KCSE 2025: Full List of the Top 20 Best-Performing Schools

On Friday, January 9, 2026, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Ogamba, announced the results of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.

The results were released at AIC Chebisas High School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

A total of 993,226 candidates sat the national examination across centres countrywide. Of these, 502,214 were female, while 492,019 were male.

Out of the total candidature, 270,000 candidates attained a C+ grade and above, qualifying for direct university entry, while 720,000 scored C plain and below.

Only 1,932 candidates achieved a Grade A.

Following the release of the results, celebrations erupted in various parts of the country, with several schools drawing national attention after posting impressive performances. Renowned national schools once again dominated the headlines.

Below is the full list of the top 20 best-performing schools in the recently released KCSE 2025 examination results.

Top 20 Performing Schools in KCSE 2025

Elsewhere, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) revealed that most candidates, comprising 716,048 (72.02 per cent), sat the examination at the ideal age of between 17 and 19 years.

Also Read: Got Your KCSE Results? Here’s What To Do In The Next 72 Hours

However, 250,787 candidates (25.27 per cent) were aged 20 years and above, pointing to delayed school progression, repeat sittings, and re-entry into the education system. Only 26,391 candidates (2.65 per cent) were aged 16 years and below.

National Schools Produce Most A Grades

Top grades were heavily concentrated in elite institutions. Of all Grade A scores recorded nationally, 1,526 came from national schools, compared to 197 from extra-county schools, six from county schools, and eight from sub-county schools.

Private schools accounted for 185 Grade A results.

Sub-county schools accounted for 580,000 candidates across 7,200 schools, far surpassing national schools, which had about 30,000 candidates in 103 institutions. Extra-county schools registered 98,000 candidates, county schools 280,000, while private schools enrolled 75,000 candidates.

Gender Trends in Subject Performance

Gender-based performance patterns persisted in 2025. Female candidates performed better in English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sign Language, Home Science, Christian Religious Education, and Arts and Design.

Male candidates, on the other hand, outperformed females in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History and Government, Building Construction, and Business Studies.

Gender Patterns in Counties

Counties with significantly more male candidates included Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Turkana, Narok, Samburu, Marsabit, Homa Bay, Nyamira, and West Pokot. Counties with more female candidates included Kiambu, Kajiado, Kakamega, Meru, Isiolo, Lamu, Kisii, Kitui, Busia, and Tharaka Nithi.

Also Read: Your KCSE Grade Does Not Define Your Future-Here’s Why

Several counties, including Nairobi, Nyeri, Kilifi, Kericho, Nandi, Bungoma, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga, recorded near gender parity.

Only 1,332 candidates attained a straight Grade A, while 66,805 candidates scored C+, the minimum university entry grade. The majority of candidates scored between C and D+, and a total of 1,180 results were cancelled.

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Photo of Education CS Julius Ogamba addressing a past function. PHOTO/MoE