Best and Oldest High Schools
Criteria for selecting the schools
The research leading up to the publication of the 100 Best High Schools in Africa began with the launching of the website in December 2000.
Chief of all questions in the research process was this: which schools impart real knowledge and ability in their students, skills that translate directly into later success?
Why is it that students who pass with high grades do not always achieve spectacularly in the professional fields?
The main criteria used by Africa Almanac were, in order of importance:
1) The strength and active reach of the old boys and old girls associations and networks of the schools, especially as they act through re-unions, financial donations to the school, and alumni websites and newsletters. The rationale for this was that there is no better way a school’s impact on students is better felt than in the degree of loyalty maintained after the students leave the school.
2) The profile of the school, especially in terms of academic excellence and/ or its success in extracurricular activity, particularly sports and the performing arts. This would be obvious for a school to be regarded as successful, especially where it performs well both in academic and extracurricular disciplines.
3) The presence and visibility of the school on the Internet, in such areas as the maintenance of a website or some form of user group and chat room. Good schools of the 21st century would, as a matter of course, have made some strides toward acquiring some form of Internet presence.
4) The presence of the school in the news and its tendency to attract news coverage on radio, television, magazine articles, and newspaper news stories and features.
5) The reputation, achievements, and high profile of the school’s current and past students. The rationale would be that the crowning achievement of a school — its very reason for being — is to produce students and alumni who impact society in a meaningful way.
The 100 best high schools in Africa, 2003
Source: Africa Almanac research
As at May 20, 2003
| School | Country |
|---|---|
| 1. Grey College | South Africa |
| 2. Rift Valley Academy | Kenya |
| 3. King Edward VII School | South Africa |
| 4. Hilton College | South Africa |
| 5. St. George’s College | Zimbabwe |
| 6. Prince Edward School | Zimbabwe |
| 7. International School of Kenya | Kenya |
| 8. Accra Academy | Ghana |
| 9. Lycée Lamine Guèye | Senegal |
| 10. Adisadel College | Ghana |
| 11. St John’s College Houghton | South Africa |
| 12. Maritzburg College | South Africa |
| 13. Lycée Guebre Mariam | Ethiopia |
| 14. Selborne College | South Africa |
| 15. St Alban’s College | South Africa |
| 16. Lycée Lyautey | Morocco |
| 17. Durban High School | South Africa |
| 18. Grey High School | South Africa |
| 19. St Andrew`s College | South Africa |
| 20. Gateway High School | Zimbabwe |
| 21. Glenwood High School | South Africa |
| 22. Rainbow International School | Uganda |
| 23. Lycée Moulay Youssef | Morocco |
| 24. Kearsney College | South Africa |
| 25. St. James High School | Zimbabwe |
| 26. Wynberg Boys High School | South Africa |
| 27. Pretoria Boys High School | South Africa |
| 28. International School Moshi | Tanzania |
| 29. Strathmore School | Kenya |
| 30. Parktown Boys’ High School | South Africa |
| 31. International School of Tanganyika | Tanzania |
| 32. Holy Child School | Ghana |
| 33. Christ The King College Onitsha | Nigeria |
| 34. Graeme College | South Africa |
| 35. Jeppe High School for Boys | South Africa |
| 36. Alliance High School | Kenya |
| 37. Kingswood College | South Africa |
| 38. Hamilton High School | Zimbabwe |
| 39. Lincoln International School | Uganda |
| 40. Lycée Victor Hugo | Morocco |
| 41. Alexandra High School | South Africa |
| 42. École Normale Supérieure | Guinea |
| 43. Ghana International School | Ghana |
| 44. Arundel School | Zimbabwe |
