What is the VCE and why it matters
The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is Victoria’s senior secondary qualification. It marks a student’s completion of high school and provides a standard measure of performance that universities and employers use for admission and hiring decisions. In recent years, stakeholders have focused on transparent reporting of school-level VCE outcomes to help families choose the right path for their child.
Key metrics you’ll encounter
When you review a school’s VCE performance, you’ll typically come across several core indicators:
- Average study score – A number out of 50 representing a student’s performance in individual VCE subjects. Schools often report the mean study score across all VCE subjects. A higher mean suggests stronger results across the cohort.
- Median study score – The middle value when all study scores are ordered. This helps understand typical student performance in the school, less affected by outliers.
- VCE completion rate – The share of students who finish their VCE program within the expected timeframe, indicating program engagement and retention.
- ATAR results – The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is used for university admissions and can be reported as average ATAR or as the distribution of ATARs among students. Some schools publish the percentage of students achieving a high ATAR band, which signals academic rigor and selective outcomes.
- Subject performance variety – Schools may highlight areas of strength (e.g., English, mathematics, sciences, arts) to show where students excel consistently.
How to read school reports
School performance reports are a snapshot of the year’s outcomes and should be considered alongside context. Look for:
- Trends over multiple years to see whether results are improving, stable, or fluctuating.
- The size of the cohort — smaller schools may show more variability in averages.
- Subjects with consistently high performance, which can indicate a school’s strengths and preferred pathways for students.
- Support programs that may boost results, such as a strong VCE preparation curriculum, tutoring, or pastoral care that keeps students engaged.
What these metrics mean for families
Choosing a school isn’t only about the highest averages. Consider whether a school’s culture, subject offerings, and support systems align with your child’s interests and learning style. A school with strong English and humanities results, for instance, might be ideal for a student aiming for a humanities degree, while another with robust science subjects could suit a student pursuing STEM.
Also think about:
- Alignment with your child’s learning plan and access to VCE subjects.
- Availability of pathways outside VCE, such as VET or VCAL, if a flexible track is needed.
- Post-school support, including university guidance, gap year planning, and apprenticeship pathways.
Tips for parents and students
1) Look beyond the headline number. Review the school’s mean and median study scores across subjects you care about. 2) Check entry requirements for universities to understand how your child’s potential ATAR might be used. 3) Visit schools, talk to staff, and ask about how they support students who need extra help or who are balancing multiple subjects. 4) Use public dashboards and school annual reports to compare year-on-year performance and program changes. 5) Remember that a good fit often matters as much as a high score — a school with strong counseling and pathways can help students reach their goals.
Bottom line
Understanding VCE performance involves looking at averages, medians, completion rates, and ATAR distributions, all within the context of a school’s offerings and supports. With careful comparison and thoughtful questions, families can choose a Victorian school that best supports their child’s academic ambitions and wellbeing.
