Students across Newcastle have experienced a wave of emotion as the long-awaited Higher School Certificate results were released on Thursday, December 18, 2025. For many year 12 graduates, the morning brought tears of happiness, sighs of relief, and celebrations marking the end of a significant chapter.
Merewether High's High Achievers
At Merewether High School, a selective campus, graduates gathered for a barbecue, anxiously refreshing their phones for the 9am ATAR release. The atmosphere was electric as the scores came through.
Shreya Choundhury was overcome with surprise and joy upon seeing her result. She achieved an exceptional ATAR of 99.75, placing her second in her year group. "I was very happy this morning, I wasn't expecting it," Ms Choundhury said, expressing gratitude for her opportunities. Having studied a demanding suite of subjects including Advanced English, multiple Mathematics extensions, Physics, Chemistry, and accelerated Biology, she now sets her sights on a medical degree.
Her advice for future HSC students is to practice self-kindness. "You just have to be overconfident, just a little bit to not second guess every decision you make," she recommended.
The school's top performer was Eleanor Hayes, who secured an ATAR of 99.8. Merewether recorded 16 students with ATARs above 99, one more than the previous year's cohort.
State Rankings and Future Advocates
Another standout from Merewether was Khuslen Batmandakh, also named the 2025 Newcastle young citizen of the year. She was "stoked" with her ATAR of 99 and came sixth in the state for Society and Culture. She praised the subject for its focus on human behaviour and social factors, and valued the supportive environment among her peers.
"It was nice having that sense of support and connection," Ms Batmandakh reflected. She plans to study a combined Law and Arts degree to pursue a career in advocacy work. The school celebrated several state rankings, with four in Society and Culture and two in Biology.
Relief and Early Entry Success at St Francis Xavier
Across town at St Francis Xavier College in Hamilton, students shared a similar mix of relief and excitement. Isabella Beckett felt a huge weight lift after receiving her results, which included an ATAR of 93.2 and a ninth-place state ranking in Dance.
"I felt like I worked hard but I was still very shocked," Ms Beckett admitted. Her efforts have already paid off, with early entry secured into a Bachelor of Law and Criminology at the University of Newcastle.
Fellow graduate Wilson Tolhurst was pleasantly surprised by his ATAR of 89.4. He found his final year to be enjoyable despite the pressure. Mr Tolhurst has also gained early entry, accepting a place in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle.
Statewide HSC and ATAR Snapshot
The release marked a milestone for over 60,000 students across Australia who were eligible for an ATAR this year—an increase of approximately 3,000 from 2024. According to the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), 53 students received the highest possible ATAR of 99.95.
Nationally, more than 17 percent of students achieved an ATAR of 90 or above. The median ATAR for 2025 was 70.75, slightly lower than the previous year. UAC's chief strategy and engagement officer advised all HSC students to finalise their university preferences by 11:59pm on Thursday, December 18, to be considered for the next round of offers on Tuesday, December 23.
