By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Two of South Africa’s elite schools, Michaelhouse in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town, have been ranked among the top 150 private schools in the world in 2024.
The two schools were chosen by the UK global education consultancy group Carfax Education.
For the past 30 years, Michaelhouse had a 100% matric pass rate, including between 98 and 100% Bachelor-level passes.
The lists in this year’s Schools Index include:
- Top 25, UK Senior
- Top 10, UK Preparatory
- Top 10, London
- Top 10, Switzerland
- Top 15, Europe
- Top 15, Middle East
- Top 10, China & Hong Kong
- Top 10, South East Asia
- Top 20, North America
- Top 5, New York
- Top 5, Africa
- Top 5, Australasia
- Top 5, Latin America
- Top 5, Southern Asia
Fiona McKenzie, Head of Education, Carfax Education, said: “Now in its fifth year, The Schools Index has become a valuable resource for parents looking for the very best education for their child, wherever they are in the world – as well as for the private schools sector. The demand for excellent schools grows and remains fiercely competitive as parents strive to ensure their child receives the strongest foundations to set them up for a lifetime ‘of success.
The importance of parents having The Schools Index has grown as families become more mobile and can choose to work from anywhere in the world, The Schools Index has become a valuable resource to highlight the best education opportunities for their children.”
This year’s Schools Index has been comprehensively curated by international experts, with each school notably recognised for its own individual footprint in education, including academics, facilities, preparation for university entry, unique ethos and how they prepare students for life beyond academia.”
Antony Clark, Rector of Michaelhouse, said: “We are delighted to be listed as one of the top independent schools in the world in The Schools Index by Carfax Education. Clearly this is in recognition of the holistic programme at our all-boys, all-boarding school at which our pupils flourish.
Our academic platform leads to many of our students moving on to the top universities in the world and attaining excellent results there, whilst the broader educational programme with sport, music, art and drama all play a significant role in our pupils’ lives and create an environment in which boys develop in a nurturing atmosphere. Service remains an important part of our raison d’être and, in this regard, we require our boys to be involved in making a difference in the world, a characteristic which they take forward in their lives after school.”
Further afield, new entries include the Epsom College, Malaysia and The British School of Bahrain. For the first time, nine new North American schools are on the list, including Ransom Everglades School in Miami and Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco.
Five New York Schools have made it into the top 150 Schools List this year, including Trinity School and The Dalton. Also for the first time, The Schools Index includes a Japanese school, the American School of Japan.