Top 10 Best‑Rated Primary Schools In Ekiti State
Based on rankings compiled by reputable sites such as ProGuide.ng and NaijSchools.com.ng, plus official recognitions from Ekiti SUBEB and examination performance, here are ten primary schools that consistently stand out in Ekiti State for educational excellence, holistic development, and strong performance.
1. Adonai International School, Ado‑Ekiti
Located at No. 88, Basiri, Iyin Road, Ado‑Ekiti, Adonai tops most recent lists of top primary schools in Ekiti State.
Highlights: Highly respected for combining academic rigor with character formation. Modern, air‑conditioned classrooms, projectors in each class, ICT facilities, and a team of motivated teachers contribute to a healthy learning atmosphere.
Curriculum: Core subjects (Math, English, Science, Social Studies), moral education, extracurriculars like arts and sports.
Why #1? Featured as the first in ProGuide’s and NaijSchools’ rankings of top nursery/primary schools.
2. Fountain of Knowledge Nursery & Primary School, Ado‑Ekiti
Based in Oke‑Omisanjana, this school ranks consistently high in state‑wide assessments.
Strengths: Offers a well‑equipped, safe learning environment. Focus on academic excellence, supportive teachers, and good discipline.
Curriculum & Culture: Balanced approach blending academics, play, moral instruction, and foundational skills.
3. Petoa Nursery & Primary School, Ado‑Ekiti
Located off Iyin Road, Awodele, Petoa has a longstanding tradition and excellent results.
Profile: Established in 1994, Petoa’s mission is to produce exceptional students ready for secondary school challenges.
Facilities & Approach: Classrooms with audio‑visual aids, modern teaching strategy, well‑trained staff, strong community reputation.
4. Beautiful Beginning Integrated Ideal School, Ado‑Ekiti
Listed in the top ten by both ProGuide and NaijSchools sources.
Location: Irewumi Quarter, Ado‑Ekiti.
Why it stands out: Conducive learning environment, emphasis on moral and academic excellence, and holistic child care.
5. God’s Will Nursery & Primary School, Ado‑Ekiti
Located in Ekute Quarters, God’s Will is noted for a disciplined atmosphere and good results.
Focus: Strong moral foundation, core academics, and nurturing early childhood education with parental engagement.
6. Happyday Group of School, Ado‑Ekiti
Situated at Ile Ileri Street, Opopogbooro, this school makes top‑ten lists consistently.
Characteristics: Known for professionalism, supportive staff, structured teaching, and creative learning spaces.
7. Academy Success Nursery And Primary School, Ado‑Ekiti
Located in Ilejemeje, this private school is consistently ranked among the state’s best.
Profile: Balanced academics and character formation, modern pedagogy, and supportive infrastructure.
8. Avalanche Academy, Ado‑Ekiti
Based along Nova Road, Basiri, Avalanche Academy is praised for its western‑style learning approach and facilities.
Notable features: Quality instruction, child‑friendly learning environment, emphasis on holistic development.
9. Mater Christi Catholic Nursery & Basic School, Ado‑Ekiti
Located at Onala, Afao Road; also appears in ProGuide’s list of top schools.
Highlights: Catholic tradition of discipline and academic excellence, strong infrastructure, values‑based education.
10. Jonathan Memorial Primary School, Ado‑Ekiti
Located on Ajilosun Street, Jonathan Memorial features in local directories and top‑ten rankings.
Why place it here: Repeated recognition for strong academics, good atmosphere, and consistency across reporting platforms.
Additional Noteworthy Institutions
While our top ten focuses on consistently ranked schools, several other institutions merit attention:
Covenant Academy, Ado‑Ekiti
Frequently ranked #4 in lists of best primary schools. Offers modern laboratories, ICT centre, sports complex/playground, swimming pool, clubs in music, drama, press, mathematics and foreign languages—and notably affordable tuition with solid academic results.
Tinuola Maximum International School, Ado‑Ekiti
Known for spacious campus, modern audio‑visual material, indoor/outdoor games, and social clubs like literary society, drama, choir. Motto: “Education is Life”.
SUBEB Model Nursery and Primary School, Ado‑Ekiti
Public school that was awarded Best Primary School in Nigeria by the 2012 President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award, recognized by federal authorities during World Teachers’ Day . Also received recognition from the Ekiti government . Though the award dates to 2012, it reflects a high standard for public education in the state.
Fulfilled Children Nursery and Primary School
Noted for achieving 100% pass rate in the Ekiti State Common Entrance Examination with top scores (e.g., 478/500) from July/August 2022 cohort—but its ranking hasn't been recently updated in aggregate lists.
