Bellville High School scored a 100% matric pass for the seventh year in a row, with 94.1% of pupils getting Bachelor passes.
In total, 69 out of 447 schools across the Western Cape achieved a 100% percent pass rate while 275 achieved pass rates of between 80% to 100%.
With each of their 204 matrics passing the National Senior Certificate exams and 192 achieving Bachelor passes, Bellville High topped the charts for the Metro East district.
Deon du Plessis, the principal of Bellville High, said: “We are very proud of our learners and staff for achieving a 100% pass rate for the seventh year in a row. I believe we are the only school in the Western Cape to have achieved this, but we are particularly proud of the fact that the number of learners passing with Bachelor’s pass has increased from 93.5 percent last year to 94.1 percent.”
Mr Du Plessis attributed the school’s success to its Planet 51 system.
“The school has its own pass rate of 51 percent for our subjects as opposed to the national pass rate. I believe that this mentality really pushes our students and learners to achieve their best. Of course, our goal is that every student achieves a Bachelor pass and we will not be satisfied until we reach that goal.”
Nearby DF Malan High also celebrated a 100% pass rate and 92.9% Bachelor pass rate among its 212 matric pupils.
Principal Sias Conradie said: “The class of 2019 upheld DF’s motto of ‘Academics is our business’. Congratulations to every leaner in the class who achieved this exceptional achievement with hard work and endurance. I would also like to thank the staff of the school for their input in each of our matrics over the years. Your attitude towards the learners and their education is from the top shelves.”
The Settlers High, Durbanville High and Fairmont High had passes, respectively, of 96.1%, 98.9% and 99%.
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said the Metro North education district had achieved an 86.3% pass rate – the highest in the province.
The Western Cape class of 2019 came third nationally, with a 82.3% pass rate; the Free State was the top performer with 88.4% and Gauteng came second with 87.2%.
However, the province had the highest number of distinctions in the country, the top three matric pupils and the top two in maths.
“These are wonderful individual achievements, and as a province we are very proud of all of our successful candidates,” said Ms Schäfer.
