Mccarthy Comprehensive School

Mccarthy Comprehensive School is a public high school in Gerald Smith, Kariega, Eastern Cape, in the Nelson Mandela education district. The Department of Basic Education classifies it as a secondary school with a technical specialisation. In 2025 it had 1 061 learners and 34 educators, about 31.2 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, 77.0% of its 74 candidates passed (Eastern Cape average: 84.2%).

Matric (NSC) results

77.0% of the school's 74 matric candidates passed in 2025, below the Eastern Cape average of 84.2%.

Year	Wrote	Passed	Pass rate	Eastern Cape
2023	49	38	77.6%	81.5%
2024	64	40	62.5%	85.1%
2025	74	57	77.0%	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
Specialisation	Technical
Sector	Public
Quintile	3 of 5 (what is this?)
School fees	No-fee school
Section 21	Yes
Learners (2025)	1 061
Educators (2025)	34
Learners per educator	31.2 (province average 32.2)
Urban or rural	Urban
EMIS number	200100503
Exam centre number	4341050

Address and location

Street address	C/0 Mccarthy and Bloekom Road,gerald Smith,kariega,6241
Postal address	P O Box 437, Uitenhage, 6230
Suburb / area	Gerald Smith
Town	Kariega
Province	Eastern Cape
Education district	Nelson Mandela
Municipality	Sundays River Valley Local Municipality
Former department	House of Representatives(HOR)

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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.