The elite 130-year-old school in South Africa, which charges R2 million and has a 100% matric pass rate
Hidden in the Midlands Meander, Michaelhouse is one of South Africa’s best-known private schools, with a rich history and several accolades.
The school was founded in 1896 by an Anglican priest in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, with only 15 learners at the start.
Within a few years, it was appointed the Diocesan College for Boys in the province, with a board of directors and governed by a permanent trust deed.
After five years, Michaelhouse was relocated to Balgowan in the Midlands Meander, now with 77 learners, where it remains today.
The original buildings used by the school at the start of the 20th century are still in use today, and several pieces of memorabilia from the school’s early years can be found in its museum.
Former managing director of the De Beers Group, and Michaelhouse old boy, Gary Ralfe, authored a book on the history of the school in 2024.
In an interview with Creamer Media, Ralfe outlined the school’s history and its importance to the institution today.
During the interview, he explained that the school’s founder, James Cameron Todd, faced several challenges in starting Michaelhouse.
The main challenge for Todd was finances, since the school’s board of governors had tight control over spending.
“The problems that Todd had were essentially financial,” Ralfe explained. “For the school to succeed, it had to be solvent.”
“The only money that [Todd] could spend on anything other than food was on breakages.”
Ultimately, Todd tendered his resignation as rector of Michaelhouse after disagreements over the school’s funding.
The school’s history is also closely tied to another famed private institution in KwaZulu-Natal, Hilton College.
The two schools played their first rugby match against each other in 1904, starting the oldest continuous school rugby rivalry in South Africa.
Michaelhouse today
With its 130-year history, Michaelhouse has become known for its impressive performance across sports and academics.
In SA School Sports’ combined rugby rankings, which consider weighted performances across different age categories, Michaelhouse places 20th in the country.
In hockey, the school ranks in the top ten in the country according to combined, weighted rankings, and places seventh in South Africa in cricket for its first team.
Michaelhouse’s success extends into the classroom, with the school achieving a 100% matric pass rate in 2025, with 99% of learners earning a bachelor’s pass.
The school also had three learners appear on the Independent Examination Board’s (IEB) outstanding achievements list.
In a January 2026 social media post, the school also highlighted that 52% of its matriculants had received distinctions in Mathematics.
While the school is known for its high sporting and academic achievements, it often emphasises a holistic approach to education.
“We believe that going to senior school is as much about finding one’s niche in life as having the freedom and encouragement to explore it and become the best one can be,” Michaelhouse explains on its website.
The impressive environment does not come for free, with Michaelhouse often being noted as one of the most expensive private schools in the country.
For its 2026 fees, the school charges R417,000 per year for tuition and boarding, with all learners required to live on the property.
This means that, across five years of schooling, an education at the renowned institution costs approximately R2.09 million.
For first-year learners, there is also a non-refundable registration fee of R1,200 and a non-refundable acceptance fee of R81,250 for South African residents.
For international students, this registration fee is R208,500, with part being refundable at the end of the learner’s schooling.
Photos of Michaelhouse
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