In South Africa, schools are divided into five quintiles (1 to 5) based on the socio-economic status of the community they serve. This system helps the government allocate funding more fairly. Quintile 1 schools serve the poorest communities and receive the most support, while Quintile 5 schools serve wealthier areas and receive less funding. Quintiles 1 to 3 are usually no-fee schools.
NAS stands for National Assessment System. The NAS score is a standardized measure used to assess the academic performance of schools in areas such as literacy and numeracy. It helps evaluate educational outcomes at a systemic level.
The learner–teacher ratio indicates how many learners there are per educator in a school. A lower ratio often means more individual attention for learners. For example, a ratio of 30:1 means there are 30 learners for every teacher.
No-fee schools are public schools that do not charge tuition fees. These schools are primarily found in Quintiles 1 to 3 and are funded by the government to ensure access to education for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The school data presented on Understanding Kids is sourced from publicly available records provided by the South African Department of Basic Education. While we strive to ensure accuracy, users are encouraged to verify details directly with schools.
Here is a breakdown of how the quintile system categorizes public schools in South Africa:
| Quintile | Description | Funding Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poorest schools — located in the most disadvantaged communities | Highest government support (no school fees) |
| 2 | Very poor schools | High support (no school fees) |
| 3 | Moderately poor schools | Moderate support (no school fees) |
| 4 | Less poor schools | May charge fees |
| 5 | Least poor — schools in more affluent communities | Lowest state funding (fees usually charged) |
