Alliance High School (AHS), popularly known as “Bush,” stands as a premier national school in Kenya. Located in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, the institution has maintained a reputation for academic excellence, leadership training, and holistic character development since its founding in 1926. For parents and students aiming for top-tier secondary education, understanding the school’s performance trends, financial obligations, and entry requirements is essential.
The academic giant today featured on the headline for wrong reasons as a dorm went on fire and students sent home.
This comprehensive guide outlines the latest Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, current fee structures, and step-by-step admission guidelines for Alliance High School.
Alliance High School KCSE Results Performance
Alliance High School consistently ranks among the top-performing institutions nationally. The school features a high university transition rate, with nearly 100% of its graduating class qualifying for direct entry into higher education annually.
2025 KCSE Exam Performance Summary
In the 2025 KCSE examinations, Alliance High School recorded an overall mean score of 10.4707 points (A Minus), marking a steady improvement from the 10.28 points achieved in 2024. Out of 461 candidates who sat for the national exams, 456 students scored a mean grade of C Plus and above, securing direct university placement.
The detailed breakdown of the 2025 grade distribution illustrates this academic consistency:
| KCSE Mean Grade | Number of Candidates (2025) |
| A (Plain) | 128 |
| A (Minus) | 141 |
| B (Plus) | 92 |
| B (Plain) | 48 |
| B (Minus) | 32 |
| C (Plus) | 15 |
| C (Plain) | 2 |
| C (Minus) | 3 |
| D+ and Below | 0 |
| Total Candidature | 461 |
Key Performance Takeaways
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Top-Tier Elite Grades: Over 58% of the entire class achieved an aggregate grade of A Plain or A Minus, placing them among the top academic achievers in the country.
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Zero Waste Policy: The school recorded zero grades in the D and E categories, ensuring every student completes their secondary cycle with actionable certificates.
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Competitive Edge: In the 2025 national standings, Alliance High School maintained its position as the top-performing public school in the Nairobi Metropolitan area, closely trailing Moi High School-Kabarak nationally.
Alliance High School Fees Structure
As a public national boarding school, the basic fees structure at Alliance High School is regulated by the Ministry of Education guidelines for Category A national schools.
Annual Basic Fee Breakdown
The current approved annual boarding and tuition fee for national schools is capped at Ksh 53,554. This amount is split across the three academic terms, typically heavily weighted toward Term One.
Important Note: The basic fee covers tuition, standard boarding costs, medical insurance, and regular maintenance. It does not include uniform sets, personal effects, or specialized activity kits required for newly admitted students.
Additional Development and Welfare Costs
While the Ministry of Education sets the statutory fee cap, parents often contribute to supplementary institutional projects approved through the Parents Teachers Association (PTA). These may include:
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Infrastructure Fund: For modernizing laboratories, expanding dormitories, or maintenance of school transport.
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AHS Endowment Fund: A special fund dedicated to supporting bright but financially disadvantaged students within the school.
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Academic Remediation & Motivation: Voluntary welfare funds to support specialized internal testing and educational tours.
The school operates on a strict need-blind admission policy. Needy students who qualify academically but face financial constraints are routinely matched with alumni networks, corporate sponsors, and the Elimu Scholarship program to ensure no student misses their slot due to lack of fees.
Admission Guidelines and Selection Process
Admission to Alliance High School is highly competitive and entirely merit-based. The school selects its cohort through the centralized automated system managed by the Ministry of Education.
Form One Selection Criteria
Every year, the school admits over 400 students into Form One. The selection follows a strict multi-tier framework:
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Academic Merit: Candidates must score exceptionally high marks in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) or equivalent primary exit assessments. The cutoff marks fluctuate annually depending on national performance curves but generally sit well above 400 marks.
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First Choice Selection: Due to high demand, priority is given exclusively to students who selected Alliance High School as their first-choice national school during the registration process.
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National Quota System: To maintain national cohesion, the school employs a provincial and county quota system. This ensures representation from every county in Kenya, balance between public and private primary institutions, and equity for marginalized sub-counties.
Grade 10 / CBC Placement Guidelines
With the ongoing transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) framework, senior school admission (Grade 10) utilizes specialized pathway choices. Admitted learners are placed into one of three major approved academic pathways based on their junior school performance and psychometric assessments:
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STEM Pathway: For learners demonstrating high aptitude in Mathematics, Sciences, and Technical subjects. Subject combinations include options like Computer Studies, Physics, Aviation, and Agriculture.
