The latest national academic performance figures have revealed “signs of improvement across the country”.

NAPLAN results were released this week, showing the latest financial and academic information about more than 10,000 schools across the nation, all compiled on the Federal Government's My School website.

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) chief executive Robert Randall said there have been widespread gains.

“There are signs of improvement across the country,” he said.

“The important thing is that there are schools across the country who are achieving this.

“It's across the school sectors.”

ACARA identified 79 schools that improved at an above-average rate for a second year in a row.

Sydney’s Canley Vale High School is one of those 79 schools, and its principal Peter Rouse says specialist literacy groups have been key to the success of his 1,440 students.

“When you're looking at a school that has a 95 per cent non-English speaking background, then obviously literacy is something that we have to focus on,” Mr Rouse told the ABC.

The school makes its Years 7 and 9 students take additional classes to boost literacy.

“It really was a no-brainer for us,” he said.

Teachers at the school say their students’ marks have improved simply because they are better able to communicate what they think and know.

But while many parents will be thrilled to see their schools climbing up the rankings on the MySchool website, the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA) says there is more to it.

“My School offers parents some insight into school performance on NAPLAN tests up to Year 9, but there are a host of parental concerns that the site does not address, and was not designed to address,” AHISA chair Karen Spiller said in a statement.

“I strongly encourage parents to visit a school ... rather than rely solely on the single dimension of NAPLAN results.”