Almost 95 per cent of pupils leaving schools in South Lanarkshire last year went onto 'positive destinations'.
In total 3174 pupils left school, with the majority (94.8 per cent) either going into employment, training or higher and further education.
Last year saw a reduction of 0.9 per cent in the number of pupils going onto positive destinations, but the region was still above the national average and the fifth best in Scotland.
Councillors this week heard how COVID could have impacted in some of the areas, with a drop in the number of youngsters going on to positive destinations.
Head of senior phase education, Stewart Nicolson, told them: "That is down from 95.7 per cent the year previous.
"While that is not what we want to see, I would note the national figure fell by 1.7 per cent.
"This is the sixth consecutive year we have met our target of being beyond the national average.
"This year we were joint fifth out of 32 local authorities which is an improvement on the 10th place last year."
High schools in Rutherglen and Cambuslang saw the highest percentage of pupils move into positive destinations at 96.8 per cent in 2019/20 - the same as 2018-19.
East Kilbride and Avondale was the only area where more pupils went onto positive destinations last year (96.4 per cent) than the previous year (96.1 per cent).
Clydesdale saw a drop of 0.2 per cent to 95.3 per cent last year while the Hamilton area saw the largest reduction with positive destination rates falling to 92.5 per cent - down by 2.7 per cent.
Mr Nicolson added: "I do note the drop in the Hamilton, Blantyre and Uddingston area does stand out.
"There is no obvious single factor behind that although it may be around the disproportionate impact of COVID in some of those areas.
"What I would say is that the youth employability team are already engaging with those schools to follow up on last year and to prepare for the current group."
Most pupils who left school last year went into higher education (48.6 per cent) and further education (22.9 per cent) while 16 per cent went straight into employment.
The School Leaver Initial Destination survey results are produced by Skills Development Scotland.
Positive destinations include employment, higher and further education, training and personal skills development as well as voluntary work.
Pupils whose progress after leaving school is unknown and those who leave school unemployed are considered to have moved into a negative destination.
The unemployed category also includes pupils who are unable to access a positive destination for any reason.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
