Choosing a Senior High School in Ghana is no longer a blind guess. For the 2026 placement cycle, the rules changed fundamentally: candidates now sit for the BECE, receive their results, and only then select their schools. This is a significant shift from the old system, where students picked schools before knowing their performance. But the change comes with its own pressures—Category A schools are massively oversubscribed, raw scores can break ties, and thousands of qualified candidates still end up without a placement. Here is the complete ASJ guide to navigating the selection process and understanding which schools are considered the best.
The 2026 Policy Shift: Select After Results
The most important change for the 2026 BECE candidates is the timing of school selection. In the past, candidates selected their preferred schools before sitting the examination. Under the new guidelines, candidates will select their schools only after their examination results have been released .
The Education Minister explained the rationale: selecting schools without knowing your aggregate often led to poor placement results and mismatched choices. The new system gives candidates a one-week period after results are out to confirm their choices based on their actual performance . This is intended to make the placement process more efficient and reduce the common challenges students and parents have faced.
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The Rules: How Many Schools and Which Categories
The 2026 SHS/TVET School Selection and CSSPS Placement Guide, released in August 2026, sets out the rules for selecting schools.
Candidates must select eight schools in total, up from seven previously . The choices must follow a specific category structure:
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Maximum of two Category A schools
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Up to three Category B schools
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The remaining three choices must be from Category C schools
Candidates must also indicate their preferred programmes and whether they wish to attend as boarding or day students . No candidate is permitted to select the same school more than once .
Additionally, candidates must include two Category A schools: one with boarding facilities and the other a day school within their district . This rule is designed to ensure that candidates have a realistic local option alongside their more ambitious choices.
Understanding the Category System
The Ghana Education Service groups senior high schools into categories to manage demand and ensure fairness.
Category A schools are generally regarded as the most prestigious institutions. They often have long histories, strong academic records, and extensive facilities. They are highly competitive, with limited vacancies . Examples include Achimota School, Wesley Girls’ SHS, PRESEC-Legon, and Prempeh College .
Category B schools are strong institutions that are less oversubscribed than Category A. They offer quality education and are a practical option for candidates with competitive aggregates.
Category C schools are the most accessible. They have more vacancies and are the best option for candidates whose aggregates are less competitive.
The pressure on Category A schools is extreme. In 2026, 313,283 candidates chose Category A schools as their first choice, but Category A schools declared only 76,417 vacancies . At Aburi Girls’, about 3,000 of the 8,225 applicants had aggregates between six and 12, competing for a portion of the 800 available places. At Achimota, 14,800 applicants had aggregates between six and 12, against about 1,300 declared vacancies .
The Best SHS Schools in Ghana
“Best” is subjective, but certain schools have built strong reputations through consistent academic performance, university placements, and achievements in national competitions. Here are the schools most commonly cited as the leading institutions.
Leading Boys’ Schools
Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon), Prempeh College, Mfantsipim School, Adisadel College, Opoku Ware School, St. Augustine’s College, St. Peter’s Senior High School, and Accra Academy are widely recognized for strong academic performance and competitive achievements .
PRESEC-Legon has a particularly strong claim to the top spot. It leads the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) rankings with an Elo rating of 1720.30 points, having won the competition nine times, including the 2026 edition . Mfantsipim School ranks second with 1618.77 points, and St. Augustine’s College ranks third with 1595.11 points .
Leading Girls’ Schools
Wesley Girls’ High School, Aburi Girls’ Senior High School, Holy Child School, Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School, St. Louis Senior High School, and Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High School are among the most competitive girls’ schools .
Wesley Girls’ High School has a particularly strong record. In the 2026 Call to the Bar, 64 of its alumnae were called to the Bar, the highest number of any senior high school and the second year running that it broke its own record . St. Louis SHS followed with more than 33 alumnae called to the Bar .
Leading Mixed Schools
Achimota School, Ghana National College, University Practice Senior High School, Keta Senior High Technical School, Tamale Senior High School, and Ghana Secondary Technical School are among the leading mixed institutions.
Best Schools for Science Students
Students interested in medicine, engineering, IT, and other STEM careers often prioritize schools with strong science programmes. PRESEC-Legon, St. Peter’s SHS, and Keta SHTS are among the most preferred science-oriented schools . Prempeh College and Opoku Ware School also offer strong Engineering Science programmes and are Category A institutions .
A Critical Warning: The Grade 9 Rule
Selecting the best schools means nothing if you do not meet the basic eligibility requirement.
