Warrnambool teenager Pippa Gan is preparing for a year in China after receiving what is believed to be the region’s highest ATAR.

Miss Gan, who completed her VCE at Hamilton and Alexandra College, scored 99.15.

She is eyeing a career in medicine or architecture.

“It was exciting to open up the ATAR,” she said.

Miss Gan, 18, will fly to Beijing in February after she received a scholarship to study Mandarin for a year.

The school’s swimming captain Claire Dempsey also scored highly with 98.65.

Eight students at the school achieved ATAR scores of 95 or above and more than 20 per cent scored above 90.

In Warrnambool, Emmanuel College student Alexandra Klem said she was thrilled with her score of 96.  

“I was so excited and happy,” she said. 

She got up just before 7am and huddled around a computer with her mum, dad and younger sister to check her score.

Five per cent of Emmanuel College students gained an ATAR above 90 and 46 students received study scores above 40 placing them in the top nine per cent in the state. 

Amazingly three year 10 students received study scores above 40 including Sarasa Deguchi with a perfect study score of 50 for Japanese.

Another 13 year 11 students gained study scores above 40.

Meanwhile, principal Darren Egberts is proud of the year 12 cohort at Mercy Regional College at Camperdown. 

He said the group had overcome adversity with bush fires in March and some teachers experiencing significant illnesses during the year.

He said it was fantastic the students had dedicated themselves to their studies despite those challenges.

Ripley Watt was the dux and she achieved a score of 95.3.

King’s College Warrnambool had 13 per cent of its students achieve ATAR scores of 90 or above and Katherine Doherty was dux with 90.65. 

Principal Allister Rouse said the school was thrilled with the results.

“It is encouraging to see that most of our students have achieved ATAR scores to gain entry to their desired course of study for next year," he said.

Monivae College Hamilton Principal Mark McGinnity is proud of the class of 2018 and also the year 11 accelerants at his school.

“Special mention to the dux, Andrew Fry (97.9), who as a weekly boarder worked consistently throughout the year to achieve this impressive ATAR,” he said.

“Our 40 plus scores were achieved across a wide range of subjects and particularly pleasing was the performance of our year 11 accelerants a number of whom already have 40 plus scores to work with next year.”

Warrnambool College’s Kelsey Ratcliffe is “over the moon” about getting dux at her school with a score of 97.95.

She received a perfect score in her outdoor education class this year. 

Principal Dave Clift said he was proud of all students who completed the VCE, the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) or took alternative pathways.

Over at Cobden Technical School dux Amy Veenstra has managed to successfully juggle the school captaincy with her studies to achieve her score.

She said being school captain was hard at times but she learned to prioritise and looks forward to studying beauty therapy in Geelong next year.

Cobden Technical School Principal Rohan Keert said the school placed equal emphasis on VCE, VCAL and Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways.

“A number of our graduating students have already successfully gained apprenticeships for 2019, the first step to future careers in hospitality, electrotechnology, automotive and building,” he said.

Mortlake College’s small cohort of 10 year 12 students all successfully completed their VCE studies and dux Kismet McCarroll achieved a score of 83.1.

Portland Secondary College is celebrating its students results in VCE and VCAL with Zarly Smith dux for 2018. 

Camperdown College is proud of dux Lauren McIlveen who combined her year 12 studies with a busy year of school and community service.

She was school captain and Corangamite Shire Youth Mayor while pursuing her future goal of a career in animal science. 

Timboon P-12 School principal Shelby Papadopoulos said the school announced its dux at a school assembly this afternoon.

“Timboon P-12 School is proud of all of its graduating Year 12 students. We congratulate all students and proudly announce our dux is Lachlan Rundel,” she said.