QCE and ATAR Results & Rankings 2025 | Queensland Year 12
What the 2025 QCE results reveal about Brisbane private school performance
Queensland students are celebrating a strong year of achievement following the release of 2025 QCE and ATAR results, with high completion rates, solid top-end ATAR outcomes and encouraging improvements in attendance and middle-years academic performance.
The 2025 results reinforce the strength of the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) as a flexible senior credential, supporting multiple post-school pathways including university, vocational education and direct entry into the workforce.
Updated December 2025 · Independent analysis by Schools360
Queensland Year 12 results by the numbers (2025)
In 2025, 57,909 students completed Year 12 in Queensland.
Key outcomes include:
93.4% of students achieved a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
1,192 students received a Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA)
Around 50% of eligible students received an ATAR
Nearly 25% of ATAR recipients achieved an ATAR of 90 or above, placing them in the top 10% nationally
1,744 students from 229 schools received a Certificate of Academic Commendation for achieving A grades in at least six General subjects
743 students from 185 schools achieved the highest result in at least one General or General (Extension) subject
40,760 students completed a VET Certificate I–IV or Diploma
1,683 students completed a university subject while still at school
These results highlight both strong academic achievement at the top end and broad participation in vocational and mixed pathways across the cohort.
Image credit: Brisbane Grammar School, BrisbaneThe QCE model: flexibility and multiple pathways
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Acting CEO Claude Jones noted that the Class of 2025 reflects the core strength of the QCE system.
The QCE supports:
University-bound students through General and Extension subjects and ATAR calculation
Vocational pathways through school-based apprenticeships, traineeships and VET certificates
Early tertiary exposure, with students completing university subjects while still at school
Inclusive pathways for students with learning disabilities through the QCIA
This breadth explains why Queensland has a lower proportion of ATAR recipients than some other states, but high overall completion and post-school transition rates.
What this means for private schools in Queensland
For private schools, the 2025 results reinforce several trends:
Strong private schools tend to show high concentrations of top-band ATARs, not just isolated high scores
Academic commendations, A-grade volumes and Extension results are increasingly important performance indicators
Schools offering integrated academic, VET and extension pathways are well aligned to the QCE system
Improvements in attendance and middle-years performance support stronger senior outcomes over time
Schools360 analysis shows that Queensland’s top private schools continue to perform strongly across both academic and broader educational measures, particularly where learning culture, attendance and program breadth are well established.
Image credit: St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School, Corinda