Greetings!

My name is Marclus Marite. I am an alumnus of Nova Pioneer Tatu Boys (Class of 2022) and an incoming freshman at The California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

After sitting for my K.C.S.E, I spent most of my time at home, anxiously awaiting my results. As expected, I achieved an outstanding A, scoring 83 out of 84 points. However, what I did not anticipate was being recognized as one of the top students nationwide! This incredible honor opened doors to numerous opportunities and profoundly shaped the trajectory of my life.

Shortly after receiving my results, I was invited to join the Equity Leaders Program (ELP), a prestigious initiative designed for Kenya’s top-performing students. I underwent an intensive two-week induction at Sportsview Kasarani before interning as a corporate teller at Equity Bank’s Kenyatta University branch for seven months. During this period, I also participated in college counseling provided by ELP.

In October 2023, I took the SAT and achieved an impressive score of 1500/1600. That same month, I enrolled at the University of Nairobi to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. Unfortunately, my college applications abroad were unsuccessful, and I did not secure admission anywhere. However, what seemed like a setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise. This experience reignited my determination and strengthened my resolve to navigate the grueling application process once more.

With renewed clarity and motivation, I applied to top U.S. universities in November 2024. In March 2025, my perseverance finally bore fruit. By God’s grace, I was accepted to both the California Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), each offering me full funding.

I am honored to be attending Caltech this fall, where I plan to major in Applied and Computational Mathematics and later explore the field of Quantitative Finance.

 

 

Hey Novaneers!

My name is Lisa Mukoya Ochieng, a proud alumna of Nova Pioneer Tatu Girls (Class of 2022) and an incoming freshman at Princeton University, New Jersey—still very much undecided on my major, but leaning towards something STEM (or maybe humanities? Who knows, we’ll see). 

Nova Pioneer played a huge role in shaping my journey, thanks to the incredible teammates who supported me every step of the way in high school. Special thanks to Mr. Otaka for guiding me through the application process and writing my counselor recommendation letter, and to Mrs. Melvin and Mr. Opiyo for their amazing subject recommendation letters. I’m deeply grateful.

After completing my K.C.S.E in December 2022, I spent my time at home waiting for results while working on coding projects (because what else do you do when you have way too much free time?). Then came January 2023, K.C.S.E results day. I was expecting good news, but I was still completely shocked when I saw my score: an A of 83/84 points, making me one of the top students in the country and the top girl in Ruiru Sub-county.

With those results, I was selected to join the Equity Leadership Program, which mentors top students countrywide into future leaders. During an intensive two-week job induction camp, we were trained on financial literacy, banking operations, fraud detection, and professional skills. After that, I began a six-month internship as a Relationship Officer at Equity Bank, Embakasi Branch. Alongside my internship, I joined the Equity College Counseling Program, where I prepared for the SAT, crafted my essays, and built my college applications.

I took my first SAT on August 23rd, 2023, scoring 1430/1600 (760 Math, 670 English). While I performed well in Math, the English section proved to be a challenge.

Around this time, I also joined the Kenya Robotics Team as the Assistant Team Captain and began working on building a robot for the FIRST Global Challenge in Singapore. The experience was incredible! I got hands-on with computer-aided design (CAD), deepened my knowledge of Java programming, and truly immersed myself in the world of robotics.

Then came the dreaded college application season, and let’s just say, it was brutal. I applied to 20 colleges in the US, and every single one of them rejected me. 20 out of 20. It felt like the universe had a vendetta against me, but deep down, I knew I couldn’t give up. I also explored other opportunities and was later awarded the full Türkiye Bursları Government Scholarship to study Computer Science at Ankara University. It was an amazing opportunity, but I took a massive risk and declined it to chase my American dream one more time.

Determined to improve my chances, I retook the SAT on October 5th, 2024. My English score went up, but Math decided to betray me that day (1380/1600—710 English, 670 Math). With a superscore of 1470, I still felt it wasn’t competitive enough, so I ultimately applied test-optional (without submitting my SAT scores).

This time, everything changed.

On March 27th, at exactly 2:07 a.m., I got the acceptance letter. “Congratulations!” My first-ever acceptance. And not just anywhere. Princeton University. The #1 ranked university in the U.S. offering me full funding. God came through for me!

I still got 10 rejections this cycle, but honestly? It doesn’t even matter. My American dream came true. I’m still in shock, but I know these next four years are going to be incredible.

To anyone out there chasing big dreams, keep going. Rejection is just redirection. Your moment is coming! And most importantly, trust in God. His timing is always perfect.

 

Get Ready for an Exciting New Learning Experience at Nova Pioneer- Launching September 2025!

 

At Nova Pioneer, we are all about reimagining education. For the past decade, we’ve been delivering the best global learning practices to prepare our students for success in the real world. In Kenya, we have been honored to deliver the National Curriculum (8-4-4 & CBC), and in South Africa, we have proudly offered the Cambridge Curriculum.

