[SmRandmAzn]

Those students who got 99.95 at those private schools are most likely on full scholarships to their private schools anyway...

Private schools perform better than government schools. This is undeniable. The only thing that can be argued are the reasons for this

-> Going to a private school does not necessarily mean you are of the "upper class". With the price of private schools it is possible for more average families who want their children to perform well to pay the fees and to sacrifice financially for this. Children from these families probably care more about study, or the parents wouldn't bother wasting money on a kid that can't be stuffed. These kids get higher in the VCE than someone from an average government school who couldn't care less about study.

-> These kids with families that care about academics get sent to these private schools. When you are surrounded by smarter kids, your potential increases enormously.

This is my theory anyway. I haven't actually gone to a private school, but I've been to two very, very different levels of government school. At my first school everything was pretty relaxed, and the dux got around 97 or so. At my second school a bit under a fifth of the school get above 99, and the average is about 95. When you are surrounded by high performing students, you will naturally be at an advantage than being smart by yourself. When I was at the first school, I was one of the top students, but now I'm just the middle of the pack. But I would rather be in the middle of this pack, because I can at least see those above me, and learn from them.