Top Extra County Schools in Nairobi Based on KCSE Performance

Top Extra County Schools in Nairobi Based on KCSE Performance.

Extra county schools are the second tier of high schools in Kenya, following national schools. They are distributed across the country and admit students from different regions. These schools are ranked based on factors such as facilities, teaching staff, and student diversity.

Key Highlights

Upper Hill School is among the top-performing boys’ extra county schools.
Precious Blood Riruta consistently ranks as the best-performing extra county school in Nairobi.
Established in 1957, Ngara Girls remains one of the most sought-after extra county schools.

Leading Extra County Schools in Nairobi

Several extra county schools in Nairobi have built strong reputations due to their impressive KCSE performances. The following are some of the best:

List of Top Extra County Schools in Nairobi

Aquinas High School
Highway Secondary School
Huruma Girls High School
Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School South B
Ofafa Jericho High School
Buruburu Girls Secondary School
St Anne’s Girls Secondary School
Ngara Girls Secondary School
Dagoretti High School
Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta
State House Girls High School
Hospital Hills High School
Highridge Girls Boarding Secondary School
Moi Girls’ School Nairobi
Upper Hill School

Apart from these, Nairobi also has other extra county schools, categorized into clusters C1, C2, and C3. Below are more details about some of these institutions.

Notable Extra County Schools

Aquinas High School

Code: 20401001
Type: Boys
Cluster: C1

Aquinas High School, a public boys’ boarding institution in Makadara, is among Nairobi’s best-performing secondary schools. Form-one admissions are managed by the Ministry of Education and are highly competitive.

Highway Secondary School

Code: 20401002
Type: Boys
Cluster: C2

Situated in the South B area, Highway Secondary is a boys’ extra county school named after the adjacent Mombasa Highway. Established in 1962 as an Asian institution for O-levels, the school continues to excel in KCSE.

Huruma Girls High School

Code: 20401003
Type: Girls
Cluster: C3

Located along Nyasa Road in Makadara, Huruma Girls High School was founded in 1964 to address the need for more secondary school spaces for girls. It offers both day and boarding options and has consistently recorded impressive KCSE results.

Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School South B

Code: 20401004
Type: Girls
Cluster: C1

Founded in 1962 by the Mercy Sisters, Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School South B is sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. The school is located in Hazina, near Mater Hospital.

Ofafa Jericho High School

Code: 20401005
Type: Boys
Cluster: C1

Ofafa Jericho High School, situated in Makadara, is a well-equipped boys’ school offering both boarding and day programs. It continues to excel academically and is one of the leading extra county schools in Nairobi.

Buruburu Girls Secondary School

Code: 20401007
Type: Girls
Cluster: C1

Originally established in 1956 as a mixed-day school, Buruburu Girls transitioned to an all-girls institution in 1992. The school has consistently achieved outstanding results in KCSE, making it a top choice for students.

St Anne’s Girls Secondary School

Code: 20401020
Type: Girls
Cluster: C2

St Anne’s Secondary, a Catholic-sponsored institution, was founded in 2010 to accommodate the growing demand for girls’ education. It is located along Jogoo Road, near St Anne’s Primary School and Our Lady of Visitation Catholic Church.

Ngara Girls Secondary School

Code: 20403004
Type: Girls
Cluster: C1

Ngara Girls Secondary School was established in 1957 as an Asian mixed school during the colonial period. Located in Starehe, the school has gained recognition for its academic excellence.

Dagoretti High School

Code: 20405001
Type: Boys
Cluster: C2

Dagoretti High School, situated in Dagoretti, is known for both its strong academic performance and its history of producing talented basketball players. It is a boys’ boarding school with a student population of around 1,700.

These schools continue to offer quality education and uphold a strong academic reputation in Nairobi County.

Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta

Code: 20405004
Type: Girls
Cluster: C1

Located in Kawangware, Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta, is a public girls’ boarding school. Initially established as a single-stream institution, it has since expanded to accommodate multiple streams. Renowned for its outstanding academic achievements, the school consistently attains top grades, cementing its status as one of the leading secondary schools in Nairobi.

State House Girls High School

Code: 20406002
Type: Girls
Cluster: C1

Situated along Nairobi’s State House Road, near Acorn Court and Oxford Business Park, State House Girls High School is a prestigious educational institution. Established during the colonial period, it boasts a rich historical background. The school is recognized for its commendable performance in the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) assessments and was among the top-ranked institutions in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

Hospital Hill High School

Code: 20406009
Type: Boys
Cluster: C2

Hospital Hill High School, an all-boys boarding secondary school, is located in Highridge, within the Westlands constituency of Nairobi County. The institution has maintained a strong reputation for excellence in both academics and sports since its establishment.

Highridge Girls Boarding Secondary School

Code: 20406019
Type: Girls
Cluster: C3

Highridge Girls Boarding Secondary School is an extra county-level boarding school for girls, located in Westlands Sub-County. The institution consistently performs well in KNEC examinations, upholding its academic reputation.

Moi Girls’ School Nairobi

Code: 20410001
Type: Girls
Cluster: C1

Moi Girls’ School Nairobi, a national-level institution, is located along Joseph Kangethe Road in Woodley Estate. Committed to academic excellence, the school aims to produce top-performing students who are well-rounded in various disciplines.

Upper Hill School

Code: 20410002
Type: Boys
Cluster: C1

Upper Hill Boys’ High School is an esteemed extra-county boys’ institution located in Nairobi. Established in 1956 by British settler Lord Delamere, it was originally named Delamere School. Over the years, it has gained recognition for its strong academic foundation and discipline.

Top KCSE Schools in Nairobi

In the 2024 KCSE examinations, the leading schools in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area included Mang’u, Starehe Boys Centre, Alliance Girls High, Merishaw, and Kenya High. These institutions demonstrated exceptional academic performance, securing top positions in the rankings.

Admission Requirements for Extra County Schools

Students who scored 400 marks and above in the national examinations were eligible to join either National or Extra County schools based on their preferences and performance.

Difference Between County and Extra County Schools

Extra county schools are high-performing boarding institutions with a mean score of 6.5 or higher. Currently, there are approximately 283 extra county schools. These schools play a significant role in promoting national integration and enhancing educational standards.

While national schools primarily admit students from across the country, extra county schools accept applicants from both within and outside the host county.