Cape Town School Boosts Pass Rate 20% in Two Years

Lavender Hill High School in Cape Town just proved that determination and hot meals can transform educational outcomes. The school's class of 2025 achieved an 89% pass rate, jumping 20 percentage points from where they stood just two years ago.

Principal Fuad Viljoen credits the entire school community for the turnaround, from teachers to administrative staff to the school counselor. But the secret ingredient wasn't fancy technology or expensive programs.

Every afternoon, students stayed an hour after school for extra study sessions. Every Saturday morning from 8:30am to 2pm, they returned for more learning time.

The game changer? Food. Teachers provided sandwiches and fruit after school, and one teacher cooked a huge pot of food every Saturday morning. "That is how we won them over," Viljoen told reporters.

The strategy worked spectacularly. Of 130 students who took their final exams, 51 qualified for university bachelor's degrees, up from just 32 the year before.

Sandiego Ruiters, 19, topped his class despite facing obstacles that would have stopped many students. At 15, he was shot in a drive-by shooting while sitting outside his cousin's house. The shooters mistook two teenagers for gang members.

"Wrong place, wrong time," Ruiters said. He missed an entire year of school recovering from his injuries.

Instead of seeking revenge, Ruiters focused on the positive. "Why would I want revenge if I get to live my life happy? And look what I've achieved," he said.

He discovered he learns best by reading material out loud since he retains information through listening. That self-awareness helped him push through subjects he found challenging.

Now Ruiters plans to study tourism management or education with a focus on geography. His goals are modest but meaningful: a stable income, stable life, and stable family.

He credits his mother, a single parent, for his success. "She's been supporting me since day one. I owe a lot to that woman, so I'm just here to make her proud," he said.

The Ripple Effect

Viljoen emphasizes that success didn't start in senior year. It began in eighth grade, where teachers laid the foundation that would carry students through to graduation.

The school serves as the only high school in Lavender Hill, making it a "generational school" where parents, siblings, and even grandparents once studied. That deep community connection creates pride and accountability.

"This community is extremely proud of this high school," Viljoen said. The school maintains strict standards for behavior and emphasizes respect for adults the moment students step onto campus.

The results prove that with consistent support, nutritious food, and dedicated teachers willing to show up on Saturday mornings, students in challenging circumstances can exceed expectations and build brighter futures.