Pupils across Scotland received their much-anticipated exam results on Tuesday (August 5) - with Advanced Higher passes up from 76.7 per cent to 77.6 per cent.
It saw a clean sweep of improvement, with pass rates also up in Highers and National 5s.
It was good news for Education Secretary Màiri McAllan, who only took on the role earlier this year, who said: “This is testament to the breadth and strength of Scotland’s education system, the professionalism of our teachers and school staff and the hard work of our young people.”
However, the percentage of pupils passing their Advanced Highers varies considerably between council areas, with East Renfrewshire having the highest pass rate of 81.2 per cent and West Lothian having the lowest at 66.8 per cent - a difference of 14.4 per cent.
Here are the 10 best performing council areas for Advanced Higher pass rates.
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1. East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire, which includes leafy Newton Mearns, leads the way for Advanced Highers, with an 81.2 per cent pass rate. | Google Maps
2. Stirling
Stirling takes second place when it comes to Advanced Highers, with pupils passing 79.8 per cent of the exams. | Canva/Getty Images
3. City of Edinburgh
The City of Edinburgh takes third spot with a 79.4 per cent Advanced Higher pass rate. | Getty Images/iStockphoto
4. Orkney
Pupils from the Orkney Islands successfully passed 79.3 per cent of their Advanced Highers in 2026. | Canva/Getty Images