An 85.98% exam pass rate of Western Isles pupils achieving National 5 in S4 was higher than the national figure of 79.5%.
Percentage passes at higher were in line with the nationwide figure, with 77.75% achieving an A to C pass.
Advanced Higher (SCQF level 6) results showed an increase in the number of presentations, from 92 in 2016 to 101 in 2017.
Orkney pupils again performed well at national, higher and advanced higher level.
The local authority said 100% of candidates who entered passed National 4, as did the candidates in 2016.
Congratulating pupils, James Wylie, Orkney Islands Council’s head of education and improvement, said: “The strong performance across our secondary schools is testament to the hard work of pupils, their families, teachers and wider school community who support them tirelessly.”
On Shetland, 96.2% of candidates entered passed National 4 compared with 93.7% in 2016.
Education committee chairman George Smith said: “I hope that all our pupils feel they’ve done their best and that their results allow them to move on to the next stage of their lives.”
In Argyll and Bute, 1,551 pupils passed National 4 with a 100% pass rate.