School quintiles explained: what Quintile 1 to 5 means
Every public school in South Africa is placed in one of five quintiles. The quintile is a poverty ranking: it reflects how poor the community around the school is, not how good the school is.
How the ranking works
Schools are ranked using data about the community they serve, such as household income, unemployment and education levels. The poorest 20% of schools nationally fall in Quintile 1 and the least poor 20% in Quintile 5. Provinces apply the national framework, so the split is not exactly equal in every province.
| Quintile | Community | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Poorest | No-fee school |
| Q2 | Very poor | No-fee school |
| Q3 | Poor | No-fee school |
| Q4 | Less poor | Fee-paying (some are no-fee) |
| Q5 | Least poor | Fee-paying |
What the quintile changes
Funding. The state gives each public school a yearly allocation per learner for running costs. Schools in the lower quintiles get a much larger amount per learner than Quintile 4 and 5 schools.
Fees. Quintile 1 to 3 schools are generally declared no-fee schools. Quintile 4 and 5 schools may charge fees set by the parents at the school's annual budget meeting.
Nutrition. The National School Nutrition Programme feeds learners at Quintile 1 to 3 schools, and at some special schools.
Does a higher quintile mean a better school?
No. A Quintile 5 school is in a wealthier area and can raise more money from fees, which often pays for extra teachers and facilities, but the quintile itself says nothing about teaching quality or results. Many lower-quintile schools achieve excellent matric results. Visit the school, ask about class sizes, and look at its learner-to-educator ratio, which we show on every school page.
Independent schools
Private (independent) schools are not ranked in quintiles. Some receive a small state subsidy, but they set their own fees.
Find a school's quintile
Search for the school on SchoolsInfo. Its quintile, fee status and Section 21 status appear under School facts, taken from the Department of Basic Education's masterlist. You can also browse every no-fee school by province and town.