Canberra: The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has welcomed the release of a new set of nationally consistent, school-level data, saying it strengthens transparency and supports families in making informed choices about their children’s education.
The data, published today by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), includes detailed information on NAPLAN performance, vocational education and training (VET) engagement, school attendance, and enrolment trends across the country.
NCEC executive director Jacinta Collins said the release empowers parents and carers to select schools that align with their values and expectations.
“Parents and carers choose education based on their values and aspirations,” Ms Collins explained.
“Making available the profile and performance data of our 1,751 Catholic schools gives families the clarity they need. Transparency is essential for a system built on informed choice.”
ACARA’s analysis highlighted numerous Catholic schools nationwide as institutions “making a difference,” particularly in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, and New South Wales. These schools were recognised for outperforming expectations, improving student progress, and delivering strong outcomes across multiple indicators.
While celebrating the acknowledgement, Ms Collins emphasized that Catholic education extends far beyond test scores and statistical benchmarks.
“In addition to academic growth, which can be seen through progress data, our Catholic schools nurture spiritual, emotional, and social development in an environment that prioritises safety and wellbeing,” she said.
“It is this holistic approach combined with a strong culture of ongoing improvement that enables Catholic schools to truly make a difference.”
The 2025 data set includes refreshed information on student progress, a metric the NCEC views as fundamental to understanding educational impact. “Regardless of a student’s starting point, education is about growth,” Ms Collins noted. “It is important that schools draw on multiple sets of data to guide high-quality teaching and learning. NAPLAN provides valuable insights that help educators tailor support to individual students.”
She acknowledged that no single metric can capture the full picture of schooling, but affirmed that growth data provides a strong foundation for ongoing improvement. “While not everything can be measured, and no measure is perfect, progress data helps spark meaningful conversations about how to improve outcomes for all students,” she said.
The NCEC continues to invest heavily in initiatives that strengthen Catholic education nationwide, including curriculum development, advanced assessment tools, teacher professional learning in data literacy, and enhanced community engagement all within a faith-centered environment striving for academic excellence.
With Catholic schools once again recognized among Australia’s most effective, the Commission says the latest data reinforces the significant role they play in shaping well-rounded, resilient, and high-achieving young people.