Hundreds of high-performing secondary school graduates have today been recognised for their achievements, with Minister for School Education Peter Garrett announcing the Australian Student Prize recipients for the 2011 school year.

Mr Garrett congratulated the 500 students from across Australia who received the highly regarded award for academic excellence.

"The Australian Student Prize is about giving national recognition to the best and brightest young minds in the country," Mr Garrett said.

"I'm delighted to congratulate the recipients of the Australian Student Prize for their achievements in their secondary school years, and to wish them well for their futures."

The 2011 prize was awarded to 11 students from the Australian Capital Territory, 152 from New South Wales, five from the Northern Territory, 111 from Queensland, 36 from South Australia, 14 from Tasmania, 120 from Victoria and 51 from Western Australia. The students are nominated by state or territory certification and assessment authorities.

Prize winners also include the 2011 Australian Mathematics and Science Olympiad teams, who won medals in Mathematics, Informatics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, as well as 2011 International Baccalaureate Diploma Graduates, who achieve the maximum score of 45.

Each winner receives a certificate for excellence in secondary education and an award of $2000 from the Gillard Government.

"The recipients of the Australian Student Prize have no doubt worked very hard throughout their secondary school years, and they are to be commended for these efforts," Mr Garrett said.

"A special acknowledgement must also go to the parents, carers and teachers who have supported the students as they have progressed through school."

The Australian Student Prize has been received by 500 young Australians every year since 1991. It is awarded to the highest achieving students in Year 12 in each State and Territory, as well as the highest achieving students in the International Baccalaureate.