60 Best High Schools in Cape Town According to Their Matric Pass Rate

This post ranks the best high schools in Cape Town based on the matric pass rate over the last three years.

High school covers five important years where learners grow academically and personally. From grade 8 onward, they start building the habits and knowledge needed for university entry or early career opportunities. 

Parents often explore the strength of a school’s teaching and support because these factors influence a learner’s future path. Matric pass rates help show how well schools guide learners through to the last exam of their school journey. 

Cape Town has several high schools that focus on steady progress and solid preparation throughout the secondary years.

Who Should Research The Best High Schools in Cape Town?

Parents Planning Ahead

If your child is starting Grade 8 next year, knowing what each school offers makes a big difference. You see how they handle academics, support students, and guide growth. That knowledge helps you pick a school where your child can thrive instead of leaving it to chance.

Families New to Cape Town

If you are relocating, researching the best high schools in Cape Town helps you understand which ones have a reputation for quality teaching and a welcoming environment. You can compare options, see how each school approaches learning, and decide which one aligns with the life you want for your child in a new city.

Students With Ambition

Students who want to excel academically benefit from seeing which schools focus on achievement and personal growth. Knowing which schools encourage curiosity and reward effort helps in selecting a place where goals can be pursued seriously.

60 Best High Schools in Cape Town According to Their Matric Pass Rate

Metro North

School Name	AVG Matric Pass Rate (3 Years)
CBC St John’s Parklands	100,00
Curro Academy Sandown	100,00
Riverside College	100,00
Sunningdale School	100,00
Tafelbergskool	100,00
Parklands College	99,63
Stellenberg HS	99,53
Milnerton HS	99,40
Fairmont HS	99,37
DF Malan HS	99,37
Durbanville HS	99,37
Meridian Pinehurst Private School	99,07
Curro Uitzicht High School	98,23
Melkbos High School	98,17
Fairbairn College	97,97
The Settlers HS	97,83
Emmanuel Christian Academy	97,63
Parow HS	97,37
Tygerberg HS	97,07
Edgemead HS	96,80

Metro Central

School Name	AVG Matric Pass Rate (3 Years)
CBC St John’s Parklands	100,00
Curro Academy Sandown	100,00
Riverside College	100,00
Sunningdale School	100,00
Tafelbergskool	100,00
Parklands College	99,63
Stellenberg HS	99,53
Milnerton HS	99,40
Fairmont HS	99,37
DF Malan HS	99,37
Durbanville HS	99,37
Meridian Pinehurst Private School	99,07
Curro Uitzicht High School	98,23
Melkbos High School	98,17
Fairbairn College	97,97
The Settlers HS	97,83
Emmanuel Christian Academy	97,63
Parow HS	97,37
Tygerberg HS	97,07
Edgemead HS	96,80

Metro South

School Name	AVG Matric Pass Rate (3 Years)
Cannons Creek School	100,00
Rosebank Progress College	100,00
Rustenburg Girls’ HS	100,00
S.A. College HS	100,00
Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf	100,00
St Joseph’s College	100,00
St. George’s Grammar School	100,00
Star College – Bridgetown (Athlone)	100,00
Star College – Cape Town	100,00
Westerford HS	100,00
Bishops	99,80
Rondebosch Boys’ HS	99,60
Islamia College SEC	99,50
Pinelands HS	99,27
Herzlia HS	99,13
Camps Bay HS	98,73
Sans Souci Girls’ HS	98,67
Jan Van Riebeeck HS	98,37
Al-Azhar High School	97,33
Claremont HS	97,27

How to Apply to the Best High Schools in Cape Town

1. The High School Application Process

The entire application process for high school admission in the Western Cape is managed online.

Key Actions

1. Apply Online: All applications must be submitted via the official online admissions portal.
2. Apply to Multiple Schools: Parents are strongly advised to apply to a minimum of three schools. This should include the school closest to your residence to increase the likelihood of placement.
3. Apply Early: Do not wait until the last day of the application window.

Application Timeline

The application period is generally early in the year for the following academic year.

• Example Window: The application period for Grade 8 typically runs from around March to April (e.g., 11 March – 15 April 2025).
• Action: Always check the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) website for the exact dates for the current academic year, as these dates change annually.

2. Essential Required Documents

When applying online to the best high schools in Cape Town, and later when confirming a place, you must have certified copies of the following documents ready for both the learner and the parent/caregiver.

Document Category	Required Documents (Certified Copies)
Identification (Learner & Parent/Caregiver)	ID Document or Birth Certificate of the learner and parent/caregiver.
Academic	The learner’s latest official school/academic report.
Proof of Residence	Rates account, lease agreement, or an affidavit made at a police station confirming residence.
Foreign Learners	Passport (for learner) or a copy of the parent’s refugee/asylum seeker permit on which the learner’s name should appear. If the learner was born in South Africa to foreign parents, a handwritten birth certificate (DHA 19 form) is required.

3. Understanding Placement & School Decisions

School Admission Policy

• Placement Authority: Schools, not the WCED, make the final placement decisions. They do this by exercising and applying their own admission policy, which must be aligned with the South African Schools Act.
• WCED Cannot Guarantee: The WCED cannot guarantee placement at the best high schools in Cape Town.

Feeder Zones

• The WCED has not declared any official feeder zones/areas for schools.
• However, a school’s individual admission policy may prioritise applicants based on proximity to the school or feeder primary schools, among other criteria.

Fees

• Schools are not permitted to charge a registration fee before accepting a learner.

4. What Happens After Acceptance (Confirmation)

If your child is accepted at one or more of the best high schools in Cape Town, you must follow these steps by the confirmation deadline (e.g., mid-June):

1. Confirm Online: Log into your profile, go to “Track Application,” and click the “Confirm” button for your final choice.
2. Provide Documents: Within 7 days of confirming acceptance online, you must provide the certified hard copy documents to the selected school.
3. Automatic Confirmation Rule: If you are accepted at multiple schools but do not confirm a final choice by the specified deadline, the system will automatically activate the first school you successfully applied to (as ranked by you) and remove the applications at all other schools.
4. Acceptance Window: After the initial confirmation deadline, if you are offered a place from a waiting list, you will typically only have three days to accept the offer.

5. Addressing Unsuccessful Applications & Appeals

If Accepted to One School, but Not Your First Choice

• You may write a letter or email to the School Governing Body (SGB) of your preferred school to enquire about the decision, seek clarity, or motivate for your application to be reconsidered.
• The final decision rests with the school.

If Not Accepted to ANY School

• Stay on the Waiting List: It is highly advisable to stay in touch with the schools you applied to and request that the learner be placed on a waiting list. Many places open up as other parents confirm or decline offers.
• WCED Assistance: If you have not secured a place at ANY school, the WCED will assist you in finding an available placement. This typically only happens later in the process, usually during the third term of the year, after schools have exhausted their waiting lists.

How to Appeal

• You can appeal against a school’s decision not to enrol your child by using the Track Appeals function on the online system.

6. Late Applications

If the official online application system is closed, you have two options for a late application:

1. District Office: Go to your nearest District office where officials will assist you.
2. Nearest School: Go to your nearest school and complete the WCED late application form. The school will submit the form to the district office to be captured on the system.

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