Best schools in KwaZulu-Natal by matric results (2025)
170 020 matric candidates at 1 745 schools in KwaZulu-Natal wrote the 2025 NSC exams and 90.6% passed, against 88.0% nationally. Pass rate by year: 2023: 86.4% · 2024: 89.7% · 2025: 90.6%.
Best matric results by town
- Nongoma 33
- Empangeni 15
- Nkandla 15
- Nquthu 14
- Jozini 13
- Maphumulo 13
- Mahlabathini 12
- Osizweni 12
- Umlazi 12
- Inanda 11
- Mtubatuba 11
- Kwangwanase 10
- Phoenix 9
- Pongola 9
- Ulundi 9
- Wasbank 9
- Bergville 8
- Ethekwini 8
- Madadeni 8
- Ndwedwe 8
- Durban 7
- Eshowe 7
- Impendle 7
- Kranskop 7
- Kwamashu 7
- Ladysmith 7
- Mbazwana 7
- Umbumbulu 7
- Umzimkulu 7
- Ceza 6
- Emondlo 6
- Esikhawini 6
- Ezakheni 6
- Ingwavuma 6
- Umzimkhulu 6
- Umzinto 6
- Vryheid 6
- Edendale 5
- Harding 5
- Highflats 5
- Hlabisa 5
- Hluhluwe 5
- Inkosi Langalibalele 5
- Isipingo 5
- Ixopo 5
- Margate 5
- Northdale 5
- Paulpietersburg 5
- Pomeroy 5
- Port Shepstone 5
- Chatsworth 4
- Clermont 4
- Dannhauser 4
- Durban North 4
- Elandskop 4
- Glenwood 4
- Greytown 4
- Hibberdene 4
- Imbali 4
- Ixopo Nu 4
- Izingolweni 4
- Kwadlangezwa 4
- Kwambonambi 4
- Mandeni 4
- Melmoth 4
- Msinga 4
- P O Umlazi 4
- Ubombo 4
- Vryheid Nu 4
- Wartburg 4
- Albersville 3
- Amanzimtoti 3
- Bluff 3
- Dundee 3
- Elandslaagte 3
- Endumeni 3
- Estcourt 3
- Greyville 3
- Hillcrest 3
- Inanda Newtown 3
- Inchanga 3
- Keates Drift 3
- Kwamachi 3
- Kwamthethwa 3
- Lenham 3
- Loskop 3
- Meerensee 3
- Montford 3
- Mpumalanga 3
- Muden 3
- Newcastle 3
- Ntuzuma 3
- Nyanyadu 3
- Overport 3
- Ozwathini 3
- Pinetown 3
- Raisethorpe 3
- Reserve 3
- Tribal Authority 3
- Umbilo 3
- Umzumbe 3
- Verulam 3
- Zwelisha 3
Top 50 schools in KwaZulu-Natal
| # | School | Town | Wrote | Pass rate | 2023–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sibusisiwe Comprehensive Technical High School Public | Umbumbulu | 267 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 2 | Entsikeni Secondary School Public | Po Hoha | 250 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 3 | Durban Girls' High School Public | Glenwood | 243 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 4 | Westville Gilrs' High School Public | Westville | 211 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 5 | Mevamhlophe High School Public | Empangeni | 191 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 6 | Qinisani Secondary School Public | Esidumbini | 184 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 7 | Emhlwaneni High School Public | And Clinic | 172 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 8 | Star of the Sea Secondary School Public | Near Star Mission | 155 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 9 | Amazizi Secondary School Public | Emazizini | 141 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 10 | Little Flower Combined School Public | Ixopo | 134 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 11 | Khethokuhle Secondary School Public | Inanda Newtown A | 133 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 12 | Emachobeni Secondary School Public | Private Bag X002 | 119 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 13 | James Nxumalo Agricultural High School Public | Ulundi | 117 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 14 | Makhasa Secondary School Public | Ngwenya | 107 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 15 | Nwabi High School Public | Engonyameni | 107 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 16 | Qoshama Senior Secondary School Public | P.O.Box 393 | 96 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 17 | Ndukwenhle High School Public | Umlazi | 91 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 18 | Star College Private | Westville North | 86 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 19 | Eqakwini High School Public | Hlabisa Nu | 83 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 20 | Al-Falaah College Durban Private | Overport | 82 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 21 | Ngwane J S School Public | Babanango | 79 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 22 | Lukhasa Secondary School Public | Insuze | 71 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 23 | Mbongeni High School Public | Ophondweni | 71 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 24 | Sobonakhona High School Public | Umbumbulu | 70 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 25 | Sithandimfundo Secondary School Public | Inanda | 65 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 26 | John Wesley Kosi Bay Combined Private School Private | Kwa Ngwanase | 60 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 27 | Bhukwana High School Public | Mbazwana | 57 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 28 | Sibusiso High School Public | Nongoma | 55 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 29 | Manhlenga Junior Secondary School Public | Kwangwanase | 51 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 30 | Batshazwayo Secondary School Public | uMlalazi | 49 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 31 | Malabela Secondary School Public | Nibela Reserve | 47 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 32 | Maritzburg Muslim School for Girls Private | Raisethorpe | 46 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 33 | Nobiya High School Public | Ubombo | 45 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 34 | Crescent Girls High School Private | Parlock | 43 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 35 | Amandla High School Public | Mahlungulu Area | 42 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 36 | Masameni Secondary School Public | Donnybrook | 42 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 37 | Ihsaan Girls College Private | Chatsworth | 41 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 38 | Muntu High School Public | Kwaphakwe | 40 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 39 | Mthambalala Secondary School Public | Jozini | 37 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 40 | Inkosi Zwelakhe Ngwane Secondary School Public | Hluhluwe | 37 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 41 | Siphuthando Public Combined School Public | Newcastle | 36 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 42 | Shoba Secondary School Public | Vryheid | 35 | 100.0% | – |
| 43 | Lethuxolo Secondary School Public | Maphumulo | 34 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 44 | Nizamia Islamic School Private | Pietermaritzburg North | 34 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 45 | Vezubuhle Secondary School Public | Nhlengesi | 34 | 100.0% | – |
| 46 | Mtuba Christian Academy Private | Riverview | 34 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 47 | Mpikayizekanye High School Public | Kwambono Tribal Authority | 33 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 48 | Kwaphikaziwa Secondary School Public | Mdumezulu | 31 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 49 | Umphezeni Secondary School Public | Nyembe Reserve | 31 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| 50 | Gala High School Public | Mombeni Tribal Authority | 31 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Ranked by the 2025 NSC pass rate (candidates who passed ÷ candidates who wrote), then the combined 2023–2025 pass rate. Rankings leave out schools with fewer than 20 candidates so very small classes don't dominate. Source: Department of Basic Education, 2025 NSC School Performance Report. A pass rate doesn't show bachelor passes, subject choices or learners who left before Grade 12, so visit schools before choosing.