| 45. Rondebosch Boys’ High School | South Africa |
| 46. Starehe Boys’ Centre | Kenya |
| 47. American International School of Johannesburg | South Africa |
| 48. Victoria Park High School | South Africa |
| 49. Methodist Boys High School | Sierra Leone |
| 50. Harare International School | Zimbabwe |
| 51. Methodist Girls High School | Sierra Leone |
| 52. Lenana School | Kenya |
| 53. St. Andrew’s High School | Malawi |
| 54. Benoni High School | South Africa |
| 55. Roedean School | South Africa |
| 56. Lycee Francais du Caire | Egypt |
| 57. Kamuzu Academy | Malawi |
| 58. Mount Pleasant High School | Zimbabwe |
| 59. Mfantsipim School | Ghana |
| 60. Gayaza High School | Uganda |
| 61. Kutama College | Zimbabwe |
| 62. Wheelus High School | Libya |
| 63. Michaelhouse School | South Africa |
| 64. Westville Boys’ High School | South Africa |
| 65. Namilyango College | Uganda |
| 66. Government College Umuahia | Nigeria |
| 67. Muir College | South Africa |
| 68. Wesley Girls High School | Ghana |
| 69. Alexander Sinton High School | South Africa |
| 70. Lycée Faidherbe | Senegal |
| 71. Royal College Port Louis | Mauritius |
| 72. Lycée Lyautey de Casablanca | Morocco |
| 73. Settlers High School | South Africa |
| 74. Nyeri High School | Kenya |
| 75. Pinetown Boys’ High School | South Africa |
| 76. Kings’ College Lagos | Nigeria |
| 77. Lycée Français Liberté | Mali |
| 78. Paarl Boys’ High School | South Africa |
| 79. St. Paul’s College | Namibia |
| 80. Tafari Makonnen School | Ethiopia |
| 81. Wynberg Girls’ High School | South Africa |
| 82. Port Shepstone High School | South Africa |
| 83. Clapham High School | South Africa |
| 84. Hillcrest Secondary School | Kenya |
| 85. South African College School | South Africa |
| 86. Lycée Blaise Diagne | Senegal |
| 87. St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls | South Africa |
| 88. Townsend High School | Zimbabwe |
| 89. St.Gregory’s College | Nigeria |
| 90. Allan Wilson High School | Zimbabwe |
| 91. Mangu High School | Kenya |
| 92. Windhoek High School | Namibia |
| 93. Banani International Secondary School | Zambia |
| 94. Alexander Road High School | South Africa |
| 95. Lycée Blaise Pascal | Gabon |
| 96. Lycée Claudel | Mali |
| 97. Lowveld High School | South Africa |
| 98. Lycée Français d’Agadir | Morocco |
| 99. Makerere College School | Uganda |
| 100. Achimota Secondary School | Ghana |
Africa’s 50 oldest schools (by Country)
| Country | School | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | St. Joseph’s College | 1939 |
| Ethiopia | Menelik II Senior Secondary School | 1908 |
| Kenya | Rift Valley Academy | 1906 |
| Liberia | College of West Africa | 1833 |
| Nigeria | Baptist Academy Lagos | 1854 |
| Nigeria | Church Missionary Society Grammer School | 1859 |
| Rwanda | Izaaza Secondary School | 1950 |
| Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone Grammer School | 1845 |
| South Africa | South African College School | 1829 |
| Uganda | Mengo Secondary School | 1897 |
| Zimbabwe | St. George’s College | 1896 |
Africa’s 50 oldest schools (by Date)
| School | Location | Country | Year founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| South African College School | CapeTown | South Africa | 1829 |
| College of West Africa | Monrovia | Liberia | 1833 |
| Sierra Leone Grammer School | Freetown | Sierra Leone | 1845 |
| St.George’s Grammer School | CapeTown | South Africa | 1848 |
| Diocesan Bishop’s College | Cape Town | South Africa | 1849 |
| Annie Walsh Memorial School | Freetown | Sierra Leone | 1849 |
| Grey College | Bloemfontein | South Africa | 1855 |
| Grey High School | Port Elizabeth | South Africa | 1856 |
| St Andrew`s College | Grahamstown | South Africa | 1856 |
| Queens College | Queenstown | South Africa | 1858 |
| Church Missionary Society Grammar School | Bariga | Nigeria | 1859 |
| Dale College | Kingwilliamstown | South Africa | 1861 |
