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When evaluating a school, pay attention to what doesn't make the brochure. Look at whether teachers are stable—high staff turnover signals deeper problems with management or resources. Check the actual water situation during winter and ask directly about backup power for examinations; schools that dodge these questions are schools managing crises, not preventing them. Visit during a load shedding day, not a showcase visit. Ask about safety protocols for the actual routes students take, not theoretical best practices. Good schools in Johannesburg have weathered the education system's real pressures and can articulate what they do when the standard answers don't apply. A principal who admits challenges and describes concrete solutions is more reliable than one offering perfection.