Achievements in recent years, particularly in the Higher School Certificate (Year 12) and School Certificate (Year 10), have attested to the school's success in academic areas.
The class of 2012 attained a range of very impressive results in the HSC. With a cohort of 135, students gained 198 distinguished mentions (Band 6s) for scoring 90 or more in a course. On these results, Willoughby Girls High School was placed 36th overall in the state and first comprehensive public high school in NSW. The top ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) was 99.85, second with 99.80 and 3rd with 99.35. 93% of students were offered university admission and around 46.5% of students gained an ATAR of 90 or above. Six students were placed on the all-round Excellence merit list for achieving a mark of 90 or more in ten units of study. Another four girls were honoured with a place in the list of Top Achievers in the state gaining with one student gaining 3rd place in Biology and 18th in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. Other top achievers gained 4th place in Chinese Background Speakers, 2nd in Accounting and 3rd in Society and Culture. Three girls were awarded High Distinctions and five girls gained Distinctions for their Society and Culture Personal Interest Projects, awarded by the NSW Society and Culture Association. Two girls had their work chosen for the annual ArtExpress exhibition. Courses with Band 6 results included Accounting, Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Chinese Background Speakers, Design and Technology, Drama, English Advanced, English Standard, English as a Second Language, English Extension 1, French Beginners, French Continuers, General Mathematics, History Extension, Japanese Beginners, Japanese Background Speakers, Japanese Extension, Legal Studies, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Modern History, Music Extension, Music 1, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Physics, Society and Culture, and Visual Arts.
In 2011 there were 143 students in Year 12 and 132 distinguished listings (Band 6s) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS 77th in the state, similar to 2010. Six girls were placed eight times in the state, with one student placed first in Information Processes & Technology, receiving a Certificate of Excellence from the ICT Educators of NSW. Five other students were placed 4th in Mathematics Extension 1, 5th in Japanese Beginners, 5th in Society & Culture (receiving a Certificate of High Distinction from the Society & Culture Association), 6th in Chinese Background Speakers, 8th in Mathematics Extension 2, 9th in General Mathematics and 9th in Business Services (TAFE). Three students achieved over 90 in all of their ten units. A student had her Textiles & Design major project selected for showcasing in the prestigious TexStyle which exhibits the best of HSC work. Around 30% of students gained an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 90 or more. The highest ATAR was 99.85. Courses with top bands included English Extension 2, English Advanced, English as a Second Language, Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics, Mathematics General, Accounting, Ancient History, Biology, Business Services, Business Studies, Chemistry, Chinese Background Speakers, Community & Family Studies, Design & Technology, French Beginners, History Extension, Information Processes & Technology, Italian Beginners, Japanese Beginners, Japanese Continuers, Legal Studies, Modern Greek, Modern Greek Extension, Modern History, Music Extension, Physics, Society & Culture, Textiles & Design and Visual Arts.
In 2010 there were 158 distinguished listings (Band 6s) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS the top comprehensive government girls' school in the state and the third comprehensive government school. Overall, WGHS was ranked 76th in the state. Courses with top bands included English Extension 2, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics, Mathematics General, Accounting, Ancient History, Biology, Business Services, Business Studies, Chinese Background Speakers, Economics, French Continuers, History Extension, Hospitality, Information Processes & Technology, Japanese Beginners, Japanese Extension, Legal Studies, Modern History, Music 1 and 2, Persian Background Speakers, Personal Development/Health/Physical Education, Physics, Society & Culture, Textiles & Design and Visual Arts. A student was placed equal first in the state in Society & Culture and achieved the top award from the Society & Culture Teachers Association. A Business Services student was placed 8th in the state. Six students achieved over 90 in all of their ten units. Around 30% of students gained an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 90 or more. The highest ATAR was 99.70.
In 2009 there were 106 listings (distinguished achievers or credits) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS in the top 100 schools in the state and amongst the top ten comprehensive government schools on the basis of Band 6 results. In Mathematics, 33 credits were attained and in English eight. Courses with credits included English Extension 2, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics, Mathematics General, Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Chinese Background Speakers, Design & Technology, Economics, Food Technology, French Beginners, Geography, Information Processes & Technology, Japanese Beginners, German Beginners, Legal Studies, Modern History, Music, PersonalDevelopment/Health/Physical Education, Physics, Society & Culture, Visual Arts, Korean Background Speakers and Accounting. A student was placed 9th in the state in Society & Culture and achieved the top award from the Society & Culture Teachers Association. Around 25% of students gained an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 90 or more. The highest ATAR was 98.30.
In 2008 there were 167 listings (distinguished achievers or credits) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS first in the state amongst comprehensive government schools and 56th in the state for all schools. Willoughby GHS was recognised in the state media for its high performance - "The clamour to enrol in successful public schools follows dramatic advances in academic achievement made by star performers from the government sector such as Willoughby Girls High". In Mathematics, 40 credits were attained and in English 24. Courses with credits included English Extension 2, English Extension 1, English Advanced, English Standard, English as a Second Language, Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics, Mathematics General, Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Chinese Background Speakers, Design & Technology, Drama, Economics, Food Technology, French Beginners, Geography, History Extension, Information Processes & Technology, Japanese Continuers, Japanese Extension, Legal Studies, Modern History, Music Extension, Personal Development/Health/Physical Education, Physics, Society & Culture, Textiles & Design, Visual Arts, Indonesian Background Speakers, Korean Background Speakers, Russian Background Speakers and Accounting. Nine students qualified for the prestigious top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units. Four students were placed in the state - a 13th in English Standard, a 6th in Food Technology, a 2nd in Textiles & Design and a 1st in Indonesian Background Speakers. Around 30% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or more. The highest UAI was 99.55.
