Education is about more than an ATAR

The AJN this week features the VCE/ HSC results of Australia’s Jewish schools. Across the community, schools are rightly proud. Parents compare medians, count perfect scores and celebrate outstanding achievements. The scrutiny and the pride well earned.

Year 12 results matter. Parents are right to expect academic excellence, and it is our responsibility as schools to deliver it. One reason Australia’s Jewish schools consistently attract such a high percentage of the community’s children is because families do not have to choose between a Jewish education and a strong general studies education. Here, Jewish schools sit among the top schools in Australia. Parents can have both.

However, judging our schools by year 12 results alone misses the essence of what a Jewish education is meant to achieve.

If all we care about are ATARs, we could all send our children to Ballarat Clarendon College in Victoria or James Ruse Agricultural High School in NSW.

There are other metrics that matter just as much, if not more. Metrics that actually speak to our purpose, our mission of contributing to Jewish continuity. The question is not only how well our students perform academically at 18, but who they become as Jewish adults.