Every year, thousands of Junior High School (JHS) graduates search for the best Senior High Schools (SHSs) after the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). While Category A schools are often the first choice for many students, Category B schools also offer quality education, experienced teachers, excellent academic performance, and numerous extracurricular opportunities.

If you’re preparing your CSSPS school selection, this guide explains what Category B schools are, why they are popular, and provides examples of Category B schools across Ghana.

What Are Category B Schools?

The Ghana Education Service (GES) groups public Senior High Schools into different categories to help students during the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS). These categories consider factors such as school facilities, infrastructure, academic reputation, demand, and available programmes.

Although Category A schools receive the highest number of applications, many Category B schools consistently produce outstanding academic results and have modern facilities.

Why Choose a Category B School?

There are several reasons students choose Category B schools:

• Quality teaching and learning.
• Competitive academic performance.
• Well-equipped science and ICT laboratories.
• Strong extracurricular activities.
• Less competition for admission than some Category A schools.
• Good preparation for tertiary education.

Many graduates from Category B schools continue to universities, technical universities, nursing training colleges, and other higher education institutions.

Examples of Category B Schools in Ghana

Below are some well-known Category B schools from different regions.

Greater Accra Region

Some Category B schools include:

• Labone Senior High School
• Accra Senior High School
• Wesley Grammar Senior High School
• Odorgonno Senior High School
• Nungua Senior High School
• Ghanata Senior High School
• Chemu Senior High Technical School
• St. John’s Grammar Senior High School
• Our Lady of Mercy Senior High School
• West Africa Senior High School (WASS)

Ashanti Region

Examples include:

• Kumasi Academy
• Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS)
• Afua Kobi Ampem Girls’ Senior High School
• Kumasi Girls Senior High School
• Konongo Odumase Senior High School
• Tepa Senior High School
• KNUST Senior High School
• Collins Senior High School
• Wesley Senior High School, Konongo
• St. Mary’s Girls’ Senior High School, Konongo

Other Regions

Every region in Ghana has Category B schools, including:

• Ahafo Region
• Bono Region
• Bono East Region
• Central Region
• Eastern Region
• North East Region
• Northern Region
• Oti Region
• Savannah Region
• Upper East Region
• Upper West Region
• Volta Region
• Western Region
• Western North Region

Students should always consult the latest official CSSPS school register before making their final selections because school categories and programme offerings may be updated periodically.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a School

Instead of selecting a school based only on its category, consider:

• Your preferred programme (Science, General Arts, Business, Technical, Home Economics, Agriculture, or Visual Arts).
• Boarding or day options.
• School location.
• Academic performance.
• Available facilities.
• Discipline and school culture.

Choosing a school that aligns with your interests and career goals is often more important than choosing based on category alone.

How to Gain Admission

Admission into Category B schools is based on:

• Your BECE performance.
• School choices submitted through CSSPS.
• Programme availability.
• Placement by the Ghana Education Service.

Students with strong BECE results generally have a wider range of schools available to them, but meeting the cutoff does not guarantee placement into a specific school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Category B schools good?

Yes. Many Category B schools have excellent academic records, experienced teachers, and modern learning facilities.

Can I enter university after attending a Category B school?

Absolutely. Students from Category B schools gain admission to universities in Ghana and abroad every year.

Can I choose a Category B school as my first choice?

Yes. During CSSPS school selection, students may select Category B schools according to the official selection guidelines.

Conclusion

Category B schools continue to play an important role in Ghana’s secondary education system by providing quality education and preparing students for higher education and future careers. Whether you choose a Category A or Category B school, your commitment to learning and academic excellence will have a greater impact on your success than the school’s category alone.

Before submitting your CSSPS choices, always review the latest official school selection register and select schools that match your interests, preferred programme, and career aspirations.