The 8 Aberdeen high schools among Scotland’s top performers
These Aberdeen secondary schools have maintained consistently high levels of student achievement.
Each of these schools in Aberdeen city has been measured on the percentage of pupils who received the Scottish Government’s educational “gold standard” of five Highers, or their equivalent, in 2025 – based on data published by the Scottish Government on its own website.
These Higher result tables do not reflect schools or rank them in terms of ‘best to worst’ as that would fail to take into account factors such as the support offered to children with complex needs, the effort and quality of the teaching staff, working conditions for said staff, quality of the student experience, the funding the school receives from Aberdeen City Council, or whether or not the school is serving an underprivileged and disadvantaged area within the local authority.
Here are the eight Aberdeen high schools among Scotland's top performers in 2026 based on the latest available data.
Oldmachar Academy
Oldmachar Academy tops the list in Aberdeen with 74% of pupils achieving at least five or more Highers. They rank as the tenth best performing secondary school in Scotland.
Google MapsAberdeen Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School is the second best performing school in Aberdeen and has a success rate of 72% of pupils gaining five or more Higher qualifications. Aberdeen Grammar School was the 14th best performing high school in Scotland.
Aberdeen Grammar SchoolCults Academy
Cults Academy is the third best performing high school in the city with 71% of pupils leaving school with five or more Highers. The school is ranked as Scotland's 16th best performing high school.
Cults AcademyHazlehead Academy
Hazlehead Academy is the fourth highest ranked school in Aberdeen with 40% of pupils achieving at least five Higher qualifications. They rank 136th in Scotland.
Google MapsHarlaw Academy
Harlaw Academy saw 39% of their pupils achieve at least five Higher qualifications. It ranks fifth in Aberdeen and 145th in Scotland.
Google MapsBucksburn Academy
Bucksburn Academy is the sixth best performing high school in Aberdeen as 38% of pupils gained at leave five Highers or more in 2025. Overall, Bucksburn Academy ranks as the 156th best performing school in the country.
Google MapsBridge of Don Academy
Bridge of Don Academy is the seventh best performing school in Aberdeen as 38% of pupils gained at leave five Highers or more in 2025. Overall, Bridge of Don Academy ranks as the 174th best performing school in the country.
Google MapsDyce Academy
Dyce Academy saw 33% of their pupils achieve at least five or more Highers. They are the eighth best performing school in the city and ranked 207th in Scotland.
Dyce Academy