SHS Placement Guide

The schools worth fighting for

Ghana's top Senior High Schools, their aggregate requirements, available programmes, and what it takes to earn a place.

How placement works: After your BECE results are released, you apply for SHS admission through the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). You select up to 4 schools in order of preference, listing the programme you want at each school.

Placement decisions are made based on your aggregate score and the number of available spaces in each school's programmes. A lower aggregate gives you access to more schools and more competitive programmes. The school listed first is your first choice — if you qualify, you will be placed there.

Use this guide to understand which schools are realistic targets for your current preparation level, and which programmes they offer.

Most Competitive Schools

ⓘ Aggregate ranges shown are approximate historical figures and vary by year and programme. Always verify with the CSSPS portal.
Presbyterian Boys' Sec. School (PRESEC-Legon)
📍 Accra, Greater Accra
Category A Boarding Boys Only
Aggregate 6–9 (Science)  ·  6–12 (General)
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: Consistently among Ghana's top WASSCE performers. Strong science and mathematics tradition with a large number of university scholarship recipients each year.
Achimota School
📍 Accra, Greater Accra
Category A Day / Boarding
Aggregate 8–16 (varies by programme)
Programmes
Science General Arts Business Visual Arts Home Economics
Notable: One of Ghana's oldest and most prestigious schools. Notable alumni include multiple heads of state and prominent professionals across every field.
Wesley Girls' High School
📍 Cape Coast, Central Region
Category A Boarding Girls Only
Aggregate 8–14
Programmes
Science General Arts Business Visual Arts
Notable: Ghana's top-performing girls' school for WASSCE results. Consistently places students at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Adisadel College
📍 Cape Coast, Central Region
Category A Boarding Boys Only
Aggregate 8–14
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: Anglican boarding school with a strong academic and sporting tradition dating back to the colonial era. Known for producing leaders in law, medicine, and public service.
Mfantsipim School
📍 Cape Coast, Central Region
Category A Boarding Boys Only
Aggregate 8–14
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: Alma mater of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Renowned for its rigorous academic culture and deep emphasis on discipline and leadership.
St. Augustine's College
📍 Cape Coast, Central Region
Category A Boarding Boys Only
Aggregate 9–15
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: One of the oldest Catholic secondary schools in Ghana. Strong track record in humanities and professional training, with a respected alumni network.
Holy Child School
📍 Cape Coast, Central Region
Category A Boarding Girls Only
Aggregate 9–15
Programmes
General Arts Business Home Economics Visual Arts
Notable: Leading Catholic girls' school with a strong tradition in the arts and humanities. Frequently posts top national results in Visual Arts and Home Economics.
Prempeh College
📍 Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Category A Boarding Boys Only
Aggregate 8–14
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: The premier academic school in the Ashanti region. Well-known rivalry with PRESEC drives a competitive academic culture. Strong science and mathematics record.
Opoku Ware School
📍 Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Category A Boarding Co-ed
Aggregate 9–15
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: Catholic boarding school with a strong academic record in Kumasi. Known for producing graduates who excel in engineering, medicine, and business.
Aburi Girls' SHS
📍 Aburi, Eastern Region
Category A Boarding Girls Only
Aggregate 9–16
Programmes
Science General Arts Business Home Economics
Notable: Set on a beautiful hillside campus in the Eastern Region. Consistently strong WASSCE results and a nurturing environment that produces well-rounded graduates.
St. Peter's SHS
📍 Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Category A Day Boys Only
Aggregate 10–16
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: One of the most competitive day schools in Kumasi. High demand relative to available spaces makes it a highly contested placement choice in the Ashanti region.
Ghana National College (GHANASCO)
📍 Cape Coast, Central Region
Category A Boarding Co-ed
Aggregate 10–18
Programmes
Science General Arts Business
Notable: Ghana's first co-educational boarding school. Strong historical ties to Ghanaian politics and a proud tradition of academic excellence in Cape Coast.

How to use your BECE aggregate

1
Know your realistic target aggregate. Use ClassMaster's readiness check to estimate your current trajectory. Identifying weak subjects now — especially Maths, English, and Integrated Science — gives you the most time to improve.
2
Match your aggregate to schools and programmes. Research which schools offer your preferred programme within your expected aggregate range. Science programmes fill fastest at the most competitive schools, so always have a clear second option.
3
List your choices strategically in CSSPS. Put your top choice first. Always include at least one school that is comfortably within your aggregate range as a safety choice. A school listed fourth that you can definitely qualify for is more valuable than four dream schools you may not reach.
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Subject tips for SHS Science programmes

Science programmes at the most competitive schools often prioritise strong performance in Mathematics and Integrated Science. Aim for A1 or B2 in both subjects to maximise your options at placement. A weak result in either of these subjects — even with a strong overall aggregate — can close doors to top science programmes.

Find out where you stand before placement

Check your readiness now and build the aggregate you need.

Take the Readiness Check