Best no-fee schools in South Africa by matric results (2025)

No-fee schools serve South Africa's poorest communities and charge no school fees. Of the 4 378 no-fee schools in South Africa with at least 20 matric candidates in 2025, 337 achieved a 100% pass rate. These are the top performers.

#	School	Town	Province	Wrote	Pass rate	2023–25
1	Entsikeni Secondary School Public	Po Hoha	KwaZulu-Natal	250	100.0%	100.0%
2	Mevamhlophe High School Public	Empangeni	KwaZulu-Natal	191	100.0%	100.0%
3	Qinisani Secondary School Public	Esidumbini	KwaZulu-Natal	184	100.0%	100.0%
4	Emhlwaneni High School Public	And Clinic	KwaZulu-Natal	172	100.0%	100.0%
5	Star of the Sea Secondary School Public	Near Star Mission	KwaZulu-Natal	155	100.0%	100.0%
6	Amazizi Secondary School Public	Emazizini	KwaZulu-Natal	141	100.0%	100.0%
7	Little Flower Combined School Public	Ixopo	KwaZulu-Natal	134	100.0%	100.0%
8	Khethokuhle Secondary School Public	Inanda Newtown A	KwaZulu-Natal	133	100.0%	100.0%
9	Emachobeni Secondary School Public	Private Bag X002	KwaZulu-Natal	119	100.0%	100.0%
10	Cedar Secondary School Public	Sasolburg	Free State	111	100.0%	100.0%
11	Makhasa Secondary School Public	Ngwenya	KwaZulu-Natal	107	100.0%	100.0%
12	Nwabi High School Public	Engonyameni	KwaZulu-Natal	107	100.0%	100.0%
13	Qoshama Senior Secondary School Public	P.O.Box 393	KwaZulu-Natal	96	100.0%	100.0%
14	Ndukwenhle High School Public	Umlazi	KwaZulu-Natal	91	100.0%	100.0%
15	Ligege Public	Thohoyandou	Limpopo	91	100.0%	100.0%
16	Eqakwini High School Public	Hlabisa Nu	KwaZulu-Natal	83	100.0%	100.0%
17	Ngwane J S School Public	Babanango	KwaZulu-Natal	79	100.0%	100.0%
18	Lukhasa Secondary School Public	Insuze	KwaZulu-Natal	71	100.0%	100.0%
19	Mbongeni High School Public	Ophondweni	KwaZulu-Natal	71	100.0%	100.0%
20	Sobonakhona High School Public	Umbumbulu	KwaZulu-Natal	70	100.0%	100.0%
21	Khwara Public	Mashau	Limpopo	67	100.0%	100.0%
22	Sithandimfundo Secondary School Public	Inanda	KwaZulu-Natal	65	100.0%	100.0%
23	Bhukwana High School Public	Mbazwana	KwaZulu-Natal	57	100.0%	100.0%
24	Sibusiso High School Public	Nongoma	KwaZulu-Natal	55	100.0%	100.0%
25	Manhlenga Junior Secondary School Public	Kwangwanase	KwaZulu-Natal	51	100.0%	100.0%
26	Batshazwayo Secondary School Public	uMlalazi	KwaZulu-Natal	49	100.0%	100.0%
27	Dikwena Secondary School Public	Witsieshoek	Free State	48	100.0%	100.0%
28	Malabela Secondary School Public	Nibela Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal	47	100.0%	100.0%
29	Nobiya High School Public	Ubombo	KwaZulu-Natal	45	100.0%	100.0%
30	Muthurwana Public	Vuwani	Limpopo	45	100.0%	100.0%
31	Ngwanalaka Public	Polokwane	Limpopo	43	100.0%	100.0%
32	Amandla High School Public	Mahlungulu Area	KwaZulu-Natal	42	100.0%	100.0%
33	Masameni Secondary School Public	Donnybrook	KwaZulu-Natal	42	100.0%	100.0%
34	Muntu High School Public	Kwaphakwe	KwaZulu-Natal	40	100.0%	100.0%
35	Mthambalala Secondary School Public	Jozini	KwaZulu-Natal	37	100.0%	100.0%
36	Inkosi Zwelakhe Ngwane Secondary School Public	Hluhluwe	KwaZulu-Natal	37	100.0%	100.0%
37	Siphuthando Public Combined School Public	Newcastle	KwaZulu-Natal	36	100.0%	100.0%
38	Matthews Mangope High School Public	Zeerust	North West	36	100.0%	100.0%
39	Shoba Secondary School Public	Vryheid	KwaZulu-Natal	35	100.0%	–
40	Lethuxolo Secondary School Public	Maphumulo	KwaZulu-Natal	34	100.0%	100.0%
41	Vezubuhle Secondary School Public	Nhlengesi	KwaZulu-Natal	34	100.0%	–
42	Phahlaphahla Public	Nkidikitlana	Limpopo	34	100.0%	100.0%
43	George Masibe Public	Marken	Limpopo	34	100.0%	100.0%
44	Mpikayizekanye High School Public	Kwambono Tribal Authority	KwaZulu-Natal	33	100.0%	100.0%
45	Phumelele Comp Tech Senior Secondary School Public	Matatiele	Eastern Cape	31	100.0%	100.0%
46	Kwaphikaziwa Secondary School Public	Mdumezulu	KwaZulu-Natal	31	100.0%	100.0%
47	Umphezeni Secondary School Public	Nyembe Reserve	KwaZulu-Natal	31	100.0%	100.0%
