University High School, Melbourne
The University High School (abbreviated as UHS or Uni High) is a government-funded co-educational secondary day school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville, Victoria, Australia. As of 2022, 1,708 students attended the school.[2] In 2023, it was ranked 67th in Victoria[3] (or 13th in Victorian public schools) by percentage of VCE study scores of 40 or above.[4]
History[edit]
In 1910, the "University Practising School" was opened in a former primary school on the corner of Lygon and Lytton Streets, Carlton. In 1913, it changed its name to "The University High School" after the closure of the older private school. Since 1930, the school has occupied a site in Story Street, Parkville, adjacent to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and in close proximity to the Royal Children's Hospital, newly built Royal Women's Hospital, the University of Melbourne and the Central Business District.
During World War II, the United States Army set up a camp on the school oval. Additionally, 240 extra students from MacRobertson Girls High School transported to UHS for schooling as their buildings were also seized by the military.
The school has been a pioneer in the education of gifted and talented students in Australia. Its acceleration program for gifted students, which began in 1981, is the longest running and most stable program of its kind in Australia.[5]
An A$8 million upgrade of the school facilities was completed in 1997. The school experienced major disruption and change during the previous years through dislocation of classes and staff. The completion of the works has given the school modern facilities with appropriate specialist rooms.
During the 2020/21 school holidays, an electrical fire consumed much of the south building, destroying the second (600s) and third (700s) floors of the building as well as damaging the first (Library, 500s) and fourth (VCE Center) floors. Another fire also occurred in the Elizabeth Blackburn Science School building in March 2022.[2] The VCE Center, 600s rooms and the library reopened at the beginning of the last quarter of the year with a new refurbished design whilst the second floor (700s) reopened at the end of 2023.
Academics[edit]
VCE studies offered by the school:
Accounting, Algorithmics (HESS) (2022), Australian and Global Politics, Australian Politics, Biology, Business Management, Chemistry, Economics, English, English (EAL), English Language Extended Investigation, French, Further Mathematics, General Mathematics, German, Global Politics, Health and Human Development, History: 20th Century (1900–1945), History: 20th Century (since 1945), History: Revolutions, Information Technology, Latin, Legal Studies, Literature, Mathematical Methods (CAS), Media, Music Performance, Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Product Design and Technology, Psychology, Specialist Mathematics, Studio Arts and Visual Communication Design.[6]
The University High School was ranked in the top 200 public secondary schools in Australia based on academic results in 2009.[7]
In 2014, 17 students scored an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank above 99 and 130 students, or 61 per cent of the year, scored above 80.[8]
University High School was ranked number 70 out of all state secondary schools in Victoria based on VCE results in 2021.[9]
The school has four different houses also known as sub-schools. They each have their own distinct colour and are named after the school's alumni. They are:[10]