Tomaree High School, the Port's largest public school with 140 HSC students in 2013, continued its "very solid" academic performance this year.

Principal Peter Partridge said that overall he was "very happy", despite students not achieving as many band-six results (marks between 90 and 100) as last year.

Elizabeth Haynes, 17, achieved the school's highest Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) this year of 90.6.

"I got quite emotional when I saw it," Miss Haynes said.

"I don't think I've really accepted it yet."

Corlette's Cassie Brigden, 17, of Newcastle Grammar School, achieved an ATAR of 99.05, all but confirming her acceptance to the University of Sydney.

St Philip's Christian College deputy principal Simon Herd was also happy with the results of the school's small group of year 12 students, saying the marks of the 27 students are "very promising".

St Philip's student Gemma Smith was still waiting for her HSC marks on Friday.

The 17-year-old from Corlette, who has Asperger's syndrome, hoped to achieve an ATAR of about 60, which would give her a place at the University of Newcastle, but she is not stressing about it.

"If I don't get into uni, I'll have something to do," she said.

Irrawang High School had 80 students in year 12, and more than half sat for an ATAR, a "significant increase", principal Col Elliott said.

Hunter River High School students also performed well in the HSC. It offers a range of practical subjects.

Principal Graham Eather said about a quarter of the 63 year 12 students sat for an ATAR, but 100 per cent received a HSC mark which would enable them to enter university.