South Africa’s top Afrikaans co-ed school with a 100% pass rate, 74% average, and 2.9 distinctions per matric
Hoërskool Menlopark has been named South Africa’s top co-ed Afrikaans high school, with an average of 74% and 2.9 distinctions per matric candidate.
This was revealed by the Solidarity Support Centre for Schools’ (SCS’s) list of the Top 20 Afrikaans schools, based on the number of distinctions per candidate.
The list contained single-medium, dual-medium and parallel-medium schools where at least 15 candidates are offered Afrikaans Home Language.
To qualify for the Solidarity Support Centre for Schools Top 20 List, more than a third of the matric group had to be Afrikaans-speaking.
The top Afrikaans schools on the list were Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof, Hoër Meisieskool Paarl, Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool, and Hoër Meisieskool La Rochelle.
These four top schools are all-girl schools. The first co-ed school, with both girls and boys, were Hoërskool Menlopark.
The 330 learners who wrote the 2025 matric exams achieved 956 distinctions, equating to 2.9 distinctions per candidate.
Apart from achieving a 100% pass rate, 98.48% of learners from Hoërskool Menlopark had Bachelor passes with a class average of 74.34%.
The class of 2025 achieved 139 distinctions in Afrikaans, 129 in English, 52 in Mathematics, and 36 in Science.
Nine students achieved 9 distinctions, ten received 8 distinctions, fourteen received 7 distinctions, and twenty-eight received 6 distinctions.
The top learners from Hoërskool Menlopark were Andries Beyers, Chenay de Jager, and Elsje Groenewald, who achieved averages of 93%.
Another eleven learners achieved averages of over 90%, which illustrated the school’s strong focus on academic excellence.
Hoërskool Menlopark history
Hoërskool Menlopark was founded in 1963 with 12 classrooms and 372 students. The school’s emblem was designed by the famous South African painter Bettie Cilliers-Barnard.
Known initially as Menloparkse Hoërskool, the name was officially changed to Die Hoërskool Menlopark in 1974.
Its motto, Excelsa Petamus, translates into “We strive for the highest values”. Its anthem is titled, “Hou hoog die vaandel wit en blou”.
The school’s yearbook, Die Eggo, has been published annually since 1965, recording Hoërskool Menlopark’s rich history.
In 1972, the school’s Olympic-standard swimming pool was completed and put into use, with the school becoming known for its strong sports offerings.
It offers several sports, including athletics, cricket, cross-country, equestrian, golf, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming, tennis, and more.
With the success of the school’s sports offerings, several alumni have gone on to become professional athletes.
They include cricketers Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaassen, and rugby players Rudolf Straeuli and Stean Pienaar.
Hoërskool Menlopark has also produced top businessmen, including FirstRand Group founder Laurie Dippenaar and former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter.
Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria and the University of Hull, Calie Pistorius, also attended the school.
It also produced top cultural achievers, including author Marita van der Vyver, actress Jana Cilliers, and singer Yolandi Visser.
Hoërskool Menlopark is widely recognised as a top-performing academic and sporting institution, producing exceptional results.
Hoërskool Menlopark class of 2025 photos
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