National schools in Kenya have traditionally admitted learners from across the country. School placement has evolved with Kenya’s Competency-Based Education system, and the old lists organised into four national-school clusters should not be mistaken for the current Grade 10 selection framework.
Current C1 senior schools
Under the senior-school transition, schools are grouped into categories including C1, broadly corresponding to the former national-school tier. The exact list, pathways and available subjects should be confirmed through Ministry of Education guidance and the current senior-school selection portal.
Examples of well-known national schools
Examples include Alliance High School, Alliance Girls High School, The Kenya High School, Nairobi School, Mang’u High School, Starehe Boys’ Centre, Starehe Girls’ Centre, Kapsabet Boys, Maranda High School and Pangani Girls. A school’s availability for a particular pathway must be checked separately.
How to choose a senior school
- Confirm the learner’s approved pathway and subject interests.
- Check the schools and combinations offered through the official selection system.
- Consider boarding arrangements, location, accessibility and learner support.
- Follow the placement and admission instructions issued for the current cohort.
Historical national school clusters
The following directory preserves the older four-cluster listing as historical reference. It was compiled for the previous secondary-school placement arrangements and is not a current official C1 register. School classifications, names and available pathways may have changed.
List of National Schools in Kenya : Cluster 1
–Tartar Girls
–St Patricks Iten
–St Brigids Girls
–Ribe Boys
–Pangani Girls
–Nyabururu Girls
–Muthale Girls
–Murang’a High
–Moi Mbiruri
–Moi Girls Isinya
–Meru School
–Maranda High
–Mama Ngina Sec
–Makueni Boys
–Machakos Boys
–Lugulu Girls
-Kisii High
–Kipsigis Girls
–Kenyatta High
–Karima Girls Secondary
–Kapsabet Boys
–Kanga
–Kakamega High
–Kagumo Boys High
–Garissa High
–Friends School Kamusinga
–Chogoria Girls
–Bura Girls
–Bunyore Girls High
–Asumbi Girls
List of National Schools in Kenya : Cluster 2
–Wajir Girls Secondary School
–Wajir Boys High School
–Turkana Girls Secondary School
–Tenwek Boys Secondary School
–St. Joseph Chepterit Girls Secondary
–Sironga Girls Secondary School
–Sa Kolanya Girls Secondary School
–Oolaiser Boys Secondary School
–Nyandarua High School
–Ngao Girls Secondary School
–Nanyuki Boys High School
–Mpeketoni Boys Secondary School
–Moyale Boys Secondary School
–Moi Girls Nyabohanse Secondary
–Moi Girls Mandera Secondary
–Mbooni Girls Secondary School
–Mandera Boys Secondary School
–Lamu Girls Secondary School
–Kisima Girls Secondary School
–Kathiani Girls Secondary School
–Kabianga Boys Secondary School
–Hola Boys Secondary School
–Garbatula Boys Secondary
–Chewoyet Boys High School
–Bahari Girls Secondary School
List of National Schools in Kenya : Cluster 3
–Utumishi
–Starehe Girls
–Starehe Boys Centre
–Nakuru Girls
–Nakuru Boys
–Nairobi School
–Moi Girls High
–Moi Forces Lanet
–Moi Forces Academy
–Maseno School
–Maryhills Girls Sec
–Mangu High Sch
–Loreto Limuru
–Limuru Girls
–Lenana School
–Kenya High
–Alliance High
–Alliance Girls
List of National Schools in Kenya : Cluster 4
–St. Marys Girls
–St. Joseph Boys
–Siakago Girls
–Shimo La Tewa
–Ole Tipis Girls
–Njonjo
–NEP Girls
–Mugoiri Girls High
–Moi Kapsowar
–Moi Girls
–Mbita High
–Matuga Girls
–Maralal High
–Lodwar High
–Kwale High
–Kitui High
–Kisumu Girls
–Kilgoris Boys
–Kaplong Girls
–Kabare Girls Secondary
–Isiolo Girls
–Ikuu Boys
–Chavakali Secondary
–Butula Boys High School
–Butere Girls
–Bishop Gatimu Gandu
–Baringo High
–Baricho Boys