What Makes These Schools 'Top Rated'?
1. Academic Excellence & Exam Performance
Schools like Fulfilled Children and Petoa have achieved remarkable score distributions in state common entrance exams (e.g., high‑30s and 400+ scores).
SUBEB Model School’s national award in 2012 for excellence shows recognition of top academic standards.
General state assessment (PSR) results show state‑wide strong performance, especially from private schools often clustered in Ado‑Ekiti.
2. Quality Infrastructure & Learning Environment
Many of the listed schools boast air‑conditioned classrooms, modern ICT and AV equipment, libraries, science labs, dining centres, playgrounds, and reliable power supply.
Covenant Academy includes a swimming pool and sports complex; Adonai and Tinuola Maximum emphasize leisure and creative spaces alongside academics.
3. Holistic & Moral Development
These schools emphasize character formation, moral discipline, and extracurriculars—music, arts, drama, debate, foreign languages, entrepreneurship, etc.
Christian values are embedded at Catholic or Christian‑affiliated schools like Mater Christi, God’s Will, Adonai.
4. Experienced & Qualified Staff
High‑quality teachers and administrators are frequently cited. Several schools highlight motivated staff, teacher training, and careful student assessment.
5. Official Recognition
SUBEB Model School’s national award elevates public trust in government schools too.
Schools regularly cited in local directories and rating platforms (Finelib, Kikio, corporate listings) confirm their good status.
School Overview Table
Rank School Name Location Key Strengths
1 Adonai International School Ado‑Ekiti Academic rigor, ICT, moral excellence
2 Fountain of Knowledge Ado‑Ekiti Well‑rounded education, strong results
3 Petoa Nursery & Primary Ado‑Ekiti Longstanding excellence, exam results
4 Beautiful Beginning Integrated Ideal Ado‑Ekiti Values education, disciplined learning
5 God’s Will Nursery & Primary Ado‑Ekiti Moral focus, steady academic consistency
6 Happyday Group of School Ado‑Ekiti Structured learning, professional staff
7 Academy Success Ado‑Ekiti Balanced academics + character, modern facility
8 Avalanche Academy Ado‑Ekiti Western‑style pedagogy, enabling environment
9 Mater Christi Catholic School Ado‑Ekiti Faith‑based discipline, strong academics
10 Jonathan Memorial Primary School Ado‑Ekiti Reputable and consistent performance
Broader Context: Ekiti State Education Landscape
Ekiti State operates the Nigerian 6‑3‑3‑4 system, with primary school under the supervision of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), aligned with UBEC standards.
The oldest formal education institution is Emmanuel School (now Emmanuel Nursery & Primary), established in 1896; other historic primary schools include St. Joseph, St. Louis Primary (Ikere‑Ekiti) and Catford Nursery & Primary.
In PSR assessments, private school students often achieve higher A‑C percentages (around ~79 %) than government schools (~57 %), reflecting disparities—but top private schools often lead national excellence statistics too.
Choosing the Right School: What Parents Should Consider
If you're selecting among these top schools in Ekiti State for your child, here are the most important factors:
1. Academic track record – check recent exam performance and internal assessment quality.
2. Infrastructure & Learning Tools – availability of ICT, labs, playgrounds, libraries.
3. Class size & teacher quality – schools with smaller, well‑trained staff offer better individual attention.
4. Curriculum & Activities – see how they balance core academics with sports, arts, moral education.
5. Moral ethos & supervision – faith‑based or disciplined schools offer structured environments.
6. Location & accessibility – most of the top schools are in Ado‑Ekiti; consider travel times and security.
7. Cost/fee & value – fees vary; Covenant Academy is noted for affordable excellence, others may be more expensive.
8. Reputation & parent reviews – talk to local parents or visit school to assess culture and friendliness.
Final Thoughts
Ekiti State offers a strong mix of high‑performing private primary schools with modern facilities and holistic education, as well as a few top public options with official recognition like SUBEB Model School. While older public institutions like Emmanuel, St. Joseph, and St. Louis Primary (Ikere‑Ekiti) have historical pedigree, the most consistently high‑rated schools today are newer private establishments in Ado‑Ekiti town.
Adonai International, Fountain of Knowledge, Petoa, and Covenant Academy stand out for excellence in exams, infrastructure, staff, and value. Others like Avalanche, Happyday, and Mater Christi offer different strengths like faith‑based values, small classes, or arts‑rich curricula.
Ultimately, the right school depends on your child’s needs, your budget, and how well the school aligns with your family values and expectations. Visiting shortlisted schools and speaking with current parents will give a clearer picture than any ranking list.