Grade 10 School Selection Kenya: Complete 2026 KEMIS Guide
Grade 10 school selection in Kenya is done through the official Grade 10 Selection & Placement System, the digital platform that guides Grade 9 learners choosing their Pathway, Subject Combinations and Senior Schools under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework. For 2026, every learner selects 8 Senior Schools — split across the C1, C2, C3 and C4 categories — during a selection window running from August 24 to September 11, 2026. This guide walks through exactly how the process works, what changed this year, and how to find the right schools in each cluster.
The Ministry of Education revised the selection arrangement for 2026. Key changes from previous cycles:
- 8 schools instead of 12 — distributed as 3 C1, 2 C2, 2 C3 and 1 C4 day school (previously up to 12, spread across day, home-county boarding and other-county boarding options).
- Two subject combinations maximum per Senior School, down from a wider spread previously.
- A built-in Career Pathway Checker is now part of the platform, matching learner strengths to a suggested pathway before selection.
- Private senior schools are not on the central portal in this initial phase — parents must approach private institutions directly.
How KEMIS Grade 10 School Selection Works
The senior school selection process in Kenya follows a fixed sequence on the official portal:
- Enter the assessment number. The learner’s KJSEA/Grade 9 assessment number, issued by KNEC, is used to log in to the selection platform.
- Use the Pathway Checker. The built-in career guidance tool suggests a pathway based on the learner’s strengths and interests.
- Choose a pathway. STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts & Sports Science.
- Select a subject combination offered under that pathway (maximum two combinations per selected school).
- Choose 8 Senior Schools — 3 from C1, 2 from C2, 2 from C3, and 1 C4 day school within a reasonable commuting distance from home.
- Submit and download the confirmation slip once selections are complete.
- Check placement once released, either on the portal or via SMS to 22263.
The 3 CBE Pathways and Subject Combinations
Grade 10 pathway selection is built around three official pathways. A common point of confusion — Languages & Literature is not a fourth pathway; it’s a subject-combination area inside Social Sciences.
STEM
Pure and applied sciences, mathematics and technical subject combinations.
Social Sciences
Languages & Literature, and Humanities & Business Studies subject combinations.
Arts & Sports Science
Performing arts, creative arts and sports science subject combinations.
Understanding C1, C2, C3 and C4 Schools in Kenya
C1, C2, C3 and C4 are the four categories used to classify Kenya’s Senior Schools for Grade 10 placement — from the smallest, most selective national-level cluster (C1) to the largest and most widely distributed category (C4), which makes up the bulk of day schools nationwide. Browse the full official-data directory for each cluster below.
C1 Schools
204 schools nationallyC2 Schools
692 schools nationallyC3 Schools
1,373 schools nationallyC4 Schools
7,234 schools nationallyKJSEA and How It Feeds Into Grade 10 Placement
KJSEA (the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment) is the KNEC national exam sat at the end of Grade 9 — 2026 is only its second-ever sitting, after debuting in 2025. A learner’s final Grade 9 score combines 60% KJSEA, 20% KPSEA, and 20% Grade 7–8 school-based assessment, scored out of 72 across nine learning areas and reported as one of four competency bands rather than a ranked position. These results, together with the Pathway Checker, guide which pathway and subject combinations a learner is best matched to before Senior School selection opens.
Senior School Selection Process in Kenya: 2026 Timeline
The 2026 selection window runs for three weeks, from August 24 to September 11, 2026. Within this period, learners complete the pathway checker, make their 8 school selections, and submit for placement. Schools with vacancies after initial placement declare them through their County Directors of Education, and replacement requests are made through the head of the learner’s Junior School — priority goes to learners who had already selected the school they’re requesting.
FAQ: Grade 10 School Selection Kenya
How many schools do I select for Grade 10 in 2026?
8 Senior Schools in total: 3 C1 schools, 2 C2 schools, 2 C3 schools, and 1 C4 day school — down from up to 12 in previous cycles.
What are C1, C2, C3 and C4 schools in Kenya?
The four categories used to classify Senior Schools for Grade 10 placement. Nationally there are 204 C1, 692 C2, 1,373 C3 and 7,234 C4 schools.
How do I check my Grade 10 school placement?
Online via the Grade 10 Selection and Placement System using the learner’s KNEC assessment number, or by SMS to 22263.
Are KEMIS and the Grade 10 Selection and Placement System the same platform?
No — they are separate platforms. Actions on one do not automatically apply to the other.
What are the 3 pathways for Grade 10 in Kenya?
STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts & Sports Science. Languages & Literature sits inside Social Sciences, not as its own pathway.
How does KJSEA affect Grade 10 placement?
KJSEA results (60% of the final Grade 9 score, alongside 20% KPSEA and 20% school-based assessment) help guide pathway and subject-combination fit ahead of Senior School selection.
Need Help With Grade 10 Selection or Placement Checks?
Send us your details on WhatsApp and we’ll help you navigate the KEMIS selection portal, verify a placement, or understand a replacement request.
WhatsApp Us NowSourced from the official Grade 10 Selection & Placement System (selection.education.go.ke), KNEC circulars, and Ministry of Education guidance. Last verified: August 2026.