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Social Sciences Pathway: Tailored for students leaning toward humanities, leadership, and communication. It offers combinations incorporating History, Geography, Christian Religious Education, French, German, or Mandarin Chinese.
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Arts & Sports Science Pathway: Designed for students with distinct talents in creative arts, performance, media, and sports, featuring subject combinations like Fine Arts, Music & Dance, Theatre & Film, and Sports Recreation.
Joining Instructions and Requirements
Once a student receives an official calling letter via the Ministry of Education portal, they must download the official Alliance High School joining instructions package.
Compulsory Official School Uniforms
The school requires precise uniform compliance to maintain identity and standard presentation. Parents are required to fill out an Online Uniform Selection Form on the school portal before reporting, indicating precise body measurements to enable accurate packing by the school store.
Mandatory Shopping List for Admitted Students
Aside from the official uniform pack provided at the school, parents must supply the following items in a standard metallic trunk (box) secured with two sturdy padlocks:
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Bedding & Personal Linen: A pillow, two pillowcases, towels, and adequate personal underwear (minimum of three sets). The school provides custom color-coded mattresses unique to the entry cohort.
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Footwear: At least one pair of plain black leather shoes, bathroom slippers, and appropriate games shoes (sneakers).
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Academic Tools: A non-programmable scientific calculator, a standard geometrical set, and a 30cm ruler.
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Reference Literature:
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Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
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Kamusi ya Kiswahili Sanifu (Latest Edition)
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Peak Secondary School Atlas (East Africa Publishers)
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An English Bible (Revised Standard Version – RSV) or equivalent religious text.
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Hygiene Items: Adequate washing and bathing soaps, toothpaste, and a toothbrush.
School Contact Information
For direct inquiries regarding fee statements, admission tracking, or official school visits, parents can reach the administration through the following verified channels:
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Physical Address: Kikuyu Township, Kiambu County, Kenya
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Postal Address: P.O. Box 7-00902, Kikuyu
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Official Website: www.alliancehighschool.ac.ke
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Category: Public National Boys Boarding School
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What was the mean score for Alliance High School in the 2025 KCSE?
Alliance High School recorded a mean score of 10.4707 (A Minus) in the 2025 exams, with 128 students scoring straight A Plains.
2. How much are the school fees for Form One at Alliance High School?
The statutory basic fee is Ksh 53,554 per year, split across three terms. Additional uniform fees, personal shopping, and PTA levies apply separately at the time of admission.
3. Can I apply for a direct transfer to Alliance High School?
Direct mid-term transfers are exceptionally rare and subject to strict vacancies and approval from the Principal and the Ministry of Education. They typically require a proven track record of excellent academic performance from the releasing national or extra-county school.
4. Does Alliance High School offer scholarships for needy students?
Yes. Through the AHS Endowment Fund, the Alumni Association (Old Boys), and institutional partnerships like the Elimu Scholarship program, qualified but vulnerable students receive partial or full financial sponsorship.
On the morning of Thursday, June 4, 2026, Alliance High School experienced a fire incident that led to an immediate emergency response and the temporary closure of the institution.
According to official police reports from the Kikuyu Police Station and statements from the school administration, a fire broke out at around 3:00 a.m. inside a storage facility used for keeping mattresses within one of the school’s older dormitory blocks. Approximately 200 mattresses were destroyed in the blaze.
First responders and fire engines from Kiambu County arrived swiftly at the scene, successfully containing and extinguishing the flames before they could spread to the main sleeping quarters or active learning structures.
Following an emergency morning meeting on June 4 involving the school’s Board of Management and parents, the administration resolved to close the school temporarily. Parents and guardians were instructed to collect their sons from the school compound to spend an extended weekend at home.
The principal noted that this measure was taken out of abundance of caution to provide an opportunity for students to be with their families while the school carries out internal safety reviews and restores full normalcy to the infrastructure.
Preliminary security investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the inferno. Local authorities have stepped in to investigate the timeline of events, noting that the incident occurs amid a wider wave of security and arson challenges facing several secondary schools nationwide. Security personnel from the Kiambu Scene of Crime unit remain on-site to process the area.
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