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Mccarthy Comprehensive School

Public secondary school, technical specialisation · Gerald Smith, Kariega, Eastern Cape · Nelson Mandela district (Unknown circuit)

Welcome to Mccarthy Comprehensive School, a public secondary school serving Gerald Smith, Kariega. Its last matric group achieved a 77% pass rate.

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On this page, you will find what parents need to know about Mccarthy Comprehensive School, from its location and fees to its admissions process and matric results.

Mccarthy Comprehensive School is a public secondary school in Gerald Smith, Kariega. As a quintile Q3 school, it does not charge fees.

1,061
Learners
34
Educators
QQ3 · No fee
Funding status
Technical
Specialisation
Fees and funding

No tuition fees

Mccarthy Comprehensive School is a no-fee school, classified quintile Q3 under the national funding norms. No-fee schools receive their operating funding directly from the state and do not charge parents school fees.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

2023 2024 2025

In 2025, 74 matric candidates from Mccarthy Comprehensive School sat the National Senior Certificate exams, and 77% passed. The pass rate has stayed fairly consistent over the past three years.

YearCandidates wroteAchieved NSCPass rate
2023493877.6%
2024644062.5%
2025745777.0%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

Mccarthy Comprehensive School reported results in 5 of these subjects. English First Additional Language led the field at 98.9%.

SubjectWroteAchievedPass rate
Mathematical Literacy382257.9%
Life Sciences2114.8%
Geography171058.8%
History391948.7%
English First Additional Language878698.9%

Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.

District comparison

Nelson Mandela district

Here is how Mccarthy Comprehensive School compares with 5 other schools listed under Nelson Mandela district.

  • Walmer Secondary School teaches considerably more learners than Mccarthy Comprehensive School, 2,290 compared with 1,061; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 96.6% against Mccarthy Comprehensive School's 77%.
  • Khwezi Lomso Comprehensive School teaches considerably more learners than Mccarthy Comprehensive School, 1,736 compared with 1,061; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 85.7% against Mccarthy Comprehensive School's 77%.
  • Ndzondelelo High School teaches considerably more learners than Mccarthy Comprehensive School, 1,668 compared with 1,061; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 85.7% against Mccarthy Comprehensive School's 77%.
  • Kwamagxaki Secondary School teaches considerably more learners than Mccarthy Comprehensive School, 1,655 compared with 1,061; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 93.1% against Mccarthy Comprehensive School's 77%.
  • Alfonso Arries Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Mccarthy Comprehensive School, 1,606 compared with 1,061; is a public primary school, a different phase than Mccarthy Comprehensive School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.

Kariega

Zooming into Kariega, here are 5 other schools to compare against Mccarthy Comprehensive School.

  • Uitenhage Primary School sits in roughly the same size range as Mccarthy Comprehensive School, at 1,338 learners; is a public primary school, a different phase than Mccarthy Comprehensive School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
  • Molly Blackburn Senior Secondary School is a similar size to Mccarthy Comprehensive School, with 1,275 learners against 1,061; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 70.4% against Mccarthy Comprehensive School's 77%.
  • Solomon Mahlangu Senior Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Mccarthy Comprehensive School, at 1,249 learners; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 92.8% against Mccarthy Comprehensive School's 77%.
  • Gamble Street Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Mccarthy Comprehensive School, at 1,233 learners; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 71.1% against Mccarthy Comprehensive School's 77%.
  • Noninzi Luzipho Primary School is a similar size to Mccarthy Comprehensive School, with 1,215 learners against 1,061; is a public primary school, a different phase than Mccarthy Comprehensive School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
Admissions

How to apply

  1. Reach out to the school using the contact details below to check 2027 application windows, since these can shift from year to year.
  2. Gather the required documents ahead of time, including the learner's birth certificate, immunisation records, latest report, and proof of address.
  3. Submit the application through the school's own process, in person or online if the school offers that option.
  4. Provincial placement processes govern Grade 8 intake for the 2027 academic year, so allow time between applying and receiving confirmation.
Provincial admissions

Applying to Mccarthy Comprehensive School for 2027

As a public school, Mccarthy Comprehensive 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
C/0 Mccarthy And Bloekom Road, Gerald Smith, Kariega, 6241
Postal
P O Box 437, Uitenhage, 6230
Telephone
041 988 5201
EMIS number
200100503

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Frequently asked questions
Are applications open at Mccarthy Comprehensive 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 Mccarthy Comprehensive School directly, on 041 988 5201, what its current 2027 intake dates are.
How do you apply to Mccarthy Comprehensive School?
Reach out to the school using the contact details below to check 2027 application windows, since these can shift from year to year. Gather the required documents ahead of time, including the learner's birth certificate, immunisation records, latest report, and proof of address. Submit the application through the school's own process, in person or online if the school offers that option. Provincial placement processes govern Grade 8 intake for the 2027 academic year, so allow time between applying and receiving confirmation.
Is Mccarthy Comprehensive School the best school in Kariega?
On the numbers that are published, Mccarthy Comprehensive School's matric pass rate of 77% is lower than SOLOMON MAHLANGU SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL's 92.8%, the highest among the nearby schools we have data for.
How many other schools are there in Kariega besides Mccarthy Comprehensive School?
Schoolhive lists at least 10 other schools in and around Kariega, including Uitenhage Primary School.
How big are the classes at Mccarthy Comprehensive School?
Mccarthy Comprehensive School reported 1,061 learners and 34 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 31 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 Mccarthy Comprehensive School?
No. Mccarthy Comprehensive School is a no-fee school, classified quintile Q3 under the national funding norms, so parents are not charged school fees.
What are Mccarthy Comprehensive School's matric results like?
Mccarthy Comprehensive School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 77%, in 2025. It has stayed close to 77.6% since 2023.
Is Mccarthy Comprehensive School a public or private school?
Mccarthy Comprehensive School is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.
How can I contact Mccarthy Comprehensive School?
You can call 041 988 5201. It is located at C/0 Mccarthy And Bloekom Road, Gerald Smith, Kariega, 6241.
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