Curro School Fees 2026: Full Tier Breakdown
The short version
Curro is South Africa's largest private school group with over 75 campuses. Tuition in 2026 ranges from around R32,000 a year at smaller Curro Castle pre-primary campuses to R150,000+ a year at premium Curro Select high schools. Most parents pay between R55,000 and R95,000 a year at a mid-tier Curro for primary phase. Add 15% to 25% for extras the brochure does not list.
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What Curro actually is
Curro Holdings is a listed company that operates the largest private school network in South Africa. As of 2026 the group runs more than 75 campuses serving around 70,000 learners. It is not a single school. It is a chain of schools under three umbrella brands, each with its own price point, facilities standard, and target market.
The chain model means quality and culture vary between campuses, even within the same brand. A Curro in a fast-growing suburb of Cape Town can look and feel very different from one in a small Mpumalanga town. Both might charge similar fees.
Curro Castle vs Curro vs Curro Select
Curro Castle
The pre-primary brand. Toddler programmes from age 2 plus Grade 000, Grade 00, and Grade R. Curro Castle campuses are often co-located with a Curro primary school, making the move into Grade 1 easy. Some Castle campuses are standalone. Fees in 2026 range from around R32,000 to R65,000 a year depending on location and age group.
Curro (standard)
The bulk of the network. Standard Curro campuses run Grade R through Grade 12 on a single site or split-site model. Curriculum is CAPS aligned with most schools writing IEB matric. Class sizes typically 22 to 28. Fees in 2026 range from R55,000 a year at the lower end to R95,000 a year at the upper end for primary, with high school 15% to 25% higher.
Curro Select
The premium brand. A smaller number of campuses positioned as competitors to the established IEB independents. Smaller class sizes, more facilities, broader subject choice in FET phase. Fees in 2026 range from R85,000 to R150,000+ a year, putting Curro Select alongside St Mary's DSG, Bridge House, and the mid-tier ADvTECH brands rather than the more affordable Curro mainline.
Curro also owns the Meridian schools (a more affordable brand with fees from around R35,000 a year) and Cooper Academy. These sit inside the group but are not branded Curro.
2026 fee ranges by tier
| Tier | Phase | Annual tuition (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Curro Castle | Toddler + Grade RRR/RR/R | R32,000 to R65,000 |
| Curro (standard) | Grade R | R45,000 to R75,000 |
| Curro (standard) | Grades 1 to 7 | R55,000 to R95,000 |
| Curro (standard) | Grades 8 to 12 | R72,000 to R115,000 |
| Curro Select | Grades 1 to 7 | R85,000 to R130,000 |
| Curro Select | Grades 8 to 12 | R110,000 to R155,000 |
| Meridian (Curro group) | Grades 1 to 12 | R35,000 to R55,000 |
Boarding is offered at a handful of Curro and Curro Select campuses. Boarding costs an additional R55,000 to R90,000 a year on top of tuition.
How fees vary by region
Curro fees are not uniform across the country. A Curro in Sandton charges more than the same brand in Polokwane, even where the facilities are similar. The pattern, roughly:
- Premium urban (Sandton, Cape Town northern suburbs, Pretoria East, Umhlanga): top of the range. Standard Curro often runs R85,000 to R95,000 for primary, Curro Select R120,000+.
- Established suburban (Roodepoort, Centurion, Stellenbosch, Durbanville): mid range. Standard Curro R65,000 to R85,000 for primary.
- Growth-area or smaller centres (Mossel Bay, Witbank, Polokwane, Bloemfontein): entry to mid range. Standard Curro R55,000 to R75,000 for primary.
- Meridian campuses: consistently the most affordable, often R35,000 to R55,000 a year.
To get an exact fee for a specific campus, you must contact that school. Curro's national website lists schools and contact details but rarely publishes specific fees. Most campuses send a fee schedule on request.
The extras the brochure does not show
Curro tuition figures are usually quoted exclusive of the following. Plan to add 15% to 25% to the published number.
- Capital development levy: typically R3,500 to R8,500 a year, used for building and infrastructure projects on the specific campus.
- Technology levy: R1,500 to R5,000 a year for software licences and Wi-Fi. At most Curro campuses, devices (iPad or laptop) are mandatory from Grade 4 or Grade 7. Plan R8,000 to R20,000 once for the device.
- Uniform: R3,500 to R7,000 in year one, R1,500 to R3,500 in top-up years. Curro uniforms are supplier-locked, no shopping around.
- Textbooks and stationery: R2,500 to R5,500 a year at most campuses. Some include textbooks in tuition. Check directly.
- Sport, music, cultural extras: R3,000 to R10,000 a year depending on activity level.
- Aftercare: R12,000 to R28,000 a year at most primary campuses for the full-year programme.
Is Curro worth the fees
Depends entirely on the alternative in your area and the specific campus. Honest framing:
- Versus a strong fee-paying public school: usually no. In areas like Cape Town's Southern Suburbs or Pretoria's established suburbs, the top public schools (Westerford, Pretoria Boys, Wynberg) match or beat mid-tier Curro on academic outcomes at a fraction of the fee.
- Versus an underperforming public school: yes, often. In suburbs without strong public options, Curro is one of the most reliable private alternatives and the fees are competitive with other mid-tier independents.
- Versus an established IEB independent: Curro usually costs less, but the older established names (St John's, St Mary's, Bishops, Reddam, St Stithians) have stronger old-school networks and deeper sport programmes. Curro Select narrows the gap on facilities but cannot easily replicate 100+ years of alumni.
- Versus another Curro campus: highly variable. A new Curro in a growth area can look great on day one but still be building academic depth and sport. An established Curro that has been running 15+ years is a more known quantity.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Curro school fees in 2026?
Standard Curro primary tuition ranges from around R55,000 to R95,000 a year. High school is 15% to 25% higher. Curro Castle pre-primary ranges from R32,000 to R65,000. Curro Select runs from R85,000 to over R150,000 a year. Add 15% to 25% in extras to get the all-in figure.
Is Curro cheaper than other private schools?
Standard Curro is usually cheaper than the long-established IEB independents (St John's, Bishops, Reddam, St Mary's Waverley). Curro Select sits at a similar price point. The Curro Meridian schools are among the most affordable private options in the country.
Does Curro write IEB or NSC?
Most Curro campuses write the IEB matric exam. A handful write NSC. Check directly with the specific campus.
How do I find Curro fees for a specific campus?
Contact the campus directly. Curro rarely publishes campus- specific fees online. Most campuses send a fee schedule on request, usually within a few working days.
Are Curro school fees increasing every year?
Yes. Curro's reported fee increases have averaged 7% to 9% a year over the past five years, above CPI but in line with most other private school groups. Plan for a R75,000 fee today becoming approximately R110,000 in five years if increases continue at that rate.
For broader private school context, read Public vs Private Schools in South Africa. For lower-fee alternatives, see Cheapest Private Schools in Johannesburg and Cape Town. To find specific Curro campuses near you, browse the directory.