Getting admission to one of the best national girl schools in Kenya is the dream of every girl sitting for the KCPE exams. Besides being almost sure about good results in KCSE (and getting into some of the world’s best universities), national schools have unmatched approaches to developing other abilities.
While the government promoted tens of secondary learning institutions to national status, most are yet to compete with the old academic giants. Besides, some institutions have not been steady in registering good results over the years.
Best national girls schools in Kenya
The best national girls schools in Kenya are ranked depending on various factors. However, their performance and infrastructure are key considerations as well. The best national girls learning institutions in terms of their 2021 results and consistency include:
1. Kenya High
Besides the rich culture, Kenya High is one of the best schools in Kenya. Kenya High has become a regular feature in Kenya’s top ten best secondary learning institutions in the past ten years. According to the Kenya high school photos, their students wear grey skirts with white shirts and orange and back striped ties. In 2020, they topped the KCSE 10.467.
2. MaryHill High
Maryhill Girls High is one of the best girl schools in Kenya, located in Thika. While the institution’s main intention was to educate mixed-race girls (who could not go to African or European schools), it is now open to bright students. The school is also a haven for students interested in extracurricular activities such as drama and sports.
For more than three decades, the educational establishment has registered impressive results. For example, Maryhill Girls’ High School KCSE results range from 8.5 to 10.6. Thanks to these outstanding performances, it is one of the schools with the highest university entries in Kenya. They had a mean of 9.92 points.
3. Alliance Girls High School
Alliance Girls High (AGHS) is one of the best national schools in Kenya based on its performance. Since the mid-1980s, when 8-4-4 was introduced, AGHS has produced impressive results. For example, in 2011, it was the second-best school overall.
Apart from its results, AGHS has affiliations with reputed universities and colleges. Each year, the institution supports its students applying for colleges in the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa. The AGHS students are also favourite candidates in some prestigious degree courses in Kenya. They had a score of 9.92 in the 2020 KCSE exams.
4. Moi Girls’ Eldoret
Moi Girls’ High is an elite institution and among the top national high schools in Kenya. In the past ten years, their performances have rivalled some of the traditional academic giants. In 2020, for example, they had a mean score of 9.65 points. In addition, even though the institution has one of the most significant student populations, it has consistently maintained a top spot on national examinations.
The school culture and facilities make Moi Girls’ High– Eldoret a perfect option for high achievers. Additionally, its clubs and societies give students holistic growth as they transition from high school to university.
5. Pangani Girls
Pangani Girls is one of the best national schools in Nairobi county. Since introducing the 8-4-4 system, it has performed well, becoming an ideal option for KCPE top achievers. In the past two decades, the school has produced top students in the national examinations country.
The centre of learning has remained on top because of two reasons. First, the learning institution has some of the country’s best teachers. Second, the institution has the best learning facilities in Nairobi. As a result, they had a mean of 9.56 in the 2020 Kenya National Secondary Examinations.
6. Kianda School
Kianda School is a private, all-girls day school with a Catholic ethos located in the Westlands area of Nairobi, Kenya. The school was opened in 1977 by The Kianda Foundation, a non-profit organisation that aims to better Kenyan women’s lives through education and Christian values. In 2020 the institution had a mean of 9.53.
7. Nakuru Girls High School
Nakuru Girls started as a European centre of learning in the early 1920s. However, currently, it is a national school, and students across Kenya can get a spot at the institution. It is one of the best secondary schools in Kenya, based on its performance in KCSE.
Besides academics, the national education institution has many corporate partners. Although it is a government learning centre, the partners are vital in assisting the institution in various projects such as construction and scholarships.
8. St. Brigids Girls High School, Kiminini
St. Brigids Girls High is a national learning institution located in Sabaoti, Trans Nzoia. Even with one of the most prominent students’ populations in a national centre of learning, it has consistently registered impressive results since the early 2000s. In 2018, for example, it had a mean score of B+ despite registering over 250 students for exams.
The impressive results are not accidental. The St. Brigids is synonymous with discipline. Also, the strong bond between teachers and students enables the institution to have one of the best learning environments.
9. Riara Springs
Founded in 2000, Riara Springs offers a holistic education that focuses on girls’ intellectual, emotional, psychological, social, spiritual, and physical development. From the very start, the girls are encouraged to become critical thinkers in an environment that fosters self-confidence and self-reliance. Their 2020 KCSE score is 9.2.
10. Moi Tea Girls High
Moi Tea Girls High is one of the best girls boarding learning institutions in Kenya. It has produced top results in the past 15 years and competes with some of the greats.
Although the student population is relatively small compared to most national tuition establishments, Moi Tea is a perfect option for students interested in holistic growth. It has a vibrant culture and many clubs. They were 23rd overall in KCSE with a mean of 9.08.
11. Kipsigis Girls High
Kipsigis Girls is a learning centre that endeavours to pursue strategies and programmes to fulfil the mandate and contribution towards empowering young ladies. Their sterling performance has given them the pride and confidence to continue providing quality education, thanks to the keen sense of team spirit, determination and a shared vision.
The learning establishment started in 1955 as an African Girls Boarding with one stream of classes (5-8). The total enrollment was one hundred and forty pupils. In 1965, two years after independence, it was elevated to a secondary institution with one hundred and twenty students. They had a mean score of 9.08 in the 2020 KCSE.
12. Bishop Gatimu Ngandu
Bishop Gatimu Ngandu is located in Nyeri. In the last three years, the establishment has consistently appeared on the top-performing schools’ list. In 2020, it was among the best learning centres nationally, with a mean score of 8.962.
Besides academics, it is one of the best boarding schools for girls. The dormitories and sporting facilities make the learning centre one of the best places for holistic growth. In addition, the facilities allow students to pursue other interests, becoming competitive in the job market.
13. Bunyore Girls High
Bunyore Girls is the best school for girls in the western region. Even with one of the highest student populations on this list, it has consistently competed against other learning centres. As a result, more than 80% of the institution’s candidates have earned a place at the local and international universities in the last ten years.
Thanks to its vibrant societies and clubs, the learning centre has also produced well-rounded graduates. Debate club, for example, is one of the best in the country. Also, its advanced sporting facilities make the establishment an ideal option for students interested in sports. As a result, they had a mean of 8.925 in the 2020 KCSE.
14. Limuru High
Limuru Girls High is a national secondary leaning institution located in Limuru Constituency Kiambu County of Central Region, Kenya. Limuru Girls High is a girls’ only public boarding secondary school.
The institution’s motto is:
“In Faith We Go”
The primary selection criterion for the school is that one must have scored over 400 marks in the KCPE exams. Other selection guidelines that the Education Ministry sets also apply; from time to time.
15. Asumbi High
Asumbi Girls is a national girls boarding school located in Homa Bay County; in the Nyanza region of Kenya. The institution was started on 19th March 1936 by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Saint Joseph as Lower Boarding Primary school, with a small population of pupils, sponsored by the Mill Hill missionaries of the then Catholic Diocese of Kisumu.
The school progressed and became an intermediate school going up to std VIII. In 1965 the first form one students were admitted. Three years later, in 1968, the primary section was phased out. The following year 1969, the first secondary students sat their “O” Level examinations.
The best national girl schools in Kenya highlighted above accept students across the country. They admit students based on their competitiveness, mainly through marks. While some started as European-only schools, they are now a melting pot for different cultures and races.
