Use the information below to help interpret the data published in the yearly
Senior Secondary Completion and Achievement section.
School
Name of school (and campus, where reported separately).
Adult School
Institutions that provide training and/or education at the senior secondary level. They include Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and Adult and Community Education (ACE) providers.
Small School
A small school is one with 20 or fewer students enrolled in at least one VCE unit at level 3/4. Much care is required in interpreting their results as the overall results might be significantly affected by those of one or two students.
Locality
This is provided because sometimes the location of the school is not obvious from its name.
Number of VCE studies at unit 3-4 level taken up by students
The figure provided is the number of studies offered by the school. In some cases a school will put in place arrangements to allow their students to access studies not currently offered at their school. Therefore the number of studies available to students may be greater than these figures indicate. Details of such arrangements can be obtained from individual schools.
Number of VET certificates with enrolments
This reflects the range of choices available to students wishing to pursue studies in Vocational Education and Training (VET) within their VCE or VCAL programs. VET programs may be undertaken within the school or outside the school.
Availability of International Baccalaureate (Diploma)
The International Baccalaureate (Diploma) is an international senior secondary qualification. Students who undertake the IB Diploma are awarded an equivalent ATAR and are considered for tertiary selection in Victoria on a similar basis to VCE students. IB results are released in January.
Number of students enrolled in at least one VCE unit at level 3-4
This figure reflects the size of the cohort undertaking studies at the highest level of VCE (units 3 and 4). It does not necessarily correspond to the size of the Year 12 enrolment in the school. Level 3/4 studies are designed to be undertaken in Year 12. However, the VCE provides flexibility that allows students to undertake some studies at this level before they reach Year 12.
Number of students enrolled in a VET certificate
This figure describes the number of students who have included at least one VET certificate (or a part thereof) in their VCE or VCAL program.
Number of students enrolled in VCAL
The number of students enrolled in the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning.
Percentage of VCE students applying for tertiary places
This figure is calculated from the number of students who made a timely application for a tertiary course through VTAC, taken as a percentage of all those students eligible to do so.
Percentage of satisfactory VCE completions
Of those students eligible to complete the VCE, the percentage who did so.
Number of students awarded the VCE (Baccalaureate)
The number of students who have been awarded the Victorian Certificate of Education (Baccalaureate). This award recognises VCE students who have achieved a study score of at least 30 in English, Literature, English Language or at least 33 in English as an Additional Language, and have in total 5 or more study scores including a higher level Mathematics, and a Language.
Percentage of VET units of competence completed
Of those VET units of competence enrolled, the percentage completed.
Percentage of VCAL units completed
Of those VCAL units enrolled, the percentage completed.
Median VCE study score
VCE results are recorded in terms of study scores. Achievement is assessed on a scale of 0 to 50 and in all studies the average study score across the state is 30. The median study score is the middle score when all the study scores obtained by students of the school are ranked from highest to lowest; so it represents a ‘typical’ level of achievement in the school.
Percentage of study scores of 40 and over
A study score of 40 or above in any study represents exceptional performance (among the top eight per cent in the state). The percentage of such scores is an indication of the proportion of high achievers in each school.