Class eight Candidates select their favourite secondary schools when they register for the Kenya Certificate of Primary education, KCPE, examinations. The registration for the Kenya National Examinations Council, KNEC, tests is done between January and February, each year.

In 2018, most candidates selected these top schools, in Kenya:
- Kapsabet Boys
- Pangani Girls
- Alliance Girls
- Maranda Boys
- Maseno School
- Kenya High
- Limuru Girls
- Nakuru Girls
- Mang’u High School
- Lenana High School
- Nairobi School
- Starehe Boys
- Moi Girls Eldoret
- Nakuru Girls
- Mary Hill Secondary School
- Precious Blood Riruta- Nairobi
- St. Francis Girls High School, Mang’u- Kiambu
- Moi Girl’s School, Nairobi- Nairobi