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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Choosing the right high school’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” custom_class=”]
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Choosing the right high school with your child can be the most important educational decision you make. South Africa is a diverse country and this diversity is very evident in our school system: schools range from excellent to terrible, and from expensive to free. Paying school fees doesn’t guarantee you a good education and going to a free school doesn’t mean it will underperform. So how do you decide? Examine all of the following issues carefully and honestly.
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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Geography’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” custom_class=”]
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Realistically, where can your child get to for school each day? Consider safety, travelling time and travelling costs. Only consider schools within this boundary.
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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’A good fit for your child’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” custom_class=”]
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Teenage years are foundational identity-building years. Choose schools that offer a culture that suits your child filled with kids that you are happy for your child to hang out with. Also consider overall school size and class size. Ask about extramural sports, culture and service opportunities.
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Academically, how well is this school doing? There are some key questions that need to be answered in order for you to understand a school’s performance based on matric results. These questions ask about average performance and also best performance. They give you an idea of the school’s best results and also its most likely results. You should ask the school principal:
- What percentage of your matrics got Bachelor’s passes last year?
- Which band did your top 10% of Maths learners score in?
- Which band did most of your Maths learners score in?
- Which band did your top 10% of home language learners score in?
- Which band did most of your home language learners score in?
To understand matric subject choice, achievement bands and matric passes, see the following web page on our site:
Subject choice, achievement bands and matric passes.
To see Bachelor Performance versus cost for all Western Cape Schools, read this blog.
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[av_heading heading=’Important Performance Data’ tag=’h3′ color=” custom_font=” style=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’10’ padding=’10’]
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Most schools are pretty quick to mention their matric pass rates, this is understandable as this is what the media loves, but far more import is the bachelors pass rate. A bachelors pass is more or less what matric with exemption was in the past – essentially it allows these students to apply for tertiary studies at Universities.
The image below shows the bachelors pass rates for all Western Cape schools and plots them according to fees charged. For more information read our blog.
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[av_heading heading=’Individual Interests and Needs’ tag=’h3′ color=” custom_font=” style=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’10’ padding=’10’][/av_heading]
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Having identified the best schools in your area that you can afford, the final school choice decision depends on your individual child.
You might want to consider the culture of the school – do they offer sport, music, cultural activities? Do they compete academically in competitions like the Eskom Science Fair? What does your child love to do? Does the school offer this? Is it a big and vibrant school or a small and quiet school? What temperament does your child have?
It is worth saying that you need to consider the home language of the school and the dominant racial culture at the school. Will you child be comfortable there and able to make friends? You also need to consider what subjects are on offer for matric and whether they will open the right doors for your child’s further study or employment.
You don’t need to wait for a problem to emerge to find out what support the school can offer academically or emotionally. Do they offer extra classes after school? Do they have a school counselor?
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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Visit school open days, held in February to March each year’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” custom_class=”]
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Be sure that you pick up application forms and submit them before the due date, which generally will be three to four school terms BEFORE you start high school (that is, in the first term of Grade 7). Visit the open days so that you can get a feel for the school. If they don’t have an open day, make a point to visit. Talk to the students and ask them about their experience of the school. Try to meet other parents to find out about uniform and text book costs and any second hand shops the school might organise.
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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Understand your financial commitments in full’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” custom_class=”]
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What are the school fees? What additional fees will you have to pay for application, textbooks, outings, camps, uniforms, etc? Does the school offer any bursaries or scholarships? If you want your child to attend a school that you cannot afford, click here for fee subsidy/exemption information and a list of Cape Town’s scholarship providers
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