Hector Petersen High School

Hector Petersen High School is a public high school in Zwelitsha, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape, in the Buffalo City education district. The Department of Basic Education classifies it as a secondary school. In 2025 it had 1 342 learners and 39 educators, about 34.4 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, 94.8% of its 212 candidates passed (Eastern Cape average: 84.2%).

Matric (NSC) results

94.8% of the school's 212 matric candidates passed in 2025, above the Eastern Cape average of 84.2%.

Year	Wrote	Passed	Pass rate	Eastern Cape
2023	209	191	91.4%	81.5%
2024	206	187	90.8%	85.1%
2025	212	201	94.8%	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)	1 342
Educators (2025)	39
Learners per educator	34.4 (province average 32.2)
Urban or rural	Urban
EMIS number	200200240
Exam centre number	4321034

Address and location

Street address	958 Zone 4,zwelitsha,king Williams Town,5600
Postal address	Private Bag X 505, Zwelitsha, King Willaim's Town, 5608
Suburb / area	Zwelitsha
Town	King Williams Town
Province	Eastern Cape
Education district	Buffalo City
Municipality	Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
Former department	Ciskei

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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.