Matric 2025 – Top 10 Best Performing School In South Africa – South Africa’s education system faces many challenges, but some schools consistently achieve excellence, producing top matric results year after year. In 2025, these schools have once again demonstrated outstanding performance through high pass rates, exceptional numbers of distinctions, and holistic educational offerings that go beyond academics.
Despite their costly tuition fees, private schools in South Africa are known for their prestige and excellent results year-on-year – but some are the cream of the crop.
The perception that private schools provide a superior education is why many parents opt to send their children to these schools in South Africa.
This article takes a detailed look at the top 10 overall best matric performing schools in South Africa in 2025, highlighting why each deserves its place at the top.
The top 10 overall best-performing schools are:
1. SAHETI
SAHETI School, located in Senderwood, Bedfordview (Johannesburg), consistently produces exceptional matric results, particularly in the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) examinations.
SAHETI School’s 2024 Matric Results
- 100% pass rate — every candidate successfully passed the IEB matric.
- Total distinctions: 286 distinctions from the cohort, averaging an impressive 4.5 distinctions per candidate.
- Every learner achieved at least one distinction, highlighting strong overall class performance.
- High-level achievers:
- 25 A+ distinctions (90–100 %), with five perfect scores.
- 63 distinctions ranked in the top 1% nationally.
- 27% of matriculants scored full-house distinctions (distinctions in all subjects taken).
2. Roedean
100% Bachelor’s Degree Pass Rate in the 2024 IEB exams
High-achieving cohort:
- Over 50% of students scored above 80% average
- 18 subject scores ranked in the IEB top 1% nationally
- 3 candidates named on the IEB Outstanding Achievers list, and 1 on the Commendable list
3. Crawford College Sandton
Crawford International Sandton is a prestigious private school in Benmore, Sandton (Gauteng), part of the ADvTECH group and affiliated with Crawford schools nationwide. Founded in 1993, it offers education from pre-primary through Grade 12, serving around 2,000 students and aligning with the IEB examination system
Crawford International Sandton’s 2024 matric results showcase not just academic excellence (100% pass, 504 distinctions, 4.27 per pupil) but also a balanced, future-ready educational model. High-achieving scholars like Moodley and Boshoma, along with a structured prep program and tech-enhanced pedagogy, illustrate why this Sandton campus remains a top performer among South Africa’s IEB schools.
4. Somerset College
Somerset College is an independent, co-educational school founded in 1997, located on a scenic estate in the Winelands of Western Cape. Offering education from Grade 000 through to Grade 12, the school delivers both the IEB National Senior Certificate and Cambridge A-level qualifications. With a strong Christian foundation, Somerset College prides itself on nurturing well-rounded students—academically, spiritually, socially, and environmentally . The school is known for its focus on critical thinking, creativity, leadership, and community service, with both day and boarding options available for senior learners.
Somerset College’s Class of 2024 delivered stellar academic performance in the IEB exams, continuing its reputation for excellence:
- 100% Bachelor’s degree pass rate, maintaining a flawless university entrance rate.
- Average of 4.2 A symbols per candidate, with a total of 410 distinctions across 98 Matriculants .
- 59 students achieved full A averages, including 8 exceptional students who averaged 90% or higher .
- Top-1% subject awards: 40 distinctions in national top 1% rankings across subjects such as Math Core, Physical Sciences, English, and others .
- National Merit Awards:
- 4 Commendable Achiever Awards (top 5% in five subjects including Life Orientation)
- 6 Outstanding Achiever Awards (top 5% in six or more subjects including Life Orientation) .
5. St Mary’s School, Waverley
Founded in 1888, St Mary’s School, Waverley is the oldest independent Anglican girls’ school in Johannesburg, offering education from Grade 0 through Grade 12. With a strong focus on “Love, Community, Integrity”, the school fosters leadership, creativity, and scholarship within a nurturing, values-based environment. It’s known for blending historical tradition with 21st-century innovation, supported by modern facilities like interactive classrooms and a caring pastoral care system .
Outstanding Matric Results – Class of 2024/2025
- 100 % overall pass rate in the 2024 National Senior Certificate exams
- 99 % Bachelor’s pass rate, ensuring near-universal university eligibility
- 394–395 distinctions awarded across the cohort, averaging 4.2–4.25 distinctions per student
- 96–95% of candidates achieved at least one distinction
- 44 % averaged 80%+, and 89 % averaged 70%+ marks
- Strong subject-specific results:
- 55 distinctions in English (59% of candidates)
- 38 in Mathematics (49%)
- 19 in Further Mathematics (66%)
- Recognition through IEB Outstanding and Commendable achiever awards
6. King David Linksfield
King David High School Linksfield is a leading co-ed Jewish day school in Johannesburg, offering Grades 8–12 and writing the IEB National Senior Certificate. It blends academic rigour with rich pastoral care, culture, athletics, Jewish heritage, and community values.
