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Portland Secondary School

Public secondary school · Portland, Cape Town, Western Cape · Metro South district (2 circuit)

Portland Secondary School is a public secondary school in Portland, City Of Cape Town. Its most recent matric class posted a 96.8% pass rate.

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On this page, you will find a full profile of Portland Secondary School, covering its location, admissions steps, fees and matric performance.

Located in Portland, City Of Cape Town, Portland Secondary School is a public secondary school. It is a fee-charging school, funded under quintile Q5.

1,511
Learners
42
Educators
QQ5 · R1,500-R8,000/yr est.
Funding status
Public
Sector
Fees and funding

Fee-charging school

Portland Secondary 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 Portland Secondary School specifically, so contact the school directly to confirm its current fees.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

2023 2024 2025

In 2025, 247 matric candidates from Portland Secondary School sat the National Senior Certificate exams, and 96.8% passed. The school's results have been trending upward.

YearCandidates wroteAchieved NSCPass rate
202326023389.6%
202427325994.9%
202524723996.8%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

That year, Portland Secondary School offered results across 9 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. The best-performing subject was History, with a 98.5% pass rate.

SubjectWroteAchievedPass rate
Mathematics372464.9%
Mathematical Literacy23720787.3%
Physical Sciences222090.9%
Life Sciences1059489.5%
Accounting212095.2%
Business Studies12210485.2%
Economics252392.0%
Geography16314589.0%
History13012898.5%

Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.

District comparison

Metro South district

Here is how Portland Secondary School compares with 5 other schools listed under Metro South district.

  • New Eisleben Secondary School is a similar size to Portland Secondary School, with 1,847 learners against 1,511; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 81.6% against Portland Secondary School's 96.8%.
  • Ukhanyo Primary School is a similar size to Portland Secondary School, with 1,780 learners against 1,511; is a public primary school, a different phase than Portland Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q2.
  • Imperial Primary School is a similar size to Portland Secondary School, with 1,754 learners against 1,511; is a public primary school, a different phase than Portland Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q4.
  • West End Primary School is a similar size to Portland Secondary School, with 1,690 learners against 1,511; is a public primary school, a different phase than Portland Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q4.
  • Sophumelela Secondary School is a similar size to Portland Secondary School, with 1,646 learners against 1,511; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 89.4% against Portland Secondary School's 96.8%.

Cape Town

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

  • Meridian Pinehurst Private School is a similar size to Portland Secondary School, with 2,089 learners against 1,511; is a combined school run on a private rather than public basis; and posted a very similar matric pass rate (98.7% against Portland Secondary School's 96.8%).
  • Bloekombos Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Portland Secondary School, at 2,037 learners; charges no school fees, quintile Q1; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 84.7% against Portland Secondary School's 96.8%.
  • Table View Primary School is a similar size to Portland Secondary School, with 1,977 learners against 1,511; is a public primary school, a different phase than Portland Secondary School; and charges fees under quintile Q5.
  • Itsitsa Primary School sits in roughly the same size range as Portland Secondary School, at 1,970 learners; is a public primary school, a different phase than Portland Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
  • False Bay Primary School sits in roughly the same size range as Portland Secondary School, at 1,970 learners; is a public primary school, a different phase than Portland Secondary School; and charges fees under quintile Q5.
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 Portland Secondary School for 2027

Portland Secondary School is a public school, so admissions and transfers are handled through the Western Cape Education Department's online system rather than the school directly. For the 2027 intake, Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications ran from 10 March to 14 April 2026, with transfer requests for other grades running from 3 to 17 August 2026, via the Western Cape Admissions Portal. See the full Western Cape School Application Process Guide for the required documents and full process.

Get in touch

Contact and location

Address
C/O Merrydale & Morgenster Rd Portland Mitchells Plain 7785
Postal
C/O Merrydale & Morgenster Rd Portland Mitchells Plain 7785
Telephone
021 374 4141
Website
portlandsecondaryschool.weebly.com
Email
admin@portlands.wcape.school.za
EMIS number
106493376

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Frequently asked questions
Are applications open at Portland Secondary 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 Portland Secondary School directly, on 021 374 4141, what its current 2027 intake dates are.
How do you apply to Portland Secondary 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 Portland Secondary School the best school in Cape Town?
On the numbers that are published, Portland Secondary School's matric pass rate of 96.8% is lower than MERIDIAN PINEHURST PRIVATE SCHOOL's 98.7%, the highest among the nearby schools we have data for.
How many other schools are there in Cape Town besides Portland Secondary School?
Schoolhive lists at least 10 other schools in and around Cape Town, including Meridian Pinehurst Private School.
How big are the classes at Portland Secondary School?
Portland Secondary School reported 1,511 learners and 42 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 36 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 Portland Secondary School?
Yes, Portland Secondary 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 Portland Secondary School's matric results like?
Portland Secondary School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 96.8%, in 2025. That's up from 89.6% in 2023.
Is Portland Secondary School a public or private school?
Portland Secondary School is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.
How can I contact Portland Secondary School?
You can call 021 374 4141. It is located at C/O Merrydale & Morgenster Rd Portland Mitchells Plain 7785.
Related

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