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Excelsior School

Public combined school · Umtata, Mthatha, Eastern Cape · Or Tambo Inland district (Unknown circuit)

Excelsior School is a public combined school based in Umtata, Mthatha. The school's latest NSC pass rate stands at 76.1%.

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On this page, you will find everything you need to know about Excelsior School, including its location, admissions process, fees and matric results.

In Umtata, Mthatha, Excelsior School operates as a public combined school. It is a fee-charging school, funded under quintile Q4.

1,817
Learners
48
Educators
QQ4 · R1,500-R8,000/yr est.
Funding status
Public
Sector
Fees and funding

Fee-charging school

Excelsior School is a fee-charging school, classified quintile Q4. Fee-charging schools receive lower per-learner state funding and rely on school fees to cover the difference. Public schools in this quintile typically charge an estimated R1,500 to R8,000 a year. This is a national estimate, not a figure verified for Excelsior School specifically, so contact the school directly to confirm its current fees.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

2023 2024 2025

Excelsior School entered 159 candidates for the 2025 National Senior Certificate, achieving a 76.1% pass rate. That is a step back from the previous two years.

YearCandidates wroteAchieved NSCPass rate
202320018190.5%
202416714989.2%
202515912176.1%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

That year, Excelsior School offered results across 11 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. The best-performing subject was English First Additional Language, with a 100% pass rate.

SubjectWroteAchievedPass rate
Mathematics1086863.0%
Mathematical Literacy595898.3%
Physical Sciences1087468.5%
Life Sciences12411895.2%
Agricultural Sciences595491.5%
Accounting1089789.8%
Business Studies434297.7%
Economics432762.8%
Geography12411996.0%
History595898.3%
English First Additional Language167167100.0%

Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.

District comparison

Or Tambo Inland district

Here is how Excelsior School compares with 5 other schools listed under Or Tambo Inland district.

  • Zimele Senior Secondary School is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 2,172 learners against 1,817; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 95.7% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.
  • Sinolwazi Senior Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Excelsior School, at 2,116 learners; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 92.5% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.
  • St Johns College is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 1,950 learners against 1,817; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges fees under quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 78.8% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.
  • Good Shepherd English School is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 1,910 learners against 1,817, and is a primary school run on a private rather than public basis.
  • Attwell Madala High School is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 1,870 learners against 1,817; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges fees under quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 58.5% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.

Mthatha

And within Mthatha itself, 5 other schools for a closer comparison.

  • Zimele Senior Secondary School is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 2,172 learners against 1,817; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 95.7% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.
  • St Johns College is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 1,950 learners against 1,817; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges fees under quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 78.8% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.
  • Good Shepherd English School is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 1,910 learners against 1,817, and is a primary school run on a private rather than public basis.
  • Attwell Madala High School is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 1,870 learners against 1,817; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges fees under quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 58.5% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.
  • Nozuko Senior Secondary School is a similar size to Excelsior School, with 1,681 learners against 1,817; is a public secondary school, a different phase than Excelsior School; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 91.4% against Excelsior School's 76.1%.
Admissions

How to apply

  1. Contact the school directly, using the details below, to confirm 2027 application dates and requirements.
  2. Prepare the standard documents: the learner's birth certificate, immunisation record, most recent report card, and proof of the parent or guardian's address.
  3. Submit the completed application form to the school office, either in person or however the school currently accepts applications.
  4. Wait for confirmation of a place. Provincial education departments coordinate the relevant intake grade placements for the 2027 school year, so timing can vary.
Provincial admissions

Applying to Excelsior School for 2027

As a public school, Excelsior School follows the Eastern Cape's admissions process: Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 late applications go through the Eastern Cape Admissions Platform, and all other grades apply in person at the school. Read the full Eastern Cape School Application Process Guide for what's required.

Get in touch

Contact and location

Address
50 Sol Mabude Street, Northcrest, Mthatha, 5099
Postal
P O Box 235 5099
Telephone
047 534 1546
EMIS number
200401283

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Frequently asked questions
Are applications open at Excelsior School?
Application windows are set by the school and the provincial education department rather than on one fixed national calendar, so the surest way to know is to ask Excelsior School directly, on 047 534 1546, what its current 2027 intake dates are.
How do you apply to Excelsior School?
Contact the school directly, using the details below, to confirm 2027 application dates and requirements. Prepare the standard documents: the learner's birth certificate, immunisation record, most recent report card, and proof of the parent or guardian's address. Submit the completed application form to the school office, either in person or however the school currently accepts applications. Wait for confirmation of a place. Provincial education departments coordinate the relevant intake grade placements for the 2027 school year, so timing can vary.
Is Excelsior School the best school in Mthatha?
On the numbers that are published, Excelsior School's matric pass rate of 76.1% is lower than ZIMELE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL's 95.7%, the highest among the nearby schools we have data for.
How many other schools are there in Mthatha besides Excelsior School?
Schoolhive lists at least 10 other schools in and around Mthatha, including Zimele Senior Secondary School.
How big are the classes at Excelsior School?
Excelsior School reported 1,817 learners and 48 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 38 learners per educator. That's a whole-school average rather than a per-class figure, since actual class sizes vary by grade and subject.
Do you pay school fees at Excelsior School?
Yes, Excelsior School is a fee-charging school, with schools in its quintile typically charging an estimated R1,500 to R8,000 a year, though contact the school directly to confirm its exact current fee.
What are Excelsior School's matric results like?
Excelsior School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 76.1%, in 2025. That's down from 90.5% in 2023.
Is Excelsior School a public or private school?
Excelsior School is a public combined school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.
How can I contact Excelsior School?
You can call 047 534 1546. It is located at 50 Sol Mabude Street, Northcrest, Mthatha, 5099.
Related

Related schools in Mthatha

A few other schools in the Umtata, Mthatha area: