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:
17. Cults Academy
Cults is a secondary school in Aberdeen. In the 2022/23 school year, it also had 64% of its students who sat the exams attain five or more Highers. | Google
18. Bishopbriggs Academy
This is a secondary school in the town of Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. In the 2022/23 school year, 63% of its students attained five or more Highers. | Google
19. Dalziel High School
Dalziel is a secondary school in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. In the 2022/23 school year, it also had 63% of its students attain five or more Highers. | Google
20. The Royal High School
The Royal is a secondary school in Edinburgh with a non-denominational Christian affiliation. In the 2022/23 school year, it too had 63% of its students attain five or more Highers. | Google