South Africa's most expensive private day schools in 2024
South Africa's most expensive private day schools in 2024
South Africa's most expensive private day school now charges R240,000, which is R16,000 more than last year.
Schooling in South Africa is incredibly expensive, relatively pricey, or, in some cases, free. And just before schools broke up last year, we contacted dozens of South African schools to get the latest fees and all their increases.
For the first time, South Africa has a private day school break through the R240,000 barrier - for a single matric year. This is about three times more than the most expensive government schools in South Africa.
KwaZulu-Natal’s Kearsney College once again claims the top spot, if you exclude the non-standard models of a few international schools that have set up shop in South Africa.
Kearsney now charges parents R240,900 for a single matric year. This is about R60k short of the average annual salary in South Africa. And the equivalent of buying a new Polo Vivo Trendline.
And unless competing schools chase double-digit increases next year and Kearsney decides to be generous, there’ll be no catching it anytime soon.
Two new schools in the plus R200k club
In another first for 2024, two schools, both from Johannesburg, have joined Kearsney in the plus R200k club: St John’s College and Roedean School.
The top four most expensive day schools in South Africa remain unchanged from previous years, but a below-average increase from Clifton College and sizeable increases from King David and St Mary’s have shifted the top ten around.
St Mary’s, the second girls’ school in the top five, is followed by the Crawford College’s flagship Sandton branch.
Reddam’s most elite operations - in Waterfall and Helderfontein - are close behind, but still some way ahead of other branches in the private school’s own network.
From fifth position, things get a little tighter - there’s only R2,550 separating fifth from 10th. And at least half a dozen other elite schools are knocking on the top ten’s doors.
The difference between first and tenth is big: R53,880, or, roughly, a seven-night stay in the Seychelles, flights included.
Private day school increases for 2024
The biggest rand value increase for 2024 comes from Kearsney, where, thanks to a 7.2% increase, parents will pay R16,280 more than those in 2023 did.
St John’s and Rodean increased their fees by a slightly more modest 6.5%.
The biggest percentage increase for 2024 comes from Reddam, whose Waterfall and Helderfontein schools increased fees by 8%, or R13,975.
The average increase for SA’s most expensive day schools is 7.19% - and if all schools in the top 10 increase their fees by 7% or more for 2025, it’ll be a top 10 of R200k or more.
