and the state average is about 30. A school median of 35 is very strong.
- Percentage of study scores of 40 or above. About 9% of scores statewide are 40+, so this shows how many top results a school produces.
Top 25 government schools in Victoria (VCE 2025)
| Rank | School | Suburb | Median study score | Scores 40+ | VCE students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clyde Secondary College | Clyde | 39 | 44.4% | 21 |
| 2 | Cranbourne West Secondary College | Cranbourne West | 39 | 40.5% | 134 |
| 3 | Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (selective) | Melbourne | 37 | 34.7% | 571 |
| 4 | Nossal High School (selective) | Berwick | 37 | 32.4% | 410 |
| 5 | Melbourne High School (selective) | South Yarra | 36 | 29.9% | 722 |
| 6 | Suzanne Cory High School (selective) | Werribee | 35 | 25.0% | 432 |
| 7 | John Monash Science School | Clayton | 35 | 22.0% | 438 |
| 8 | Balwyn High School | Balwyn North | 33 | 19.2% | 622 |
| 9 | Glen Waverley Secondary College | Glen Waverley | 33 | 14.7% | 675 |
| 10 | McKinnon Secondary College | McKinnon | 33 | 12.5% | 679 |
| 11 | Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School | Southbank | 33 | 12.4% | 179 |
| 12 | Charlton College | Charlton | 32 | 13.0% | 21 |
| 13 | Melbourne Girls' College | Richmond | 32 | 12.1% | 388 |
| 14 | Box Hill High School | Box Hill | 32 | 11.7% | 442 |
| 15 | East Doncaster Secondary College | Doncaster East | 32 | 11.6% | 435 |
| 16 | Williamstown High School | Williamstown | 32 | 10.9% | 385 |
| 17 | Ashwood High School | Ashwood | 32 | 10.1% | 173 |
| 18 | Dromana Secondary College | Dromana | 32 | 8.8% | 401 |
| 19 | Koonung Secondary College | Mont Albert North | 32 | 8.8% | 280 |
| 20 | Doncaster Secondary College | Doncaster | 32 | 8.7% | 308 |
| 21 | Princes Hill Secondary College | Princes Hill | 32 | 8.1% | 190 |
| 22 | Vermont Secondary College | Vermont | 32 | 7.6% | 420 |
| 23 | Auburn High School | Hawthorn East | 31 | 10.6% | 201 |
| 24 | Kew High School | Kew East | 31 | 10.3% | 297 |
| 25 | Blackburn High School | Blackburn | 31 | 9.8% | 304 |
Ranked by median study score; ties broken by the share of 40+ scores, then cohort size. Schools with fewer than 20 VCE students are excluded.
A note on the top two: Clyde and Cranbourne West had small or unusual VCE cohorts in 2025. Small cohorts swing a lot from year to year, so treat their positions with caution.
The four selective entry high schools
Victoria has four government selective entry high schools, which take students from Year 9 to 12:
| School | Location | Students | 2025 median | 2025 scores 40+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac.Robertson Girls' High School | Melbourne CBD | Girls | 37 | 34.7% |
| Nossal High School | Berwick | Co-ed | 37 | 32.4% |
| Melbourne High School | South Yarra | Boys | 36 | 29.9% |
| Suzanne Cory High School | Werribee | Co-ed | 35 | 25.0% |
Entry is through a single selective entry exam sat in Year 8, run by ACER, for about 1,000 Year 9 places across the four schools. Most places (85%) go on exam rank. The exam covers reading comprehension, mathematics, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and two writing tasks.
Read our Victorian selective entry exam guide, exam dates, how the four schools compare, and our guides to Mac.Robertson and Suzanne Cory and Nossal.
John Monash Science School in Clayton is a specialist science school for Years 10 to 12 with its own entry process. It's not one of the four selective entry high schools.
Best non-selective public schools
If your child isn't sitting the selective exam, the strongest zoned government schools on 2025 VCE results were:
- Balwyn High School (Balwyn North): median 33, 19.2% of scores 40+
- Glen Waverley Secondary College: median 33, 14.7%
- McKinnon Secondary College: median 33, 12.5%
- Melbourne Girls' College (Richmond): median 32, 12.1%
- Box Hill High School: median 32, 11.7%
These schools use school zones, so your address usually decides eligibility. Many families also apply for SEAL (Select Entry Accelerated Learning) programs at local schools, which accelerate high-achieving students from Year 7.
What the rankings don't tell you
- Selective schools select. Their results reflect who they enrol as much as how they teach.
- One year is a snapshot. Look at three to five years of results.
- Medians hide spread. A school with a lower median may still have outstanding results in your child's subjects.
- VCE isn't the only pathway. Mac.Robertson and Suzanne Cory also offer the IB Diploma, which isn't included in VCE medians.
Preparing for selective entry
The Victorian selective entry exam is sat in June of Year 8. Students who start preparing in Year 7 have the most time to learn the reasoning question types, which aren't taught at school. Our Victorian selective practice tests are coming soon. Join the waitlist to hear when they're live.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best public high school in Melbourne? On 2025 VCE results, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and Nossal High School had the highest median study score (37) among large government schools.
What is the best co-ed public school in Melbourne? Nossal High School in Berwick, with a 2025 median of 37. Among non-selective co-ed schools, Balwyn High School (median 33).
How do you get into Melbourne High School? Through the Victorian selective entry exam in Year 8, for entry in Year 9.
Are VCE rankings official? VCAA publishes each school's results; rankings are built from that data by third parties.
Sources: VCAA senior secondary completion and achievement information, reporting year 2025, as ranked by School Explorer (top government VCE schools in Victoria 2025); Victorian Department of Education, selective entry high schools.