Best private and public schools in South Africa: cost vs peformance
With the rising costs of education at the top of parents’ minds, BusinessTech investigates how the top schools in both the public and private sectors compare when it comes to the performance of their pupils.
In 2015 there were 667,925 full time candidates participating in the NSC Examination, with 455,825 learners achieving a NSC pass (70.7%).
While the pass rate is down from 2014’s 75.8%, there were more passes in raw numbers, with 51,951 more students passing in 2015 than in 2014.
Private schools sat a different exam, with 10,212 full time students from 200 schools writing the 2015 IEB matric exams. 98.3% of matrics passed the exams, and 85.5% of those students qualified for Bachelor’s entry.
BusinessTech has compiled data looking at the tuition costs, number of students and number of Bachelor entry passes attained from some of the most expensive private schools and top-performing public schools in South Africa.
To determine the “top performing” public schools, BusinessTech ranked the top 10 according the number of students who sat the exams.
According to the department of education, 470 schools had a 100% matric pass rate in 2015, and 111 of them maintained a 100% pass rate for the past five years.
As all the schools listed in this comparison – private and public – achieved a 100% pass rate in 2015, the number of Bachelor entry passes (as a percentage) was selected as the measure of performance.
Note: It must be stressed that drawing any conclusions based on performance versus cost in the schools listed below is limited, as private school costs encompass more than just tuition.
For many private schools, the costs account for facilities, location and other benefits (such as fewer students per class), as well as the history and prestige associated with the schools.
The analysis does not take this into account, nor does it seek to compare differences between IEB and NSC qualifications, the quality of teachers, or any other factors that may affect the pricing of an institution.
Top performing public schools in 2015
| School | Matrics who wrote in 2015 | % of Bachelors entry achieved | School fees (2016) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoerskool Garsfontein | 350 | 84% | R24 200 |
| Hoerskool Waterkloof | 341 | 87% | R25 805 |
| Northcliff High School | 252 | 87% | R34 485 |
| Durban Girls High School | 226 | 96% | R23 300 |
| Westville Girls High School | 225 | 96% | R25 410 |
| Afrikaanse Hoer Meisieskool | 197 | 97% | R28 800 |
| Grey Boys School | 186 | 79% | R40 200 |
| Randfontein High School | 185 | 70% | R7 800* |
| Westford High School | 182 | 99% | R31 600 |
| Eunice Secondary School | 174 | 100% | R19 600 |
| Average | 232 | 90% | R26 120 |
* latest available
Top performing private schools in 2015
| School | Matrics who wrote in 2015 | % of Bachelors entry achieved | School fees (2016) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Stithians | 255* | 98% | R117 470 |
| Bishops | 144 | 98% | R113 440 |
| St John’s | 141 | 100% | R124 618 |
| Michaelhouse | 115 | 97% | R225 000** |
| Hilton College | 114 | 95% | R235 960** |
| Kearsney College | 113 | 96% | R145 500 |
| St Alban’s College | 107 | 95% | R112 200 |
| St Mary’s Waverley | 103 | 100% | R109 450 |
| St Mary’s DSG | 85 | 100% | R104 100 |
| St Andrew’s School for Girls | 75 | 100% | R111 110 |
| Average | 125 | 98% | R139 884 |
* Boys and girls combined | ** Only boarding available
More on schools
Yes, a good school can boost your property value a lot
Private vs public schools: is it worth the money?
Private vs public schools in SA: not a simple numbers game
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