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:
9. Douglas Academy
Douglas Academy is a secondary school in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire. In the 2022/23 school year, 72% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google
10. Linlithgow Academy
This is a secondary school in Linlithgow, West Lothian. In the 2022/23 school year, 70% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google
11. Turnbull High School
Turnbull High is a secondary school in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire - in the Greater Glasgow area. It has a loose Catholic affiliation, but is open to students of all faiths. In the 2022/23 school year, 69% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google
12. Glasgow Gaelic School
Glasgow Gaelic is a mixed primary and secondary school in Glasgow, which conducts some of its teaching and learning in the Scottish Gaelic language. In the 2022/23 school year, 68% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google