Almost 60,000 Leaving Certificate students will receive results online today, with the class of 2020 achieving record grades.
1,723 of those students are in Waterford.
The new calculated grading system, introduced due to Covid-19, shows an increase of 4.4 per cent on average across all subjects.
The Department of Education says today's results are "stronger" than a normal year but that the grades estimated by teachers were higher again before the calculated grades system brought them down.
Overall, 16.9 per cent of grades have been lowered from what had been given by teachers.
H1 grades of 90 per cent and above, equivalent to the old A1, are up 3.3 per cent at Higher Level and 1.7 per cent at Ordinary Level.
There has also been a three per cent rise in H1 grades in Higher-Level Irish, or over 800 more students picking up top marks compared with last year.
In English the increase was 1.3 per cent, or nearly six hundred more, and in Maths there was a 2 per cent rise at higher level.
In Maths and Irish, the numbers graded at Foundation level has roughly halved.
In Art, Economics, Accounting, Business and Home Economics the share of H1s at Higher Level has at least doubled, while in Music, they rose from 4.3 per cent to 13.
Despite concerns that the calculated grades system would lead to grade inflation the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) is hopeful the system is fair and has praised Leaving Cert students for their patience and perseverance during an extremely difficult time.
TUI President, Martin Marjoram said: "We are reassured. We do note that a number of grades have come down as part of the standardisation process but not a huge number and I think it's a testament to things, that teachers were pretty accurate with what they estimated and that they were generous towards their students as well."
