Montego Bay High

Can you imagine a school that was built on the grounds of a former hotel? Right here, on Union Street in Montego Bay, stands Montego Bay High, a girls’ school with a rich history. It all began in 1935 when the Jamaican government saw a need for a public girls’ high school in St. James. The school replaced St. Helena’s High School, a private school run by the Anglican Church, which had closed due to a lack of funding. The government purchased the Beaconsfield Hotel, a two-story house, and turned it into the new school. It was the first government-owned girls’ high school on the island. This is why it’s known as Montego Bay High School for Girls. So, it wasn’t just about academics but also about developing young women into self-reliant individuals. The students at Montego Bay High were prepared for the Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations, and the school even started offering the Higher School Certificate in 1949. The school has seen considerable growth and expansion over the years. The current Main Building, which houses administrative offices, a staff room and lounge, and laboratories, was built in the late 1950s. And don’t forget the impressive auditorium that can seat one thousand people. It was erected in the 1980s, thanks to the efforts of the Parent Teacher Association and the Past Students Association who joined forces to build a new, modern building that houses a library, laboratories and the bursar’s office. Montego Bay High, also known as Mobay High, remains a stronghold of academic success and a beacon of education and empowerment for the women of Montego Bay and beyond.