Candidates must pass both English Language and Mathematics to qualify for placement, regardless of their overall aggregate . In 2026, about 50,000 candidates could not be placed because they scored Grade 9 in English or Mathematics .
The CSSPS Coordinator explained that a candidate could obtain a good aggregate but still fail to qualify if they failed either of the two subjects . This means that even a candidate with an aggregate of 10 could be denied automatic placement if they have a Grade 9 in English or Maths.
Candidates who find themselves in this position are not barred from SHS education entirely. They are eligible to use the Self-Placement option to select schools with available vacancies . The Deputy Minister of Education has urged parents and candidates to look beyond the most popular schools and consider institutions where vacancies are available, taking into account programmes, location, and residential arrangements .
The Tie-Breaker: Raw Scores Matter
Aggregate scores are the primary basis for ranking, but raw scores become decisive when candidates are tied.
If two candidates both have aggregate six and both choose the same school, programme, and residential status, and only one slot is available, the system uses raw scores to break the tie. The candidate with the higher raw score gets the place .
This can produce outcomes that look confusing. A girl with aggregate 07 and a raw score of 494 missed out on her first choice, St. Louis SHS, and was placed at her second choice, Afua Kobi Ampem Girls’ SHS. Her story sparked widespread debate about how the system handles competition for limited spaces . As one observer noted: “It’s her raw score against several competing candidates for the same school choice and course that betrayed her” .
The lesson for candidates is that grades alone do not tell the full story. Raw scores matter when the competition is tight.
A Practical Strategy for Selection
Education experts recommend that candidates avoid selecting only highly competitive schools .
For candidates expecting aggregates of 6–15: Consider a mix of Category A schools, but do not fill all eight choices with them. Use the Category B and C slots strategically.
For candidates expecting aggregates of 16–25: Combine Category A and Category B schools, including institutions like GSTS, Kumasi High School, Pope John SHS, and St. Thomas Aquinas SHS .
For candidates above aggregate 25: Select strong Category B and Category C schools offering your preferred programmes to improve placement opportunities .
The most important advice is to be realistic. As the Education Minister put it: “When you do get placement to B and C, accept it. Let your ward have the taste of secondary education and work hard to rise to university education” .
Quick Facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Schools to Select | 8 |
| Maximum Category A Schools | 2 |
| Maximum Category B Schools | 3 |
| Category C Schools | Remaining 3 choices |
| Selection Timing | After BECE results (one-week window) |
| Grade 9 Rule | Must pass English and Maths for automatic placement |
| 2026 Unplaced (Grade 9) | ~50,000 |
| Category A Vacancies | 76,417 |
| Category A First Choice Applicants | 313,283 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When do I select my SHS schools in 2026?
Under the new policy, you select your schools after your BECE results are released. You have a one-week period to confirm your choices based on your performance .
2. How many schools must I select?
You must select eight schools: a maximum of two Category A, up to three Category B, and the remaining three from Category C .
3. What are Category A schools?
Category A schools are the most prestigious and competitive institutions, with strong academic records and limited vacancies. Examples include Achimota, Wesley Girls’, PRESEC-Legon, and Prempeh College .
4. Why did I not get placed despite a good aggregate?
The most common reason is a Grade 9 in English Language or Mathematics. You must pass both subjects to qualify for automatic placement, regardless of your overall aggregate .
5. What is the best SHS in Ghana?
PRESEC-Legon is widely regarded as the top school, particularly for science. It leads the 2026 NSMQ rankings with nine wins . Wesley Girls’ High School is the leading girls’ school, with the highest number of alumnae called to the Bar in 2026 .
6. Can a candidate with aggregate 8 beat one with aggregate 6 for a school slot?
Yes, if they are competing for the same school, programme, and residential option, and the aggregate-8 candidate has a higher raw score. Raw scores break ties .
7. What should I do if I get Grade 9 in English or Maths?
You are not barred from SHS education. You can use the Self-Placement option to select schools with available vacancies .
8. How do I make realistic school choices?
Avoid filling all eight choices with Category A schools. Mix in Category B and C schools based on your aggregate. For aggregates 6–15, consider a mix of A and B. For 16–25, combine A and B. Above 25, focus on B and C .
9. What happens if I am not placed automatically?
You can use Self-Placement to choose from schools with available vacancies. You can also visit a School Placement Resolution Centre for help .
10. Is the selection process free?
Yes. The Ministry warns against paying anyone who claims to influence placement outcomes. Placement is merit-based and free
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on October 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