In 2007 there were 93 listings (distinguished achievers) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS equal first in the state amongst comprehensive government schools and within the top 60 schools in NSW. Willoughby GHS was cited in the state media as a "star performer ... which beat high-fee independents (private schools)". In Mathematics, 20 credits were attained and in English 11. Courses with credits included Mathematics Extension 1, English Advanced, Legal Studies, Modern History, Society & Culture, Biology, Food Technology, Mathematics, Visual Arts, Japanese Continuers, Chemistry, English Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics, Textiles & Design, Ancient History, Mathematics General, History Extension, Personal Development/Health/Physical Education, Japanese Extension, Business Studies, Music 1, Hindi and Persian. Over 25% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or more. The highest UAI was 99.5. One student qualified for the prestigious top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units.
In 2006 there were 91 listings (or credits) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS 4th amongst comprehensive government schools and within the top 100 schools in NSW (73rd ). Willoughby GHS was cited in the state media as a local government school “where students get stunning results”. In English and Mathematics, including the extension courses, 15 credits were attained for each subject area, totalling 30. Other courses with credits included Visual Arts, Business Studies, Economics, Legal Studies, Modern History, History Extension, Music, Chemistry, Biology, Ancient History, Chinese for background speakers, Hospitality, French beginners, Food Technology, Physics, Design & Technology, Geography, Information Processes & Technology, Personal Development/Health/PE, Society & Culture, Textiles & Design and Japanese continuers and beginners. Close to 25% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or more. The highest UAI was 99.8. One student made the elite top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units.
In 2005 there were 82 listings of 90 or more in a course, 13 for English and 24 for Mathematics. Courses where students scored 90 or more included Society & Culture, French Beginners, English Advanced, Visual Arts, Russian Background Speakers, General Mathematics, Mathematics, Music 1, Legal Studies, Modern History, Biology, Food Technology, Business Studies, Economics, Chinese Background Speakers, Textiles & Design, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics, Chemistry, Japanese Background Speakers and Japanese Continuers. Three students gained 90 or more in each of the courses they studied, earning them and the school a place in the prestigious Top All-Rounders List. A student was placed third in the state in Russian Background Speakers. The top UAI was 99.75 with approximately 23% of students receiving a UAI of 90 or above. WGHS was ranked in the top five comprehensive government schools in NSW by The Sydney Morning Herald.
In 2004 there were 70 listings of 90 or more being scored across courses, including English and English extensions, Mathematics and Mathematics extensions, Legal Studies, Modern History, Music, Chemistry, Biology, Ancient History, Chinese for background speakers, Earth & Environmental Science, Business Services, Hospitality, French continuers and beginners, Food Technology, Drama, Business Studies, Visual Arts, Economics, Physics and Japanese continuers and extension. Two students were placed in the state with a fourth in Hospitality and a third in Business Services. WGHS was placed in the Sydney Morning Herald's top schools list. The highest UAI was 99.5. Two students made the elite top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units.
In 2003 there were 51 listings where students scored 90 or more in a course. Biology, Mathematics (including extension courses), English (including extension courses), Japanese continuers, Japanese extension, Ancient History, Visual Arts, Music, Design and Technology, Modern History, Earth & Environmental Science, Physics, Software Design & Development, Textiles & Design and Chinese for background speakers. The top UAI was 98.30, with about 20% of students gaining a UAI of 90 or more.
In 2002 a total of 39 listings appeared on the Board of Studies Distinguished Achievers' List, encompassing Mathematics (including Extension courses), English, Drama, Visual Arts, Ancient History, Business Studies, PDHPE, Modern History, Physics, French beginners and Textiles & Design. Of the 35 courses studies, 23 had averages above the state. About 25% of students achieved a UAI of 90 or more.
In 2001 a total of 32 listings occurred in the Board of Studies Distinguished Achievers’ List, acknowledging the twenty students who achieved 90 or more in an HSC course. Courses included Music, Business Studies, Advanced English, English Extension, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension I and 2, Mathematics General, Ancient History, History Extension, Visual Arts, Drama and Japanese Beginners. These listings represented almost 40% of the year group. Willoughby GHS was placed in The Daily Telegraph’s Top Schools List. Over 20% of students attained a UAI of 90 or more. The top UAI was 98.4.
In 2000 fifteen girls were listed in the Board of Studies Merit List for scoring 90% or more in their courses of Mathematics, English, Japanese Z, Biology, Design & Technology, Chemistry and Business Studies. Three girls were placed third, fourth and seventh in the state in Japanese Z and Design & Technology. On a Sydney Morning Herald analysis Willoughby GHS was listed in the top 60 schools in the state on the basis of high results in eight key subjects. Approximately 20% of the year group received a University Admission Index of 90 or more. The top UAI was 98.7.
In 1999 a Willoughby GHS student topped the state in 2 Unit French Z and another came eleventh in 2 Unit Computing Studies (General). In addition, nineteen students were listed in the Board of Studies Merit List in 2 Unit Related English, 3 and 4 Unit Mathematics, Mathematics in Society, Biology and General Studies. Twenty students achieved a UAI of 90 or more. The top UAI was 99.15.
In 1998 WGHS was ranked in the top 13 schools, including selective and private, on the basis of having two or more students who scored over 90 for each of their eleven units. Over 30% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or over and there were 23 listings in the Merit List of students who scored over 90% in their courses, including five in English and six in Mathematics. Students were placed in the first ten in the State in Physics (3rd), Japanese Z (8th), 2/3 unit Visual Arts (9th) and General English (10th). The top UAIs were 99.95.