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Highlands North Boys High School

Public secondary school, ordinary & technical specialisation · Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng · Johannesburg East district (2 circuit)

Highlands North Boys High School is a public secondary school based in Johannesburg. Its most recent matric class posted a 91.5% pass rate.

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

In Johannesburg, Highlands North Boys High School operates as a public secondary school. It is a fee-charging school, funded under quintile Q5.

840
Learners
35
Educators
QQ5 · R1,500-R8,000/yr est.
Funding status
Ordinary & Technical
Specialisation
Good to know

More about this school

  • Founded in 1939; a government boys' high school in Highlands North, Johannesburg.
  • Headmaster Mike Masinge was the school's 11th headmaster overall and only its second Black principal in its history.
In the news

Highlands North Boys High School on the news

  • Highlands North Boys High School: New beginning falters at old school Daily Maverick · 2021-02-21

    In-depth feature on the school's transformation since apartheid: founded 1939, now serves ~756 pupils (about 70% from Alexandra, Soweto and the Vaal), maintaining strong matric pass rates under headmaster Mike Masinge, the school's second Black principal.

Fees and funding

Fee-charging school

Highlands North Boys High School is a fee-charging school, classified quintile Q5. 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 Highlands North Boys High School specifically, so contact the school directly to confirm its current fees.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

2023 2024 2025

Of the 129 learners from Highlands North Boys High School who wrote matric in 2025, 91.5% passed. That marks an improvement over the previous two years.

YearCandidates wroteAchieved NSCPass rate
2023917784.6%
20241179883.8%
202512911891.5%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

That year, Highlands North Boys High School offered results across 9 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. Accounting had the strongest result, at 100%.

SubjectWroteAchievedPass rate
Mathematics432660.5%
Mathematical Literacy757194.7%
Physical Sciences231878.3%
Life Sciences262596.2%
Accounting1010100.0%
Business Studies645789.1%
Economics322578.1%
Geography473983.0%
History594372.9%

Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.

District comparison

Johannesburg East district

Here is how Highlands North Boys High School compares with 5 other schools listed under Johannesburg East district.

  • Kanana Primary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 3,591 learners against Highlands North Boys High School's 840; is a public primary school, a different phase than Highlands North Boys High School; and charges fees under quintile Q2.
  • Alexandra Secondary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 2,896 learners against Highlands North Boys High School's 840; charges fees under quintile Q2; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 78.3% against Highlands North Boys High School's 91.5%.
  • Kaalfontein Primary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 2,848 learners against Highlands North Boys High School's 840; is a public primary school, a different phase than Highlands North Boys High School; and charges fees under quintile Q3.
  • Ebomini Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Highlands North Boys High School, 2,818 compared with 840; is a public primary school, a different phase than Highlands North Boys High School; and charges fees under quintile Q2.
  • Sedi Laka Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Highlands North Boys High School, 2,781 compared with 840; is a public primary school, a different phase than Highlands North Boys High School; and charges fees under quintile Q2.

Johannesburg

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

  • Cosmo City Secondary School teaches considerably more learners than Highlands North Boys High School, 2,936 compared with 840, and charges fees under quintile Q1.
  • Alexandra Secondary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 2,896 learners against Highlands North Boys High School's 840; charges fees under quintile Q2; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 78.3% against Highlands North Boys High School's 91.5%.
  • Cosmo City Junior Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Highlands North Boys High School, 2,892 compared with 840; is a public primary school, a different phase than Highlands North Boys High School; and charges fees under quintile Q1.
  • Spectrum Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Highlands North Boys High School, 2,888 compared with 840; is a public primary school, a different phase than Highlands North Boys High School; and charges fees under quintile Q5.
  • Kaalfontein Primary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 2,848 learners against Highlands North Boys High School's 840; is a public primary school, a different phase than Highlands North Boys High School; and charges fees under quintile Q3.
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 Grade 8 placements for the 2027 school year, so timing can vary.
Provincial admissions

Applying to Highlands North Boys High School for 2027

Because Highlands North Boys High School is a public school in Gauteng, 2027 admissions are handled through the province's online admissions system rather than the school itself. Apply via the Gauteng Online Admissions System; the 2027 window for Grade 1 and Grade 8 ran from 5 August to 4 September 2026. Watch the video below for a walkthrough, or read the full Gauteng School Application Process Guide for full details.

Gauteng Department of Education: how to apply through the online admissions system.

Get in touch

Contact and location

Address
1, 4Th Avenue, Highlands North, Johannesburg, Johannesburg
Postal
2192
Telephone
082 099 9490
EMIS number
700130484

Something wrong here? Correct the details

Online

Website and social media

www.hnbhs.co.za
Frequently asked questions
Are applications open at Highlands North Boys High 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 Highlands North Boys High School directly, on 082 099 9490, what its current 2027 intake dates are.
How do you apply to Highlands North Boys High 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 Grade 8 placements for the 2027 school year, so timing can vary.
Is Highlands North Boys High School the best school in Johannesburg?
On the numbers that are published, Highlands North Boys High School's 91.5% matric pass rate is the highest among the schools we track nearby, ahead of ALEXANDRA SECONDARY SCHOOL at 78.3%.
How many other schools are there in Johannesburg besides Highlands North Boys High School?
Schoolhive lists at least 10 other schools in and around Johannesburg, including Cosmo City Secondary School.
How big are the classes at Highlands North Boys High School?
Highlands North Boys High School reported 840 learners and 35 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 24 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 Highlands North Boys High School?
Yes, Highlands North Boys High 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 Highlands North Boys High School's matric results like?
Highlands North Boys High School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 91.5%, in 2025. That's up from 84.6% in 2023.
Is Highlands North Boys High School a public or private school?
Highlands North Boys High School is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.
How can I contact Highlands North Boys High School?
You can call 082 099 9490. It is located at 1, 4Th Avenue, Highlands North, Johannesburg, Johannesburg.
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