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Sir John Adamson High School

Public secondary school · Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng · Johannesburg Central district (1 circuit)

Sir John Adamson High School is a public secondary school based in Johannesburg. Its last matric group achieved a 85.5% pass rate.

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

In Johannesburg, Sir John Adamson High School operates as a public secondary school. It is a fee-charging school, funded under quintile Q5.

2,256
Learners
76
Educators
QQ5 · R1,500-R8,000/yr est.
Funding status
Public
Sector
Fees and funding

Fee-charging school

Sir John Adamson 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 Sir John Adamson High School specifically, so contact the school directly to confirm its current fees.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

2023 2024 2025

In 2025, 276 matric candidates from Sir John Adamson High School sat the National Senior Certificate exams, and 85.5% passed. Results have held steady year on year.

YearCandidates wroteAchieved NSCPass rate
202326723387.3%
202427523986.9%
202527623685.5%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

That year, Sir John Adamson High School offered results across 9 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. Geography had the strongest result, at 100%.

SubjectWroteAchievedPass rate
Mathematics1246350.8%
Mathematical Literacy15414996.8%
Physical Sciences654569.2%
Life Sciences13410276.1%
Accounting464393.5%
Business Studies13211587.1%
Economics746081.1%
Geography8989100.0%
History706795.7%

Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.

District comparison

Johannesburg Central district

A look at 5 other schools sharing Johannesburg Central district with Sir John Adamson High School.

  • Vuwani Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Sir John Adamson High School, at 2,678 learners; charges fees under quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 81.9% against Sir John Adamson High School's 85.5%.
  • High School President sits in roughly the same size range as Sir John Adamson High School, at 2,371 learners; charges fees under quintile Q5; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 95% against Sir John Adamson High School's 85.5%.
  • Ibhongo Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Sir John Adamson High School, at 1,987 learners; charges fees under quintile Q2; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 95.9% against Sir John Adamson High School's 85.5%.
  • Protea Secondary School No.2 sits in roughly the same size range as Sir John Adamson High School, at 1,952 learners, and charges fees under quintile Q5.
  • Faranani Primary School sits in roughly the same size range as Sir John Adamson High School, at 1,926 learners; is a public primary school, a different phase than Sir John Adamson High School; and charges fees under quintile Q5.

Johannesburg

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

  • Cosmo City Secondary School is a similar size to Sir John Adamson High School, with 2,936 learners against 2,256, and charges fees under quintile Q1.
  • Alexandra Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Sir John Adamson High School, at 2,896 learners; charges fees under quintile Q2; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 78.3% against Sir John Adamson High School's 85.5%.
  • Cosmo City Junior Primary School is a similar size to Sir John Adamson High School, with 2,892 learners against 2,256; is a public primary school, a different phase than Sir John Adamson High School; and charges fees under quintile Q1.
  • Spectrum Primary School is a similar size to Sir John Adamson High School, with 2,888 learners against 2,256; is a public primary school, a different phase than Sir John Adamson High School; and charges fees under quintile Q5.
  • Kaalfontein Primary School is a similar size to Sir John Adamson High School, with 2,848 learners against 2,256; is a public primary school, a different phase than Sir John Adamson 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 Sir John Adamson High School for 2027

Because Sir John Adamson 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
300, Riflerange Road, Winchester Hills, Johannesburg, Johannesburg
Postal
82123 Southdale 2135
Telephone
011 680 2453
Website
sirjohn.co.za
Email
admin@sirjohn.co.za
EMIS number
700121061

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Frequently asked questions
Are applications open at Sir John Adamson 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 Sir John Adamson High School directly, on 011 680 2453, what its current 2027 intake dates are.
How do you apply to Sir John Adamson 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 Sir John Adamson High School the best school in Johannesburg?
On the numbers that are published, Sir John Adamson High School's 85.5% 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 Sir John Adamson High School?
Schoolhive lists at least 10 other schools in and around Johannesburg, including Cosmo City Secondary School.
How big are the classes at Sir John Adamson High School?
Sir John Adamson High School reported 2,256 learners and 76 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 30 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 Sir John Adamson High School?
Yes, Sir John Adamson 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 Sir John Adamson High School's matric results like?
Sir John Adamson High School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 85.5%, in 2025. It has stayed close to 87.3% since 2023.
Is Sir John Adamson High School a public or private school?
Sir John Adamson High School is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.
How can I contact Sir John Adamson High School?
You can call 011 680 2453. It is located at 300, Riflerange Road, Winchester Hills, Johannesburg, Johannesburg.
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