The average ATAR this year is 69.75 with 46 students receiving the top ATAR score of 99.95.

The 2019 graduating students:

MacKillop College:

MacKillop student Cory Baker who received a score of 98 in legal studies, the 12th highest in the state said he was hoping to start a career in the legal system.

"Legal studies was the subject I was most interested in so I didn't mind putting the hours in. I loved everything about legal, even just studying the legislation which was quite interesting," he said.

MacKillop College's highest ATARs for 2019 were:

Theo Last (99.25), Corey Baker (97.8), Ellie Townsend (97.4), Lachlan Johns (97), Tara Dingle (95.7), James Robertson (95.45), Mitch Evans (95), Alyssa Geoghean (93.95) Hannah Jordan (93.9), Max Milligan (93.7), Kyden Power O'Toole (93.2), Aimee Treadwell (92.4), Annika Toohey (91.1), Georgia Marino (90.5) and Ellie Richards (90.2).

Hastings Secondary College:

School leadership team vice-captain and University of New England Vice-Chancellor scholarship winner Charlotte Salt said she had immensely enjoyed the school year.

Charlotte is the first graduate in at least six years from the school to be admitted into a a Bachelor of Zoology at UNE.

"I think it's pretty cool to be going into zoology. It's not a common career path these days," she said.

Fellow student and jazz musician Braden Clarke received band six results in timber and music.

The accomplished trumpet player has applied for an audition with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has an offer already waiting with Macquarie University for a Bachelor of Music.

Hastings Secondary College student Matthew Covertz received much of the praise as he enjoyed an exceptional ATAR of 97.65.

St Joseph's Regional College:

School captain Lucy Westcott received several band six results and a ATAR of 93.7.

"I really enjoyed being a school captain this year, talking about issues and organising school fundraisers," she said.

"I'm having a gap year next to work at the gym, before traveling around Europe and Norway to visit friends and family. I'm planning on going to university the following year to study teaching or audiology."

Fellow student Lauren Jones, who earned an ATAR of 92.75, plans on attending the University of New South Wales to study medicine.

"I'm really interested in becoming a pediatrician because I love working with kids. I have a younger cousin with autism and I know how much impact therapies have had on him, I'd love to be able to help with that.

Olivia Coram scored an ATAR of 93.25 while Tessa Connors earned an exceptional 90.85.

St Columba Anglican School:

School captains Abby-Rose Koch and Chris Palin both achieved exceptional results with numerous band six scores across their subjects.

Mr Palin delivered a score of 97 in drama while Ms Koch matched a mark of 97 in legal studies.

"I think we all surprised ourselves, we all did a lot better than we anticipated and that was very rewarding," said Chris.

"I think you can definitely notice that you do better in the subjects you are individually passionate about," said Abby-Rose.

The school also celebrated the achievements of 2019 graduate Daniel Hart who received First in Course for Construction.

"Daniel was first in the state and is a very intelligent man. He put a lot of time and effort into construction all year," said design, art and technology coordinator Justin Munro.

Congratulations to all Port Macquarie HSC graduates!

Photo below : Students Isaac Post, Jacqui Palmer, Billy McIntyre and Cory Baker with legal studies teacher Nicole Bailey, MacKillop College.