48	Gala High School Public	Mombeni Tribal Authority	KwaZulu-Natal	31	100.0%	100.0%
49	Ukuzamakwethu Secondary School Public	Tribal Authority	KwaZulu-Natal	31	100.0%	100.0%
50	Usethubeni Youth School Public	Westville	KwaZulu-Natal	31	100.0%	100.0%
51	Insika Secondary School Public	Sweetwaters	KwaZulu-Natal	30	100.0%	100.0%
52	Uyikhulu Secondary School Public	Ndwedwe	KwaZulu-Natal	29	100.0%	100.0%
53	Inhlosenhle Secondary School Public	Kwafuduka Area	KwaZulu-Natal	28	100.0%	100.0%
54	Nkomose Comprehensive Hgh School Public	Ixopo	KwaZulu-Natal	27	100.0%	100.0%
55	Inhlokozi Secondary School Public	Maphumulo	KwaZulu-Natal	25	100.0%	100.0%
56	Vumelethu Secondary School Public	Isipingo	KwaZulu-Natal	24	100.0%	100.0%
57	Mosonya Public	Polokwane	Limpopo	24	100.0%	100.0%
58	Hlazazane Secondary School Public	Ezinkunini	KwaZulu-Natal	23	100.0%	100.0%
59	Brandvlei Youth Centre Private	Worcester	Western Cape	22	100.0%	100.0%
60	Enyanyeni Primary School Public	Dundee	KwaZulu-Natal	22	100.0%	100.0%
61	Mthombowesizwe High School Public	Nongoma	KwaZulu-Natal	22	100.0%	100.0%
62	Phumosizini High School Public	Kwabhadaza Ward 3	KwaZulu-Natal	21	100.0%	100.0%
63	Gamula Secondary School Public	Emanyiseni	KwaZulu-Natal	20	100.0%	100.0%
64	Menzi High School Public	Maponya Street	KwaZulu-Natal	226	100.0%	99.9%
65	Ngcedomhlophe High School Public	Ngcedomhlophe Hall	KwaZulu-Natal	163	100.0%	99.7%
66	Empilweni High School Public	Kwatoyisa	KwaZulu-Natal	133	100.0%	99.7%
67	Steadville Secondary School Public	Rooi Location	KwaZulu-Natal	132	100.0%	99.7%
68	Kgothala Public	Dennilton	Limpopo	115	100.0%	99.7%
69	Lufhereng Secondary School Public	Roodepoort	Gauteng	182	100.0%	99.6%
70	Gole Public	Makhado	Limpopo	109	100.0%	99.6%
71	Motloboni Public	Tzaneen	Limpopo	105	100.0%	99.6%
72	Mqhakama High School Public	Deyi	KwaZulu-Natal	89	100.0%	99.6%
73	Reatlehile Secondary School Public	Virginia	Free State	85	100.0%	99.6%
74	Mandlemfundo Secondary School Public	Kwangwanase`	KwaZulu-Natal	69	100.0%	99.6%
75	Phumanyova High School Public	Nongoma	KwaZulu-Natal	329	100.0%	99.5%
76	B.A. Seobi Secondary School Public	Potchefstroom	North West	182	100.0%	99.5%
77	Mathinta Secondary School Public	Marianhill	KwaZulu-Natal	88	100.0%	99.5%
78	Nondumiso High School Public	Next To Hlambanyathi Primary School	KwaZulu-Natal	87	100.0%	99.5%
79	Sephuthi Public	Rebone	Limpopo	71	100.0%	99.5%
80	Mshudu High School Public	Kwangwanase	KwaZulu-Natal	70	100.0%	99.5%
81	Lubelo Secondary School Public	Near Emngceleni Primary	KwaZulu-Natal	67	100.0%	99.5%
82	Lerothodi High School Public	Brits	North West	64	100.0%	99.5%
83	Bhevula Secondary School Public	P.O.Box 927	KwaZulu-Natal	61	100.0%	99.5%
84	Bagibile High School Public	Eshowe	KwaZulu-Natal	58	100.0%	99.5%
85	Hhoye Secondary School Public	Jozini	KwaZulu-Natal	176	100.0%	99.4%
86	Orlando West Secondary School Public	Johannesburg	Gauteng	61	100.0%	99.4%
87	Mcushwa High School Public	Kwaxolo Triabal Athority	KwaZulu-Natal	58	100.0%	99.4%
88	Siqalukubona High School Public	Crowsnest	KwaZulu-Natal	50	100.0%	99.4%
89	Molepane Public	Janefurse	Limpopo	46	100.0%	99.3%
90	Bele-Zingcuka Technical Senior Secondary School Public	Tsolo	Eastern Cape	41	100.0%	99.3%
91	Muzokhanyayo High School Public	Grootgeluk	KwaZulu-Natal	195	100.0%	99.2%
92	Sithokozile Secondary School Public	Umzinto Nu	KwaZulu-Natal	47	100.0%	99.2%
93	Mangolwane Public	Kediketse	Limpopo	44	100.0%	99.2%
94	Mhlabuhlangene Junior Secondary School Public	Margate	KwaZulu-Natal	36	100.0%	99.2%
95	Mmamehlabe Public	Polokwane	Limpopo	31	100.0%	99.2%
96	Emthulasizwe High School Public	Kwamyeki Area	KwaZulu-Natal	36	100.0%	99.1%
97	Mpedi Public	Rebone	Limpopo	35	100.0%	99.1%
98	Thembuzulu Secondary School Public	Umzinto	KwaZulu-Natal	32	100.0%	99.1%
99	Diepsloot Secondary School No. 2 Public	Randburg	Gauteng	250	100.0%	99.0%
100	Moletsane Secondary School Public	Johannesburg	Gauteng	222	100.0%	99.0%

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.