Ahire was also the topper among the backward class students. CDO Meri High School, Nashik's Akash Santosh Koli stood second by obtaining 95.23 per cent marks.

Saint Lawrence High School, Jalgaon's Sriniket Vilas Patil and Rajan Dilipkumar Jaikar, of Savkhede's S B G Shanbhag Vidyalaya, shared the third position by securing 95.07 per cent marks.

The overall pass percentage in the division, consisting of districts of Nashik, Jalgaon, Nandurbar and Dhule was 87.93 per cent, Pralhad Musale, Divisional Secretary, Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, told reporters here.