Broome Senior dips in State ranking, despite score rise

The only school in the Kimberley to qualify for a median ATAR ranking has again finished in the State’s bottom 20, despite increasing its average from the year before.

Broome Senior High School finished 139th of a possible 152 eligible institutes for 2019, with a median ATAR of 65.25, based on the scores of its 42 pupils that took on university-bound studies.

The school placed at No.136 for 2018, but had a lower average of 62.75.

BSHS principal Mat Burt said the cohort had excelled in his eyes all areas, not just students advancing on to university.

“We had some outstanding results with five students achieving an ATAR over 90,” he said.

“The median ATAR is an indicator of how the overall cohort performed. In some school settings, students may be denied the opportunity to study ATAR options in order to maintain a high median ATAR for the school.

“At BSHS, we encourage students to be the best that they can be, by not only challenging themselves but also taking on the challenge of ATAR.”

St Mary’s College Broome did not qualify for the rankings as it had less than 20 individuals receive a score. SMC head of secondary Lea Wilson said the school’s 10 university-bound students had an average ATAR of 71.1. She said each of the pupils had been offered a place at university for this year.

“It is a proud moment knowing they have all gone on to do what they wanted to and they have done really well,” she said.