Fourteen of the seventeen top scores and the highest ATAR in the Valley were taken out by some very industrious young women.

But perhaps the greatest testament to how well our Valley has done this year, is the sheer number of students who were offered early acceptance into the university of their choice.

Many other graduates have already gained full-time employment, in a great big middle finger to the shocking rate of youth unemployment in our region published earlier this year.

Congratulations to all of our hard-working graduates.

In 2017 Nambucca Heads High School was ranked tenth in the state in a study highlighting which schools were punching above their weight, defying their levels of educational disadvantages.

Principal Simon McKinney said the results from this year's cohort are probably on par with those exceptional results from 2017.

In a year with 30 senior students, Nambucca High kids were awarded five Band 6, 18 Band 5, and 20 Band 4 results; a total of 43 above the 70^th percentile.

Special mention goes to Lily Dedman, who received two Band 6 results and three Band 5s - a remarkable achievement.

Kawana Crowe, Elly Gooch and Tiarna Halloran also all received a Band 6 result each, with several Band 5s to go with it.

Elly's artwork was also selected to be featured in this year's ARTEXPRESS HSC Showcase in Sydney.

Jace Salter was another high achiever with five Band 5s.

"The girls that were the highest achievers worked really hard over the past two years, regularly handing in work ahead of time so they could receive feedback - they really put in their all," Annette Welsh said.

Annette said six of the Band 5s were also on the cusp of being 6s, at 88 or 89 per cent.

"Everyone's really happy. Their teachers are especially happy for them," Annette said.

Many of the graduating seniors have already accepted early entry into university, with several committed to making the leap to the big smoke.

One enterprising student has even been offered a robotics apprenticeship in Melbourne which he intends to take up.

Not to be outdone, Macksville High School's class of 2019 have also produced some outstanding results with two young ladies making the Top Achievers list.

Matiese Trisley was placed fifth in the state in Community and Family Studies and Astrid Smith finished 11^th in PDHPE.

Both girls also received the highest ATARs of the year level, with Astrid earning a remarkable 97.6, with Band 6 results in Ancient History, Advanced English, Food Technology and PDHPE, and a Band 5 in Biology,

While Matiese scored an ATAR of 90.1, with Band 6 results in Community and Family Studies and PDHPE, and Band 5s in Advanced English and Mathematics Standard 2.

Cassandra Ferris made the Distinguished Achievers list and gained a Band 6 in Hospitality, rounding up the school's seven Band 6 results, alongside its 38 Band 5 results.

Graduates gathered this week for a celebratory brunch:

Principal Erica Lyne is understandably very proud of her students.

"This cohort has achieved very solid results across all subjects, with Astrid and Matiese doing exceptionally well. Their hard work and dedication has certainly paid off. The staff should also be congratulated for their commitment to supporting our students to achieve their best," she said.

"At this point in time we know of 28 students who have gained entry to university courses with offers to Charles Sturt, UNE, SCU, University of Wollongong, University of Newcastle, University of Canberra and Macquarie University."

Nambucca Valley Christian Community School gives its students the opportunity to sit their HSC exams across Year 11 and Year 12, with many choosing to split up their final exams in order to lessen the pressure at the end of Year 12.

This year, seven Year 12s and 18 Year 11s undertook HSC exams.

Five Band 6 results were awarded, with Jonah Spriggs gaining three in Mathematics, Music 2, and Music Extension.

Isabella Shepherd was awarded a Band 6 in both Biology and Mathematics Standard 2. Isabella also received a Band 6 in 2018 (whilst in Year 11) for PDHPE.

The school had an impressive rate of achievement overall, with 40 per cent of all results being either Band 6s or 5s.

For the first time this year, the school offered engineering studies and chemistry as HSC subjects, with class results coming in well above the state average in each subject.

"In the midst of the construction site we've had for the past four to five years, the students and teachers have just forged through, and these remarkable results are a real testament to the hard work they've put in," Principal Jeff Allen said.

"We rejoice in the good results, but we're committed here to giving a quality education to all our students. We recognise the HSC has value as a marker of achievement, but we're interested in equipping people for life."

Bowraville Central School had 13 students complete their HSC in 2019, and were awarded two Band 5s and 15 Band 4s.

But the real success story is that each student has a clearly defined pathway ahead of themselves.

"We only had a small year group this year but there are some outstanding results and, due to the hard work of staff at the school, many students had pre-entry to university," Principal Dave Taylor said.

Six students have been offered places at multiple universities, and two were awarded full-time placements in TAFE.

One student has been accepted into the Royal Australian Navy, another gets their choice of three professional dance schools, and the remaining three have already secured full-time employment in trades and services.

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