Cowan High School

Cowan High School is a public high school in New Brighton, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, in the Nelson Mandela education district. The Department of Basic Education classifies it as a secondary school. In 2025 it had 1 379 learners and 42 educators, about 32.8 learners per educator. That makes it larger than the average for public high schools in Eastern Cape (703 learners). It is a quintile 3 school, meaning it serves the middle 20% of communities according to the national poverty ranking. It is a no-fee school, so parents do not pay school fees. As a Section 21 school, its governing body manages part of its own budget. In the 2025 matric exams, 96.6% of its 208 candidates passed (Eastern Cape average: 84.2%).

Matric (NSC) results

96.6% of the school's 208 matric candidates passed in 2025, above the Eastern Cape average of 84.2%.

Year	Wrote	Passed	Pass rate	Eastern Cape
2023	167	129	77.2%	81.5%
2024	152	141	92.8%	85.1%
2025	208	201	96.6%	84.2%

Source: Department of Basic Education, 2025 NSC School Performance Report. Pass rate = candidates who achieved the NSC ÷ candidates who wrote. It doesn't show bachelor passes, distinctions or learners who left before Grade 12.

School facts

School type	Public high school
Phase (DBE)	Secondary School
Sector	Public
Quintile	3 of 5 (what is this?)
School fees	No-fee school
Section 21	Yes
Learners (2025)	1 379
Educators (2025)	42
Learners per educator	32.8 (province average 32.2)
Urban or rural	Urban
EMIS number	200100139
Exam centre number	4341016

Address and location

Street address	20 Madala Street,new Brighton,gqeberha,6200
Postal address	P O Box 115, New Brighton, 6200
Suburb / area	New Brighton
Town	Gqeberha
Province	Eastern Cape
Education district	Nelson Mandela
Municipality	Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
Former department	Department of Education & Training(DET)

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Admissions

Applications for Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 at public schools in Eastern Cape open the year before your child starts school. Contact the school for its application form and dates. Read our guide on applying for Grade 1 and Grade 8.