New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released today shows the number of students finishing high school increased for the second year in a row after almost a decade of decline.
Approximately 12,000 more students finished school in 2025 than 2024.
The number of students finishing high school had been going backwards for six years, dropping from 84.8 per cent in 2017 to 79.1 per cent in 2023.
This is now turning around.
In 2025, 81.3 per cent of students finished high school.
The number of students finishing high school is up in public schools, catholic schools and independent schools. It is up for boys and girls.
It is more important than ever that more people finish high school.
9 out of 10 new jobs will require a university degree or a TAFE qualification.
The Universities Accord says that by 2050, 80 per cent of people will need a university degree or TAFE qualification.
The Albanese Labor Government has signed Agreements with every state and territory to put all public schools in the country on a path to full and fair funding.
The Agreements are tied to real and practical reforms to increase the number of people finishing high school.
It represents an extra $16.5 billion in Commonwealth funding to public schools over the next 10 years, and another $49 billion in the decade after that.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"When we were elected, the number of kids finishing high school had been going in the wrong direction for close to a decade.
"Now it's turning around.
"This is good news and it's happening across the board.
"Public schools, catholic schools and independent schools are all going up.
"The number of boys and girls finishing high school are both going up.
"This is good news, but it's just the start. There's more work to do.
"That's what the agreements we've signed with every state and territory are all about - fixing the funding of our schools and implementing reforms to increase the number of kids finishing high school."
