Distinguished Achievers data
This data reports on the number of students who achieved a Distinguished Achiever result in 2025. View the gender, location and socio-economic status of students.
About the data
In 2025, there were 43,190 Distinguished Achiever results.
The Distinguished Achievers list recognises all students with a top band (Band 6 or E4 for extension courses) result for courses completed. The list is arranged alphabetically by student name and includes the students' school and the course(s) with top band results.
Students can be recognised as a Distinguished Achiever if they completed at least one HSC course and achieved a top band result. This includes students undertaking some form of flexible progression such as acceleration, compressed curriculum delivery or part-time study.
Students who complete externally examined HSC courses may be eligible for inclusion in the HSC Merit Lists. You can also search the current Distinguished Achievers list.
This data is taken from 19 January 2026.
Gender
Use the graph to view the gender of students who received a Distinguished Achiever result.
Overview
In 2025, there were:
- 23,952 female students
- 19,210 male students
- 28 non-binary students.
Location
Use the graph to view the location of students who received a Distinguished Achiever result. The location is based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Remoteness Area classification.
Overview
In 2025, there were:
- 40,819 students from schools in major cities
- 2,106 students from schools in inner regional areas
- 180 students from schools in outer regional and remote areas
- 85 students from schools overseas.
Socio-economic status (SES)
Use the graph to view the SES of students who received a Distinguished Achiever result. The SES is based on the student's address.
- Quartile 1 – represents the lowest or most disadvantaged 25% of SES localities.
- Quartile 4 – represents the highest or most advantaged 25%.
For details on SES data, view the data glossary.
Overview
In 2025, there were:
- 3,018 students in Quartile 1
- 4,926 students in Quartile 2
- 10,289 students in Quartile 3
- 24,844 students in Quartile 4
- 113 students with an unknown SES.