Achievement

Achievement at MacKillop

Students come to MacKillop with many different talents and dreams, which MacKillop’s teachers seek to nurture and encourage. Whilst the primary focus for MacKillop is on teaching and learning, the success of our students in all aspects of life serves as a source of pride for the College community. Students at MacKillop achieve in academic life, vocational studies, sport, the arts, cultural pursuits, and in the wider community. This achievement provides students with opportunities to progress down their chosen pathway once they graduate at the end of Year 12.

Academic Achievement

At MacKillop, our data shows that we add great value to our students, with most of our students achieving ‘greater than or equal to expected growth’ across the areas of NAPLAN from Year 7 to Year 9. The College utilises the data gained from Year 7 NAPLAN results to inform our teaching and learning programs in order to achieve this growth in our students - and this growth continues until our students graduate from MacKillop at the end of Year 12.

Exceeding personal expectations.

99.5%

of ATAR seekers from the Class of 2024 achieved above their predicted score, with some achieving 18 points higher than expected. 97% of the group said they were happy with their results.

Top ATARs.

99.90

In recent years, MacKillop students have achieved some of the highest ATARs in the Territory, including James Crispin's 99.90, while our 2024 Dux, Milly McCabe, achieved a score of 99.65.

High achievers do well at MacKillop.

99+

In 2024, six of our Year 12 students achieved an ATAR above 99. They benefitted from MacKillop's AST Workshop program, which helped the Class of 2024 to perform strongly in the AST.

Achievement for all.

Co-ed

The Class of 2024's top 20 students consisted of nine boys and 11 girls - and they all achieved ATARs above 95. Co-ed is irresistibly successful at MacKillop!

Early offers into university.

84%

of students who applied for an early offer into university received an offer prior to the AST. Most ATAR seekers from the Class of 2024 got into the university course of their choice.

The Supportive Environment.

97%

of the Class of 2024 said their teachers and the Year 12 pastoral team did their best to make Year 11 and 12 a positive experience.

Year 7

Academic success

James - now completing his Honours year in Medicine at Monash University

“We had a number of success stories from my year group – some of my friends are studying things like Engineering, Veterinary Science, Actuarial Studies, Law, and Physiotherapy. The relationship I had with my teachers was incredibly critical to my success. They were invested in me, checked up on me regularly, and cared about my academic success and me as a person. I put in lots of hard work but the AST results of our year group also made a difference. Huge thank you to my teachers who helped and supported me, and to my friends who competed with me and motivated me to do my best. I’m incredibly happy with my results!”

Vocational Achievement

MacKillop offers a broad range of vocational courses - delivered in industry-standard facilities - that equip students for the workforce and/or further training. MacKillop issues among the highest numbers of Vocational Educational Certificates in the ACT to its graduates, giving them a head start at CIT or in apprenticeships.

Excellence in Vocational Education.

First

In 2022, MacKillop student Josh Haynes was named as the ACT Australian School-Based Apprentice of the Year.

Certificates Achieved.

184

MacKillop presented 100 Vocational Certificates and 84 Statements of Attainment to the Class of 2024.

Certificate types on offer.

12

There are 12 different types of Vocational Certificates available to MacKillop students in a wide range of courses.

Year 7

The Vocational Program

Ruby, Class of 2022

“I’m really happy with what I was able to study within vocational education at MacKillop. I was able to gain industry experience through my Australian School-Based Apprenticeship, which I took part in two days per week. It was a Women in Construction pathways program that allowed me to do electrical, carpentry, project management, landscaping, and plumbing. At school, I took courses in Construction and Hospitality through the Trades Training Centre to gain vocational certificates and qualifications. Now that I've left school, I'm doing a full-time carpentry apprenticeship. The vocational pathway gave me lots of options and opportunities, and it has also given me a head start in my career.”

Opportunities for the future

Students have a range of potential pathways after Year 12. Many students opt to go on to university, others seek further education at CIT, some go straight into the workforce, and some take on apprenticeships. From Medicine and Engineering to NIDA and Construction, students from the Class of 2022 completed Year 12 at MacKillop with the ability to pursue their passions and dreams.

Future
The start of something special.

97%

of students from the Class of 2024 claim to be happy with their current pathway and situation after graduating from MacKillop.

Foundation for the future.

94%

of students from the Class of 2024 said MacKillop's Year 11 and 12 experience prepared them for life after school and helped to get them where they are today.

Employment and further study.

98%

of the Class of 2024 had secured further study or employment by March 2025, with many commencing uni, apprenticeships, CIT, or joining the workforce.

In this
Section

Education + Care

Acknowledgement of Country

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop made the statement: “We are but travellers here, so while we are here we should do as much good as we can and live in peace with each other.”

With this in mind, the College respectfully acknowledges the Ngunnawal people who are the Traditional Custodians and First People of the land on which we gather each day. The College also pays its respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, and any other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples living and working in the MacKillop community.

MacKillop crest

St Mary MacKillop College Canberra
Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited

ABN 60 675 797 734

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© 2025 St Mary MacKillop College, Canberra. All rights reserved.

The College

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Phone: 02 6209 0100
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PO Box 1211
Tuggeranong ACT 2901