| Pietermaritzburg High School | Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 1863 |
| Maritzburg College | Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 1863 |
| Muir College | Uitenhage | South Africa | 1865 |
| Durban High School | Durban | South Africa | 1866 |
| Paarl Boys’ High School | Cape Town | South Africa | 1868 |
| Selborne College | East London | South Africa | 1872 |
| Graeme College | Grahamstown | South Africa | 1873 |
| Methodist Boys High School | Freetown | Sierra Leone | 1874 |
| St. Charles College | Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 1875 |
| Hilton College | Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 1876 |
| Mfantsimpim School | Cape Coast | Ghana | 1876 |
| Wykeham Collegiate Independent School for Girls | Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 1878 |
| Methodist Boys High School | Yaba | Nigeria | 1878 |
| Methodist Girls High School | Yaba | Nigeria | 1879 |
| Methodist Girls High School | Free Town | Sierra Leone | 1880 |
| Baptist Boys High School | Yaba | Nigeria | 1885 |
| Kimberley High School | Kimberley | South Africa | 1887 |
| Merchiston Preparatory School | Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 1892 |
| Michaelhouse School | Balgowan | South Africa | 1896 |
| St. George’s College | Harare | Zimbabwe | 1896 |
| Kingswood College | Grahamstown | South Africa | 1896 |
| Mengo Secondary School | Kampala | Uganda | 1897 |
| St. Patrick’s College | Kimberley | South Africa | 1897 |
| Rondebosch Boys High School | Cape Town | South Africa | 1898 |
| Epworth High School | Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 1898 |
| Prince Edward School | Harare | Zimbabwe | 1898 |
| Pretoria Boys High School | Pretoria | South Africa | 1901 |
| St. Andrews School for Girls | Senderwood | South Africa | 1902 |
| Pretoria Girls’ High School | Pretoria | South Africa | 1902 |
| King Edward School | Johannesburg | South Africa | 1902 |
| Namilyango College | Kampala | Uganda | 1902 |
| The Albert Academy | Freetown | Sierra Leone | 1904 |
| Potchefstroom Boys High School | Potchefstroom | South Africa | 1905 |
| Gayaza High School | Kampala | Uganda | 1905 |
| Bo Government School | Bo | Sierra Leone | 1906 |
| Kings’ College Budo | Kampala | Uganda | 1906 |
| Rift Valley Academy | Kijabe | Kenya | 1906 |
| St.Mary’s College, Kisubi | Entebbe | Uganda | 1906 |
| Trinity College Nabbingo | Kampala | Uganda | 1907 |
| Abeokuta Grammar High School | Nigeria | 1908 | |
| Menelik II Secondary School | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | 1908 |
| Kings’ College Lagos | Lagos | Nigeria | 1909 |
| Adisadel College | Cape Coast | Ghana | 1910 |
| Glenwood High School | Durban | South Africa | 1910 |
| Busoga College Mwiri | Jinja | Uganda | 1911 |
| Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School | Bushenyi | Uganda | 1912 |
| Eko Boys High School | Nigeria | 1913 | |
| Ijebu Ode Grammar School | Nigeria | 1913 | |
| The Royal College of Curepipe | Curepipe | Mauritius | 1914 |
| Makerere College School | Kampala | Uganda | 1914 |
| St. Joseph’s High School | Mutare | Zimbabwe | 1914 |
| Athlone Boys’ High School | Johannesburg | South Africa | 1915 |
| Athlone Girls’ High School | Johannesburg | South Africa | 1915 |
| Ondo Boys High School | Nigeria | 1919 | |
| St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls | Durban | South Africa | 1919 |
| Nabumali High School | Mbale | Uganda | 1919 |
| Methodist Boys High School | Banjul | The Gambia | 1921 |
| Kearsney College | Natal | South Africa | 1921 |
| St. Henry’s College Kitovu | Masaka | Uganda | 1922 |
| Benoni High School | Benoni | South Africa | 1922 |
| Mbarara High School | Mbarara | Uganda | 1924 |
| Tafari Makonnen School | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | 1924 |
| Nyakasura School | Fort Portal | Uganda | 1926 |
| Alliance High School | Kikuyu | Kenya | 1926 |
