Sixteen WA students achieve highest possible ATAR score

For Isabel Longbottom, the wait between finishing her Year 12 exams and the release of her results on Monday was the worst part of her last year at high school.

Unaware that the results had come out seven hours before, the 17-year-old waited until midnight to find out she had achieved 99.95 — the highest possible score.

“I said, ‘OK then’, and went to sleep ... it was very late,” Isabel said. “I’m really glad it’s over because waiting was horrible — it was the worst part.”

Isabel, who went to Rossmoyne Senior High School, was one of nine public school students — out of 16 in total — to earn the top rank of 99.95.

It is a record number of students from public schools.

Of the nine, six students came from Perth Modern School and one each from Rossmoyne and Applecross senior high schools and Woodvale Secondary College.

Perth Modern’s Jonathan Darmago, 17, said he was in the car with his father and sister when he found out.

Woodvale’s Jacob Nock, 18, said he celebrated with a beer after finding out his score at athletics training.

While Isabel is looking to do a Bachelor of philosophy at the Australian National University in Canberra, both Jonathon and Jacob said they were looking to do medicine at UWA.

Education Department director-general Sharyn O’Neill said the results were an incredible achievement.

“Past students who have achieved a perfect score have gone on to forge exceptional careers and have made significant contributions to society so I’ll watch the future of these students with interest,” she said.

WA STUDENTS WITH 99.95:

Isabel Longbottom Rossmoyne SHS

Zhong Xien Yeoh Perth Modern

Oliver Pulsford Perth Modern

Kenta Yokote Applecross SHS

Yi Si Wong Perth Modern

Arun Jha PerthModern

Shintaro Umeki Perth Modern

Jacob NockWoodvale Secondary College

Jonathan DarmagoPerth Modern