2024 Matric Results – King David Linksfield
- 100% overall pass rate, with all 147 candidates meeting the requirements for matric.
- 98.6% Bachelor pass rate – nearly all qualified for university entrance .
- 552 distinctions in total—3.75 distinctions per candidate on average.
- Full-house distinctions achieved by 21% of the class (seven or more distinctions each)
- 114 subject results ranked in the top 1% nationally .
- Four learners earned spots on the IEB Outstanding Achievers List (top 5% in ≥ 6 subjects + ≥ 80% in Life Orientation). Additionally, six learners made the Commendable List (top 5% in 5 subjects + ≥ 80% Life Orientation)
7. Herschel Girls’ School
Herschel Girls’ School, established in 1922, is a prestigious Anglican private school for girls located in Claremont, Cape Town. With over 900 students from Grades 000–12, Herschel is known for its strong academic ethos, rich Anglican tradition, and an emphasis on leadership, character development, and holistic education
Matric Results – Class of 2024
- 100% pass rate with every candidate achieving at least a Bachelor’s pass in the IEB exams
- 394 distinctions were awarded across 108 candidates—an average of 3.65 distinctions per learner
- 20 distinctions in subjects placed students in the national top 1%
- 4 learners named on the IEB Outstanding Achievers List (top 5% nationally in 6+ subjects plus Level 7 in Life Orientation), and multiple additional students received Commendable Achiever recognition
- Academic excellence:
- 34 students (32%) attained six or more subject distinctions
- 55 students (51%) achieved four or more distinctions
- 48% scored an A-average (≥80%), and 86% achieved an A or B aggregate (≥70%)
8. St Stithians Girls’ College
St Stithians Girls’ College, established in 1995, is part of the renowned St Stithians College campus in Sandton, Johannesburg. Affiliated with the Methodist Church, the school operates a co-ordinate model alongside the Boys’ College. It offers a robust holistic education grounded in the “One 4 All” ethos—balancing academic rigour, character development, spiritual growth, cultural engagement, community service, and sporting excellence
- 100 % overall pass rate for all 107 candidates in the 2024 IEB exams.
- 100 % Bachelor’s degree pass rate, meaning every student qualified for university admission.
- 387 distinctions were awarded (Level 7 or 80%+), averaging 3.62 distinctions per student
- 54 students achieved four or more distinctions
- Seven students received the school’s Summa Cum Laude award (average ≥ 90%)
- 86.9 % of learners scored at least one distinction
- 22 subject results ranked in the top 1 % nationally across 15 subjects
9. Helpmekaar Kollege
Helpmekaar Kollege, affectionately known as “Helpies,” is a prestigious co-educational private school and boarding institution situated in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Established in 1921, it holds the distinction of being the first Afrikaans-medium high school in the Johannesburg area. The school follows the IEB curriculum and emphasizes a balanced education—combining academic excellence, Afrikaans cultural heritage, and a strong sporting and creative programme. With around 1,300 learners enrolled from Grades 8 to 12 and a vibrant campus boasting a shrine of traditions (“Komaan!” slogan, striped academic blazers, annual cultural events), Helpmekaar nurtures both achievement and identity.
Matric Results – Class of 2024
- 100% overall pass rate in the 2024 IEB National Senior Certificate examinations.
- 826 distinctions awarded across the class—averaging 3.53 distinctions per candidate .
- Top achiever: Adriaan Mostert earned an extraordinary 11 distinctions, while Henri Britz, Elanze Kuhn, and Nelius van Graan each achieved 10 distinctions.
- Among IEB schools nationwide, Helpmekaar ranked 9th overall in distinctions per candidate
10. Redhill School
Redhill School, founded in 1907 in Yeoville, Johannesburg, is now a renowned co-educational, English-medium day school in Morningside, Sandton, offering Grades 000–12. It operates under the IEB and also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)—making it the only South African school to provide students a choice between two globally recognized qualification tracks.
Matric Results – Class of 2024/2025
- 100% Bachelor’s degree pass rate: All 88 candidates qualified for university entrance under the IEB system.
- 309 distinctions in total—an average of 3.51 distinctions per candidate.
- High academic achievers:
- 10% of candidates earned seven or more distinctions.
- 45% achieved an A-average (80%+), and 83% obtained a B-average (70%+) or higher .
- 96% earned at least one distinction
