Category A Schools in Ghana and Their Location

In Ghana’s competitive educational landscape, Category A schools represent the highest standard of secondary education. These schools are carefully selected by the Ghana Education Service (GES) based on rigorous criteria including academic performance, infrastructure, teacher qualifications, and student discipline. For many Ghanaian students and parents, gaining admission into a Category A senior high school is a major milestone—and for good reason.

What Are Category A Schools in Ghana?

As of the latest updates from GES, Ghana has just over 70 schools classified as Category A, strategically located across the country’s 16 regions. These include both senior high schools (SHS) and some technical/vocational institutions that have consistently demonstrated excellence in academics, sports, leadership, and innovation.

These schools are often well-resourced, with better teacher-to-student ratios, modern laboratories, libraries, ICT centres, boarding facilities, and extracurricular programs.

They are also known to attract some of the best-qualified teachers and the highest-performing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates each year.

Why Choose a Category A Senior High School in Ghana?

Students who attend Category A schools in Ghana tend to perform exceptionally well in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), often producing high numbers of A1s and distinctions. These institutions also frequently dominate national competitions such as the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), spelling bees, debates, and robotics contests.

As a result, they enjoy a high level of prestige among universities both locally and abroad, with many of their graduates earning scholarships to further their education internationally.

Admission into Category A SHS in Ghana

Admission into a Category A school is highly competitive and is largely based on a student’s raw scores and placement through the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).

Because of the demand, students often list them as their first-choice schools, but only those with excellent BECE results are typically placed in them.

The schools are also monitored regularly to ensure that they maintain their high standards in line with national education goals.

Impact of Category A Schools in Ghana

In addition to academic performance, these schools play a key role in leadership development and moral upbringing. Many of Ghana’s political leaders, entrepreneurs, and academics are products of Category A institutions, which have built reputations for nurturing confident, articulate, and socially responsible citizens.

This article provides a complete and updated list of Category A schools in Ghana, organized by region to help students, parents, and educators make informed decisions.

Category A Schools in Ghana and Their Location