LOCAL students shined after enduring a nail-biting wait for HSC results released today, with the New England boasting some of the top students in the state. 

Among the honoured were Armidale High School student Domenico Favotto, who was the top-placed student for the subject Information and Digital Technology, which he studied through TAFE's Tamworth campus. 

Oxley High student Kate Falkenmire was "thrilled" to be woken up to good news at 6am this morning - she had received the top band for five of her subjects, scoring an impressive 99 in Advanced Mathematics. 

"I'm glad I did so well in it, because it's normally dominated by boys," Ms Falkenmire said. 

She was the only female student in her Extension 1 Maths class, and one of only a handful in Advanced Mathematics. 

An avid debater, she has her sights set on studying law at Newcastle next year, and said she was thankful for the dedication of teachers at Oxley High and Tamworth Public schools. 

Ms Falkenmire was placed on the Top Achiever's List, ranking students who scored the highest places in the state. 

Erin Bourke from Duval High School also made the list for her stand-out performance in Biology and was included on the prestigious All Round Achievers list for students who gained top band results (above 90 per cent) in 10 or more units of study.

"I was pretty amazed actually, I'm still trying to take it all in," Ms Bourke said. 

"I had a lot of support from family, friends and teachers, who gave up time before and after school.

"I really enjoy biology, I just love learning how life works and how diseases work."

She hopes tomorrow will see her score an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking) that will secure her a place studying pharmacy or medicine at UNE.

"I want to help out the communities that are struggling. Sometimes access to doctors can be difficult in remote areas - there are shortages which impact on those communities."

TAS student Sam Johnston was in awe when he saw his results, continually refreshing the page to check it was right. 

He was listed on the All Round Achievers List after scoring more than 90 per cent for seven of his subjects. 

NEGS student Isabella Gullifer-Laurie, from Walcha, scored top band for five of her subjects, with a 99 in Visual Art and her art being selected for ARTEXPRESS, showcasing the best pieces from this year's HSC students. 

NEGS school captain Emily Rogers also scored the top band for four of her subjects.