Are you a high school student in Jamaica looking for the best educational opportunities? Or are you just curious about which schools are leading the pack this year? Read on to find out our top picks for the best high schools in Jamaica, 2020.
Introduction
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information in Jamaica recently published the Bill Johnson rankings of the secondary schools in 2020. These rankings were made possible through The Gleaner’s commitment to education. Minister of Education, Fayval Williams stated that schools should strive to be among the top ranking institutions.
In order to improve the Jamaican education system, a National Plan was introduced in 2016 which included providing more spaces in public high schools. Consequently, Jason Philip of Presentation Brothers College and students from Jamaican schools achieved high rankings in Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
Educate Jamaica also released their top 20 ranking for Jamaican High Schools based on 90% of the school’s cohort completing inspections by the National Education Inspectorate (NEI). Donaldson Technical High School was first established as a technical school and is set to end pre-retirement leave on April 31st. Additionally, preparatory (prep) schools are also available within the primary education system.
To address violence in schools, the government has implemented a Safe Schools Programme (SSP). This joint initiative between several organizations is aimed at reducing drop-outs from high school due to work or other commitments. Modern education was first introduced in Jamaica during the early 18th century with continuous improvements being made since then.
Methodology
The Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC) has developed a new methodology for ranking high schools in Jamaica for 2020. This method, known as the Value Added Method, is based on the number of grade 11 students who passed at least five exams in the 2019-2020 school year. The data used in the analysis comes from the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam results.
The JETC also took into account factors such as teacher total number of teachers in public schools by parish, budget, and primary completion rate Jamaica (6-11 years old). The Commission also looked at other indicators such as the National Education Performance-based contract and the application of STEM in education.
The rankings are calculated by local think tank Educate Jamaica, and are compared to those of other countries such as New Zealand and Sweden. Minister of Education Hon. Andrew Holness has explained that there are no set grades by which students are awarded high school places.
Top 10 High Schools in Jamaica 2020
1. Campion College, Kingston – 100%
2. St. Hilda’s Diocesan High – 98.84%
3. Hampton High – 97.7%
4. Mount Alvernia High – 97.66%
5. Wolmer’s Girls School – 96.9%
6. Westwood High – 95.21%
7. Glenmuir High – 95.14%
8. Mannings High School – 73.5%
9. Morant Bay high school – 73.1%
10 . Kingston College – 70 8%.
Campion College has been consistently ranked as the top school in Jamaica for the past few years, based on the CSEC and CAPE examinations results of their students in 2020 and previous years, earning them several Jamaica Scholarships and Centenary Scholarships over the years and making them a top choice amongst high schoolers looking to pursue higher education in Jamaica or abroad! They have also won the Schools Challenge Quiz Championship three years in a row from 2017-2020, proving their excellence even further! The Ministry of Education has provided allocations to these schools to ensure their continued success and growth for many years to come!
Jamaica College
Jamaica College is one of the top-performing institutions in Jamaica, ranked fifth on Educate Jamaica’s 2022 list of best boys’ high schools. Established in 1835, it is a public, Christian secondary school and sixth form for boys located in Kingston. Campion College has ranked as the top school in Jamaica more times than any other school based on CSEC and CAPE exams. Cornwall College is the third oldest high school in West Jamaica behind Manning’s School and Rusea’s High School. To unlock all rankings, subscribe to Educate Jamaica’s Join Now membership. Own your copy of JC History today to learn more about its rich history!
Campion College
Campion College is one of the top 100 high schools in Jamaica and is renowned for its outstanding academic excellence. For the second year in a row, Campion College has been ranked as the Top School in Jamaica based on the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) examinations.
The school has produced some of Jamaica’s brightest students who have gone on to win scholarships for further studies. It was founded by the Society of Jesus and offers co-educational facilities with a strong Christian ethos.
In 2020, Campion College grabbed the final spot in Match 32 against Holmwood Technical High which saw them regain their peak position after being overtaken by Immaculate Conception High in 2019. The ranking, compiled by an independent agency, puts Campion College ahead of other high schools on the island for quality education.
St. Andrew High School for Girls
St. Andrew High School for Girls is one of the top-ranking high schools in Jamaica, boasting a 93.3% score in 2020. Established in 1925, the school has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence, producing the very first Centenary Scholar and several other Jamaica scholars over the years. The school’s leadership has been praised for maintaining its reputation as an institution of excellence and dedication to developing its students’ overall potential. In addition to providing rigorous academic programs, St. Andrew High School also supports extracurricular activities such as Campion College, Kensington Primary, Southborough Primary, St. Andrew High, Wolmer’s Boys’, and Wolmer’s Girls’. With its wide range of programs and activities, St. Andrew High School for Girls offers an environment where students can thrive both academically and socially.
Wolmer’s Boys’ School
Wolmer’s Boys’ School has ranked number seven in the overall list of high schools in Jamaica for 2020. Established in 1729, it is the oldest high school in the Caribbean and closely resembles British schools of the 1950s more than those today, a trend that can be noted of the entire Jamaican educational system. In 2015, Wolmer’s Boys’ School moved up two places and was ranked ninth for its performance in the 2015 sitting of the CSEC exams. The Education Commission recently used a new ranking system and data covering 2001 to 2018 to rank traditional schools, with Wolmer’s Boys’ School placed first among them. Belmont Academy, an eight year-old public school in Westmoreland, also outpaced high schools established over a longer time frame. As such, Wolmer’s Boys’ School remains one of the top high schools in Jamaica and continues to strive for excellence in its education delivery.