| Ganta United Methodist School | Ganta | Liberia | 1926 |
| Achimota College | Accra | Ghana | 1927 |
| Queen’s College | Yaba | Nigeria | 1927 |
| St.Gregory’s College | Lagos | Nigeria | 1929 |
Africa’s 100 Best Secondary Schools, 2003
As at October 1, 2003 Source: Africa Almanac research
1. Grey College South Africa
2. Rift Valley Academy Kenya
3. King Edward VII SchoolSouth Africa
4. Hilton College South Africa
5. St. George’s College Zimbabwe
6. Prince Edward School Zimbabwe
7. InternationalSchool of Kenya Kenya
8. Accra Academy Ghana
9. Lycée Lamine Guèye Senegal
10. Adisadel College Ghana
11. St John’sCollege Houghton South Africa
12. Maritzburg College South Africa
13. Lycée Guebre Mariam Ethiopia
14. Selborne College South Africa
15. St Alban’s College South Africa
16. Lycée Lyautey Morocco
17. Durban High School South Africa
18. Grey High School South Africa
19. St Andrew`s College South Africa
20. Gateway High School Zimbabwe
21. Glenwood High School South Africa
22. Rainbow International School Uganda
23. Lycée Moulay Youssef Morocco
24. Kearsney College South Africa
25. St.James High School Zimbabwe
26. Wynberg Boys High School South Africa
27. Pretoria Boys High School South Africa
28. Lycée Français de Tananarive Madagascar
29. MauritiusCollege of the Air Mauritius
30. InternationalSchool Moshi Tanzania
31. Le Collège Mermoz Ivory Coast
32. Strathmore School Kenya
33. Parktown Boys’ High School South Africa
34. InternationalSchool of Tanganyika Tanzania
35. Holy Child School Ghana
36. Christ The King College Onitsha Nigeria
37. Graeme College South Africa
38. JeppeHigh School for Boys South Africa
39. Alliance High School Kenya
40. HillcrestSchool Jos Nigeria
41. Kingswood College South Africa
42. Hamilton High School Zimbabwe
43. Lincoln International School Uganda
44. Lycée Victor Hugo Morocco
45. Alexandra High School South Africa
46. École Normale Supérieure Guinea
47. Ghana International School Ghana
48. Arundel School Zimbabwe
49. Rondebosch Boys’ High School South Africa
50. Starehe Boys’ Centre Kenya
51. AmericanInternational School of Johannesburg South Africa
52. Victoria Park High School South Africa
53. Methodist Boys High School Sierra Leone
54. Harare International School Zimbabwe
55. Methodist Girls High School Sierra Leone
56. Lenana School Kenya
57. St. Andrew’s High School Malawi
58. Benoni High School South Africa
59. Waddilove High SchoolZimbabwe
60. Roedean School South Africa
61. Wykeham Collegiate Independent School for Girls South Africa
62. Lycee Francais du Caire Egypt
63. Christian Brothers’ College Bulawayo Zimbabwe
64. Kamuzu Academy Malawi
65. Mount Pleasant High School Zimbabwe
66. Mfantsipim School Ghana
67. Chisipite Senior SchoolZimbabwe
68. Gayaza High School Uganda
69. Kutama College Zimbabwe
70. Wheelus High School Libya
71. Michaelhouse School South Africa
72. Westville Boys’ High School South Africa
73. Namilyango College Uganda
74. GovernmentCollege Umuahia Nigeria
75. Muir College South Africa
76. Wesley Girls High School Ghana
77. Alexander Sinton High School South Africa
78. Lycée Faidherbe Senegal
79. RoyalCollege PortLouis Mauritius
80. Lycée La Fontaine Niger
81. Lycée Lyautey de Casablanca Morocco
82. Settlers High School South Africa
83. Nyeri High School Kenya
84. Pinetown Boys’ High School South Africa
85. Kings’ College Lagos Nigeria
86. Lycée Français Liberté Mali
87. Paarl Boys’ High School South Africa
88. St. Paul‘s College Namibia
89. Tafari Makonnen School Ethiopia
90. Wynberg Girls’ High School South Africa
91. Bingham Academy Ethiopia
92. Port Shepstone High School South Africa
93. Clapham High School South Africa
94. Hillcrest Secondary School Kenya
95. South African College School South Africa
96. Lycée Blaise Diagne Senegal
97. St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls South Africa
98. Townsend High School Zimbabwe
99. St.Gregory’s College Nigeria
100. Allan Wilson High SchoolZimbabwe