These are the best performing state high schools in North Lanarkshire, according to the latest data available just released by the Scottish Government.
Each school 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.
The top performing school in North Lanarkshire this year in terms of academic attainment was Dalziel High School in Motherwell - which was ranked as the 28th best performing high school in Scotland. Our Lady's High School in Cumbernauld and St Maurice's High School in Cumbernauld were the other two high schools in North Lanarkshire that ranked within the top 50 best performing schools in the country.
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 North Lanarkshire Council, or whether or not the school is serving an underprivileged and disadvantaged area within the local authority.
Throughout our coverage, we use ‘Highers’ as a term to mean both Highers and equivalent qualifications at SCQF level 6 and above, such as Skills for Work Higher awards.
5. St Ambrose High School
St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge saw 50% of their pupils achieve at least five Higher qualifications. It ranks fifth in North Lanarkshire and joint 67th in Scotland. | Supplied
6. Chryston High School
Chryston High School is the sixth best performing high school in North Lanarkshire as 47% of pupils gained at leave five Highers or more in 2025. Overall, Chryston High School ranks as the 85th best performing school in the country. | Chryston High School
7. St Margaret’s High School
St Margaret’s High School in Airdrie is the seventh best performing school in North Lanarkshire as 47% of pupils gained at leave five Highers or more in 2025. Overall, St Margaret’s High School ranks as the 85th best performing school in the country . | Google Maps
8. St Aidan’s High School
St Aidan's High School in Wishaw saw 45% of their pupils achieve five or more Higher qualifications in 2025. They ranked eighth in North Lanarkshire and 99th in Scotland. | St Aidan’s High School