Charlton College has been listed as the top regional school for Victoria in the “Herald Sun” newspaper’s Top 100 Public High Schools, having ranked eighth in the whole state.

Each year, “The Herald Sun” publishes its “Top 100 Public High Schools” list, a ranking that has gained considerable attention among students, parents, and educators in Victoria.

Drawing on a range of data sources, particularly academic performance metrics, the list aims to identify and celebrate government-run schools that demonstrate excellence in education.

While these rankings provide valuable insight to school performance, they also raise important questions about what constitutes a “top” school and how such judgments are formed.

The list does not rely on academic results alone. It frequently takes into account socio-educational advantage, a factor that measures the relative socio-economic status of a school’s student population.

This metric helps contextualise academic results by recognising that schools in more disadvantaged areas may face greater challenges. By including this information, the list acknowledges that academic performance is not the sole reflection of a school’s effectiveness or the efforts of its teachers and students.

In an article in the “Herald Sun“, journalist Rebecca Borg wrote that Victoria’s country students are making their mark at the highest level, with rural and remote schools seizing more than a fifth of the spots in the top 100.

While Charlton ranked the highest regional school, listed as eighth out of one hundred (and only headed by metropolitan schools), other institutions included Wycheproof P-12, ranked at number 25; Boort, 85; and Donald High School, 94.

Charlton College has only 132 students attend from Prep to Year 12, and it also has the lowest fees of any institution in the top 10 list, with an extraordinary student to teacher ratio.

Acting principal at Charlton College, Craig Kelly, said “We’re really proud to see our school ranked so high on the list. It’s a real reflection of the hard work everyone puts in – students, teachers, and the whole community. This shows we’re heading in the right direction, and we’ll keep doing our best to make sure every student has the support and opportunities they need to succeed”.

Data sourced from News-Corp; original story from the “Herald Sun” can be found at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/education/regions/victoria/australias-top-100-public-highschools- victorias-best-government- secondary-schools -ranked/news-story/e1d95 acf3eb5ad1f4e717f0ea8d5f135.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 19 September 2025.