Starehe  is a charitable school where over 75% of the students come from very poor in the Society who are not able to pay for their education and are almost wholly supported by sponsors all over the world through SBC. The other 25% pay for their education at the Centre depending on their parents income-the surplus if any goes into the Account of the needy.
The following Categories Exist:
             Cat. A - From Very poor background - fully supported and get a boarding place
                           This category comprises over 75% of the group.
             Cat. B - From Middle Income bracket - day scholars, pay accordingly.
             Cat. C - From High income bracket - day scholars, pay accordingly.

The institute is subdivided into the following learning sections:

1.     Primary school-Currently being phased out
2.     Secondary school-This is the core of the Centre
3.     The College-career based, and option to the universities for the school leavers.

What makes Starehe such a unique school? There are countless reasons that answer this question. Below are a few lines that may give you relevant ideas.
 

Why doesn't Starehe just admit ALL of its students from the very needy in the society? This combination is advantageous to the students especially those who come from cash strapped backgrounds as they get a chance to interact with their colleagues from well off backgrounds thereby giving them that vital confidence that they need in life:-that even though they are poor they should not eat, walk, behave, perform or even think poorly enabling both groups to appreciate much more what life has at stake.

The students learn more than education. They take part in lots of activities which include Voluntary Service Scheme, where they work in various social institutions throughout the country like attending to the sick in the hospitals for free; the school band; the fire fighting squad-battling real fires in the city; and the St. John First Aid Cadets among other things.

The students get support even after they are through with their education for a limited period of time-up to one year they may book a room at the old boys hostel as they look for jobs or wait to be absorbed in the various institutions of higher learning.

The students who do not make it to the various government universities are allowed back to take various career courses that the institution offers which are either business or computer oriented.

The students feel they have a moral obligation in the society-this automatically does away with problems like bulling which thrives in many schools all over the world-it  is not known in SBC.

The students are introduced to real time situations like maintaining there living environment solely on their own, in the dining halls, in their dormitories, in doing their prep work and cleaning all parts of the school; no teachers are usually involved directly in these activities apart from may be admiring what the young boys are doing.

And  the schools motto of ''Natulenge Juu'' is the lifeline of the Centre. Natulenge juu is a swahili  phrase that translates in English as AIM HIGH