The government school with a 100% pass rate and a 93.3% Bachelor’s degree pass rate
Pearson High School claimed the top spot in the Eastern Cape for its 2025 Matric results, and its top pupil was the highest achiever in the local cluster.
The school was originally founded as P.E. Secondary School in January 1926 in old hospital buildings.
It was a co-ed school with only 35 pupils, led by founding principal Leo Deary.
Within 18 months, enrolment had grown to the point where the school needed to relocate to new facilities.
In January 1928, the school was renamed Pearson High School in honour of William Pearson, who served as the mayor of then-Port Elizabeth for 16 years.
1928 is an important year in the school’s history for another reason: it was the year it became the only school in Port Elizabeth to offer instruction in Afrikaans beyond Standard Six.
15 pupils wanted to pursue their secondary schooling in Afrikaans, which resulted in Pearson High School supporting their needs.
In 1938, Pearson High School’s first Afrikaans-medium class passed the Senior Certificate examination.
By this point, enrolment had reached 575 students, so in 1941, as the province’s largest high school, Pearson once again moved to new premises.
The school continued to grow and thrive, and in the 1950s, then-principal J.J. Bruwer made the interesting decision to ship every book in the Pearson library to England.
They were then treated by a bookbinding firm to ensure their long-term shelf life.
Pearson High School moved to its current campus in 1976 while celebrating its 50th birthday.
Pearson High School opened its doors to all racial groups in 1991, and continued its inclusivity by appointing the province’s first female principal of a co-educational high school in 1992.
In the 21st century, the school has continued to grow and thrive, eclipsing 1,000 students and building several impressive facilities.
These include Port Elizabeth’s only heated Olympic-sized water polo pool, its Sports Science Institute, an art and design centre, a new gym, a new music block, and two AstroTurfs.
Pearson’s academic success
The school is currently celebrating its centenary year, having built a strong reputation for world-class academics.
In 2020, it achieved national acclaim by producing South Africa’s top overall matriculant, Reynhardt Buys.
Buys scored 100% in both Mathematics and Physical Science, and had a 97% overall average.
In 2024, Pearson High School had the top two matric students in the Eastern Cape and once again achieved a 100% pass rate.
Last year, Pearson High School was again crowned the Eastern Cape’s top-performing school, and boasted a 93.3% Bachelor’s degree pass rate.
The school is an excellent sports institution, too.
It is the alma mater of the late Springbok lock Hannes Strydom, who was a member of the 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, and after whom the school’s primary rugby field is named.
Pearson High School is also a netball powerhouse in the Nelson Mandela Metro region, and enjoyed an unbeaten season across all derby matches in 2018.
Its Olympic-sized water polo pool supports a strong aquatics department that even includes synchronised swimming.
Overall, Pearson High School is considered a strong sporting institution in the local metro area.
Culturally, the school offers a diverse range of opportunities and societies to encourage students to express their creativity.
Popular societies include poetry, debating, photography, and dancesport, ensuring an excellent range of opportunities for every learner to thrive.
Pearson High School Photos
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