If you're looking to make one of South Africa's best small towns your home for a quieter pace of life, Paarl deserves a spot on your radar. Nestled in the heart of the Cape Winelands, this picturesque town is known for its scenic beauty — and in our opinion, it’s also home to some of the most highly regarded schools in South Africa.
We’ve put together our pick of Paarl’s top primary and high schools to help you explore the town’s educational gems. This list isn't exhaustive, and we do encourage you to visit Paarl to find your perfect fit.
Started in 1858, Laerskool Paarl Gimnasium is a tradition-rich Afrikaans school that prides itself on its commitment to holistic education. Renowned for its academic excellence, the school places a strong emphasis on sports and cultural activities, fostering well-rounded development in its students.
As an integral part of the esteemed Paarl Boys' High School, Paarl Boys’ Primary School sets high standards for education. Known as ‘the home of true gentlemen,’ its rich history and 153-year tradition of excellence ensure this school a solid foundation for young boys.
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Founded in 1860, La Rochelle Girls’ Primary is one of South Africa’s most distinguished and long-established girls’ primary schools. La Rochelle Girls’ Primary School strives to remain progressive, holistic and dynamic in their approach as well as to provide an inspiring environment which enables pupils to develop their fullest potential.
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Laerskool Noord-Eind, which lies nestled at the foot of Paarl Mountain, is one of the oldest Afrikaans medium schools in the Western Cape today and is a proud Afrikaans school! They are committed to preserving the good practices of the past, developing new good practices and building a steadfast future for their children, maintaining a balance of academia, sport and culture.
Courtrai Primary School is a primary school founded on Christian principles with a high premium placed on academic development, progress and standards. Striving towards excellence in education, sports, or arts and culture, Courtrai aims to promote moral, spiritual defensibility as a source of life with the goal of their pupils becoming future leaders, influencers and world changers.
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Simond Private School is an independent Christian Private School in the heart of the Paarl Valley with a rich history and tradition in education, offering education from year 3 to Grade 12. Their aim at Simond Private School is to unlock our children’s abilities by providing them with a wide range of activities, events and opportunities.
Laerskool Drakenstein is in Paarl, proud of its Afrikaans foundation and Christian values. Laerskool Drakenstein believes in a balanced education where each learner has the opportunity to develop as an individual and according to their potential. Drakenstein Primary School is a value-driven school. Drakies are neat, disciplined and friendly learners who live these values to the fullest every day.
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Heritage House Primary is a unique mainstream school, a supportive English medium school with Afrikaans as First Additional Language. They believe that all children should be awarded the chance to receive an education in a disciplined and stress-free environment. Heritage House prides itself on the wide variety of cultures, religions, ethnicities and nationalities of learners.
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Paarl Gimnasium (Paarl Gim or Paarl Gym) is a reputable co-ed Afrikaans high school. The high school's focus on academic excellence, combined with a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, prepares students for tertiary education and beyond. The school is also a top sporting school and has produced several famous South African rugby players, such as Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers.
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La Rochelle Girls' High School extends its dedication to empowering young women into their high school years. With a strong emphasis on leadership and academic achievement, the school continues to foster excellence in its students. La Rochelle Girls High School equips its learners with a healthy set of values and guides them to make a positive contribution to their community.
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Established in 1868, Paarl Boys’ High School is one of the oldest schools in South Africa and steeped in tradition. Also known as Hoërskool Jongen, this school is recognised nationwide as one of South Africa's leading educational institutions. With equal focus on the academic, the physical, the emotional and the spiritual, Paarl Boys’ High School remains a beacon of academic achievement and sportsmanship.
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Paarl Girls' High School is a place where students have the opportunity to embark on a unique learning journey, focusing on academic excellence and character development. Paarl Girls’ High School offers dual-medium education, with a focus on excellence that is complemented by equally superb art and sports programmes.
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Hoërskool Labori is a unique multi-stream school offering three fields of study, including Technical, Trade and General Academic fields of study. Labori Hoërskool gives expression to the knowledge, skills and values worth learning in South African schools. As a result, Labori Hoërskool aims to ensure that children acquire and apply knowledge and skills in ways that are meaningful to their own lives.
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Carnegie Hub provides a space where young people can begin the process of growth into adulthood. Carnegie Hub offers an internationally recognised curriculum, preparing students for life in a global setting. Small classes led by highly experienced teachers allow for flexibility and individualised academic support. Subjects such as thinking skills, global perspectives and computer design and coding are central to this focus.
Klein Nederburg Secondary School is a blossoming high school, establishing a dynamic culture of learning and promoting creative growth in its pupils. It aims to maintain a healthy balance between academia, culture and sport to promote self-esteem, instilling in its students a positive system of norms and values.
New Orleans Secondary School stands as an emerging high school in Paarl. It is a co-ed, bilingual school with about 1380 learners and 48 teachers, offering dramatic arts and dance studies as part of a wide curriculum. With a diverse student body and a dedicated teaching staff, the school provides a conducive learning environment for students to excel academically.
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Clift College International is a private co-educational school in the heart of Paarl, offering the Cambridge Curriculum from Pre-Grade R through to A Levels. Inspired by Montessori principles, the school combines holistic development with academic excellence, supporting learners from their earliest years right through to internationally recognised qualifications.
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Montessori @ Home is a nurturing, child-centred school in Paarl that follows authentic Montessori principles to inspire a lifelong love of learning. With a focus on independence, creativity, and practical life skills, the school offers a warm and engaging environment where each child is encouraged to reach their full potential at their own pace.
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*This list reflects editorial opinion, not an official ranking.
Wise Move is South Africa’s leading moving service, helping thousands of customers with home moves, furniture removals, car and motorcycle transport, and more. Since 2017, we’ve been delivering reliable, affordable, and well-reviewed moving services in just a few simple steps. Our focus has always been on making moving as simple and effortless as possible for our customers.
