New data reveals Australia’s high-achieving Naplan schools for this year

Carlingford West was identified as one of 20 schools in NSW that overachieved across all areas of Naplan compared with schools of similar socioeconomic backgrounds and the same starting scores in previous tests. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

When Ziyan Lin arrived at Carlingford West public school to start year 5 this year, her school wasn’t the only thing that was new. She and her family had just migrated from China, and she barely spoke English.

Lin, 10, was thrust into one of the largest primary schools in New South Wales, one of 1,636 students on campus from foundation to year 6. But she would quickly find she wasn’t alone. Ninety-six per cent of students at Carlingford West have a language background other than English, speaking 44 different languages.