CITY education chiefs today hailed new figures on exam results as proof of a strong performance in Capital schools.
Edinburgh pupils did better in their Standard Grades than pupils in Scotland's other three major cities.
And the Capital came out above the national average in most of the Highers results.
Nine out of ten pupils in Edinburgh gained Standard G
rades at foundation level or better in both English and Maths by the end of S4, in line with the national average.
Today's statistics showed 89 per cent of Edinburgh's S4 pupils gaining five or more Standard Grades at foundation level or better; 75 per cent gaining five or more at general level; and 33 per cent gaining five or more at credit level.
Glasgow's equivalent scores were 86 per cent at foundation level, 66 per cent at general level and 22 per cent at credit level.
The figures also showed 38 per cent of S5 pupils in Edinburgh gaining at least one Higher - the same as the national average - and 23 per cent gaining three or more, one per cent above the Scottish average.
Edinburgh's S6 pupils also scored above the national average, with 32 per cent gaining three or more Highers, compared with 29 per cent nationally, and 22 per cent gaining five or more, compared to 19 per cent nationally.
The number of S6 pupils gaining one or more Advanced Higher was also higher in the Capital - 15 per cent compared with the Scottish average of 12 per cent.
Education convener Councillor Marilyne MacLaren said: "I would like to congratulate all of the young people in Edinburgh for their individual achievements which make up the exam statistics which were published today.
"I am delighted that Edinburgh is continuing to improve as an authority in many areas of certificated performance.
"In almost every measure used to collate the results of pupils, Edinburgh's performance is better than the three other major cities in Scotland, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee."
And she said the education authority was also "extremely optimistic" about future performance because of the greater number of pupils taking their Standard Grades in third year.
She said: "This gives pupils more preparation time for Highers, which we are hopeful will improve further future performance. We are above the national average for presenting pupils in third year for Standard Grades in six subject areas including English and Maths."
The Scottish Government said today's statistics showed across the country overall attainment in Scottish schools in 2006/07 was broadly similar to the levels attained in previous years.
A higher proportion of girls than boys achieved awards at all levels, but in S5 and S6 this was partly due to a higher staying on rates among girls.
The statistics revealed huge variations in school exam results in different parts of Scotland, with the biggest contrast between the neighbouring local authorities of East Renfrewshire, which came top of the table on several counts, and Glasgow, which often came bottom.
The results are available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/24105321/0
The full article contains 518 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
