While the students were either celebrating or commiserating, St John's College, the School of Distance Education and Dubbo College Senior Campus were all full of praise, not only for those who scored high marks, but also for the students who topped their personal bests.

A total of 882 students at Dubbo schools sat 2014 HSC examinations as well as 76, 679 statewide.

Of the 137 students at St John's who took their HSC, principal Kerry Morris said the school was awarded a record 91 band 6s.

"Last year we only got 39, the year before we got 55. I've been there since the mid-80s and this is the best I've seen," she said.

Dubbo School of Distance Education acting principal Debbie Murray was also pleased with the results that crossed her desk.

Ms Murray said more than half of the school's enrolled students were awarded a band 4 or higher.

For Dubbo College Senior Campus principal Andrew Jones, the bigger focus was on the students who had exceeded expectations, regardless of the numerical figure.

Ms Morris said a number of new study programs, such as making the students spend a day studying without technology, led to the students achieving the results she always knew they could.

"We always expected they would be high achievers. We knew they were good. We've been following these kids since their Year 7 NAPLAN results.

Bella Gooch and Edwina Keen both scored above 90 in all of their exams and Ms Morris said an additional four other missed out by one mark.

Ms Morris said the results were spread throughout the subjects, which showed the faculty were all performing at a high standard.

Dubbo School of Distance Education acting principal Debbie Murray said it was the Vocational Education and Training subjects that saw the biggest improvements.

Seventy students enrolled in full time year 12 study with the Dubbo School of Distance Education and a further 428 students across the state completed one more more courses through the facility.

"In distance education we had 345 exams in 47 subjects. 17 students received band 6 and 48 received band 5," Ms Murray said.

"[The results] are what we expected. We've had more than half of our students achieve band 4 or higher. Some of them do it under pretty difficult circumstances with us."

Two of the school's students made it into the Top Achievers List.

Christopher Syme from Bellrose in Sydney had the second highest mark in the state for entertainment industry, while Regan Layton from Orange was ranked third in metal and engineering.

Dubbo College Senior Campus principal Andrew Jones said he was impressed by the students who did better in the test than they were expecting.

"When we sit back and look at [the results] so many kids here actually achieved more than we could have believed.

The college had 47 Aboriginal students graduate this year, 22 of which Mr Jones said completed an "ATAR-style" HSC.

Mr Jones said for many of the Indigenous students, they're the first generation in their family to complete their schooling.

There were 15 year 12 students at Macquarie Anglican Grammar School who completed there HSC and 40 students at Dubbo Christian School.

Both schools were contacted but were unable to comment.