Nakuru High School is one of Kenya's National Schools located in Nakuru Town, off Nakuru-Bahati Road. It borders Nakuru State House to the East. The school was founded in 1927 as Francis Scott High School but later renamed to Nakuru High School after Kenya attained independence in 1963. The first stone was laid by the then colonial governor Edward William Macleay Grigg. It has roughly 200 acres of land facing Menengai Crater. Initially the co-educational institution was reserved for children of the whites who lived in the outlying farming areas and British administrators. All teachers, masters were also white. First formed as a boarding school, it still allowed day pupils on condition that they lived around the school. By the late 1950s, the school had grown to have a swimming pool, numerous rugby pitches, basketball courts, football pitches, hockey and cricket fields. The school also had well equipped learning resources. It had fully furbished classrooms, and science laboratories. Unique was the weather station where geography students took practical lessons. To keep up with its fast pace of growth, a large contingent of residential subordinate staff was employed. After Kenya's Independence in 1963, gradual changes followed including the school being renamed and the first admissions of children of African origin. The first black students who pioneered entry to the school suffered harsh racial discrimination from students of Asian descent. In 1964 the school was opened to girls, making it the only national co-educational school in the whole country. A few years later, black teachers were employed, and in 1982 the first black principal, Francis Kesui, was appointed to the school. The school has consistently produced notable leaders, scholars, actors and countless professionals, considering its impressive performance in National Examinations. The school employs a holistic approach of child development where emphasis is put not only academic performance but also to co-curricular activities like swimming, martial arts, rugby, and drama. Rugby is a signature game for Nakuru High School. Multiple times has it dominated provincial rugby competition but has faced stiff competition at national level lately, despite having bagged the National and East Africa titles in 2004 and 2005 consecutively. It has lately been rivaled by Menengai High School who win most of the matches. It has also represented East Africa in martial arts. The CitizenTV programTahidi High, for example, had a Nakuru High School alumni. Other alumni include Philip Asena,Faustin Kandie,Phineas Kipkoech,Brian Mwity, Madvincy, Jean Mario Okongo, Desmond Mutuma and Ricky Machel Eddy.
Two schools in one
Before the school was split, it had the largest number of students in the country one stream having seven or eight classes each with students not less than 50 so that each year a class had between 300 and 450 students - a number equivalent to a whole school in most places. By mid-2000 this uncontrolled admission led to leaders calling for its split along gender lines. It was also arguable that despite being mixed, girls had their own classes and dining hall. The aim was to reduce the number to ease management and to subsequently improve academic performance. In 2006 the school was split into the current Nakuru Boys High School and Nakuru Girls High School. Both schools have since recorded noticeable improvement in KCSE performance Games Nakuru high school has a lot of games its signature game being rugby. It has reached the nationals a number of times most recent being 2013. The rugby team is called 'ruffians' and their theme Bible verse is Proverbs 21:31.The present patron is Isaac Njoroge.
School motto
Diligentia Servo which translates to "Learn To Serve"
Academics
Nakuru High School is categorised as a national school, meaning it recruits students who do well from all over Kenya according to the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. The old education system consisted from first forms to sixth forms but after changes occurred it changed to first to fourth forms. The school offers a wide range of subjects which are all examinable in the final exam Maths English Kiswahili Physics Chemistry Biology Geography History Religious Education which are all mandatory during the first two yrs. Other subjects are Business German French and Music Woodwork Computer Metalwork.