Now, we are thrilled to announce something special; the Cambridge Curriculum is coming to our Athi River and Tatu City campuses in September 2025! Starting with Early Years 1 through to Year 8, our Cambridge offering will open up new options for our families. In September 2026, we plan to add even more years as students transition to higher grades.

 

What Makes The Nova Pioneer Student Experience Stand Out?

Whether your child is following the Cambridge, CBC, or 8-4-4 curriculum, one thing remains the same: practical, real-world learning. At Nova Pioneer, we believe in the power of hands-on learning, where students connect classroom theories to real-life challenges. This approach not only strengthens their understanding but also gives them the tools to solve problems with confidence.

Our goal? To inspire a lifelong love of learning in every student. We have not just focused on academic success; we want to nurture curiosity, creativity, and a passion for knowledge that will fuel students’ growth throughout their lives. That’s why Nova Pioneer emphasizes high expectations, 21st-century skills, and a space for future innovators and leaders.

 

Cambridge Curriculum: A Proven Success

Our students from our Ormonde campus recorded  remarkable achievement with one of our students achieving top position in Cambridge International Award by being top position globally for Cambridge International IGCSE Business Studies in November 2022.

An impressive 83% of our Ormonde graduating class achieved University Exemptions. Notably, Nova Pioneer students surpassed global subject pass averages in English, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Business, and History. 

 

Ready to Learn More?

Excited about the opportunity for your child to join the Cambridge Curriculum at Nova Pioneer? Sign up here to attend our Campus Experience Event, and one of our Admissions Associates will get in touch with you to share more details about this exciting new offering!

We can’t wait to welcome your child into a world of endless learning possibilities!

 

Congratulations on your upcoming transition to Junior School!

Starting at a new school or grade level can be both exciting and a little daunting, and it’s completely normal to feel unsure about what lies ahead but don’t worry; I am here to share five important tips that will help you feel more confident as you make this big change.

 

Accept the Change that Comes with Transition

#JoyofLearning

The move to Junior School means new challenges, and it’s important to embrace them. You’ll be taking on more subjects and more responsibility, which may feel overwhelming at first but remember, change can be uncomfortable and that’s exactly where the growth happens. It’s all part of learning and becoming more independent.

 

Expand Your Universe – Be Open to Making New Connections

#GreaterTogether

You’ll meet new students and teachers, and your existing relationships might shift. It’s important to be open to making new friends and connecting with people you may not know yet. Take the opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and give and receive feedback as this helps you grow both personally and academically.

 

Clubs and Sports Matter

#BeyondTheClassroomOpportunities

Junior School is not just about academics. Extracurricular activities like clubs and sports are an excellent way to meet new people, discover new talents, and have fun. Whether you are into sports, drama, music, or anything else, there’s something for everyone. Get involved and try out new activities as you might just find a passion you did not expect!

 

Try New Things 

#AlwaysGrowing

One of the best things about Junior School is the chance to explore new interests and activities. It’s totally okay to make mistakes along the way, because that’s how you learn and grow. Be brave enough to try things that are new to you. Whether it’s a subject, a hobby, or a challenge, give it a go; even if you are not sure you will succeed the first time.

 

Take Responsibility for Your Path

#HighExpectations

As you move into Junior School, you will find that you have more control over your journey. Stay organized, manage your time well, and be proactive in your learning. The choices you make now will help shape the experience you have, so take responsibility for your path, and remember that you are in charge of your success.

Remember, transitions are a big part of growing up, and this is just one of the many exciting changes you will experience. You’ve got this, and we’re all here to support you every step of the way.

Wishing you all the best as you start this exciting new chapter!

We are pleased to announce the introduction of a Weekly Boarding option at both our Tatu City Boys and Tatu City Girls Campuses. This allows our families more flexibility in our boarding arrangements. This new option will complement our existing full boarding and day school offerings, and is exclusively available to our Junior School.

 

Important Details

• Weekly Schedule: During the term, students will remain in school from Monday morning to Friday afternoon.
• Student Pick-up and Drop-off: Families who opt into the weekly boarding option are required to pick up their child at 4:30pm on Fridays and return them to school by 7:00am on Mondays.
• Transport Services: Please note that we are not offering transport services at this stage for weekly boarders. We request families to make private arrangements for their child’s pick-up and drop-off.
• Weekend Extensions: For families who wish to extend their child’s stay beyond the normal weekly boarding days (to remain at school over the weekend), an additional fee of Kshs. 5,500 will apply for each weekend spent at school. The fee is applicable to any students not picked up on Friday (at the end of the official school day).

Kindly find 2025 Weekly Boarding fees for Tatu City Boys detailed here and for Tatu City Girls detailed here.  

 

Enroling for the Weekly Boarding Option

If you are interested in enroling your child in the Weekly Boarding programme, please write to admissions.ke@novapioneer.com. 

We believe that this option will provide an excellent balance for families who would like their children to experience the benefits of school life during the week while also maintaining the flexibility of weekend home life. If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to welcoming your child to the 2025 academic year!