Immaculate Conception High School
Immaculate Conception High School is a Roman Catholic sponsored public grant-aided school located in Kingston, Jamaica. It has recently dropped from being the second-highest ranked secondary education institution last year to number 17 in 2020.
The school offers a range of activities and programs such as Track and Field Summer Training Camps, and it is actively involved in the school’s activities and competitions. The school was awarded CSEC trophy from Immaculate Conception High School in 2005 and has held it since then.
Immaculate Conception High School welcomes all new students and provides a supportive environment for them to excel academically. It also provides students with an opportunity to become active members of the community by engaging in a variety of extracurricular activities, events, clubs, sports teams, and other programs.
St. Hugh’s High School
St. Hugh’s High School is one of the top high schools in Jamaica with a ranking of 78.7% in 2020. It is an all-girls secondary school located in St. Andrew, and is the winner of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) 2013/2014 Arts and Craft in Schools Round Examination in the 2014 Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad. The school offers an optimal learning environment for its students and is monitored by the St Hugh’s Past Students’ Association. Additionally, Karishma Mirpuri, a past student at St Hugh’s, is now the CEO of Digicel. St Hugh’s Prep was founded in 1899 as the Deaconess Home School, and today it provides a co-educational curriculum for children from pre-primary to Grade 6. The school has also seen success at various academic competitions such as Merl Grove High School ranking 1st place with 79%, Queens High School taking 5th place with 75.5% and Campion College achieving 99.5%.
Excelsior High School
Excelsior High School is one of the top schools in Jamaica, ranked 43rd on the 2020 list. Founded in 1931 by Dr. Hon. Aston Wesley Powell, Excelsior is known for its rigorous academic standards and wide range of extra-curricular activities. In addition to traditional course offerings, Excelsior offers a variety of specialized programs such as a 8th Degree Karate Black Belt program and a Sixth-Form Pathways program through the Ministry’s seven-year high school program. Excelsior also participates in the Jamaican Schoolboy Football Tournament and hosts a national School Challenge Quiz each year. The school is currently ranked 5,915th in the National Rankings based on its performance on state-required tests, graduation rates, and college readiness. Excelsior is a beacon for excellence in Kingston’s metropolitan area and stands out as one of the best primary schools in Jamaica 2020.
Mona High School
Mona High School is considered one of the top performing high schools in Jamaica. In 2020, it was ranked number 3,839 in the National Rankings based on its performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well students perform on college-level exams. It has a strong reputation for academic excellence and boasts the very first Centenary Scholar and several Jamaica Scholars. The school also holds an annual Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad competition which started in March 2021 for the Senior (High School level). Mona High School was founded in 1964 under the auspices of the United Church in Jamaica and Grand Cayman and currently has around 1,200 students enrolled.
Port Antonio High School
Port Antonio High School is located in Port Antonio, Jamaica and is one of the top schools in the country. It was established in 1786 and is ranked 11th among all high schools in Jamaica according to 2020 rankings. The school offers a variety of educational opportunities for its students and provides them with full exposure to all possible opportunities. It has an 876 993-2640 phone number and its school zone is Port Antonio High School in Jamaica. The school also provides access to hotels and other amenities such as Call Us 876 993-5436-8, Mail Us registry@case.edu.jm, Location Passley Gardens, PO Box 170, Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica. St Catherine Jamaica WI Dr Sandra Knight and Mrs Beulah Stephens are two of its faculty members who can be contacted at 984-2282, 984-3318,907-5282, 907-5284-5 and 907-5280 respectively.
York Castle High School
York Castle High School is a seven year grant aided Methodist co-educational secondary school located in Brown’s Town, St. Ann. It is highly ranked among the best schools in Jamaica and was even the first rural school to win the Schools’ Challenge Quiz in 1971. The all-island ranking for 2020 shows York Castle High School as #2,187 in the National Rankings based on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college. In 2017, it was ranked 25th among Top Schools with a 0% rate and 26th in 2016 with a 64.9% rate when compared to other schools such as Calabar High, St. George’s College and St. Mary High School who were also high ranking schools that year. York Castle High School Alumni Jamaica can be contacted at 876-324-8498/876-975-2217 or through email at yorkcastlealumnijamaica@gmail.com for more information about their past achievements and current activities. An example of one of their proudest accomplishments is Alexander Thorpe’s win of 1st place in the Round Examination of the 2014 Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad, making York Castle High School stand out among all other high schools in Jamaica.
St. Catherine High School
St. Catherine High School is a Roman Catholic co-educational traditional high school located in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. It is ranked as the 4th top rated school in Jamaica for 2020 according to the distribution of public educational institutions by school type and parish. The Greater Portmore High School Past Student Association has also given their stamp of approval to the school and its accolades. In June 2018, former student Prime Minister Andrew Holness planted a tree at his alma mater as part of a ceremony that further highlighted the school’s success and legacy. St. Catherine High School has continued to excel in academics and sports, making it one of the top schools in Jamaica for 2020.
Conclusion
Conclusion: In 2020, Campion College was ranked as one of the best high schools in Jamaica. This ranking is backed up by data from the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission, which shows that the primary completion rate for children aged 6-11 years old in Jamaica is high. Additionally, there are a variety of factors that contribute to high levels of youth literacy and gross enrolment in secondary school. The emergence of Glenmuir High as the nation’s top high school also makes a strong argument that schools can perform at a high level. Overall, these results indicate that Jamaica has some excellent educational options available to its students.