Ardenne High School

In 1907, just after the great earthquake that destroyed much of Kingston, the Rev. George and Nellie Olson came to Jamaica as Church of God missionaries from Anderson, Indiana in the United States, where the Church of God has its headquarters. In 1927, they began the first school at High Holborn Street in Kingston with an enrollment of five students including the Olson's daughter Mary Olson. In 1929 the Ardenne property of 12 acres was purchased through funds received from the Missionary Board of the Church of God in the U.S. and other private donors. The main block of buildings was erected. However, it was not until January 1938 that the school was transferred to its present location.

Nellie Olson, the first principal, held office until 1944 when she was succeeded by her daughter Mary Olson. Mary Olson served as principal through most of the schools formative years until 1969 when E.M. Claire Gayle, who had previously served as vice principal, succeeded her. Gayle was succeeded by the fourth principal, Roy J. Ebanks in 1979. When he retired in 1996, Winston Roberts became the fifth principal after serving as vice principal from 1979. During the interim May 1998 to December 1999, as a result of Roberts' illness and ultimate death, Erma J. Hutton served as acting principal. Esther Tyson assumed responsibility as the sixth principal in January 2000, until September 2011.[1] The Reverend Claude Ellis served as acting principal until Nadine Molloy was appointed the school's seventh principal in September 2012.[2]

School Song: (written by Vincent Kelly, alumnus)

Ye valiant youth arise,
And join life's glorious fray,
With God as guide,
He will strength provide to conquer day to day.
In hallowed hall or field,
We'll strive but never yield;
We will fight with our might,
Undefeated be the conflict mild or heated:
Brave and strong, shunning wrong
we will march along
To the future's brighter ray.

With loyalty and pride,
We'll shield our noble name,
What'er assail it shall ne’er prevail, we'll conquer just the same:
With banner high, unfurled,
A symbol to the world
Of the zeal that we feel in pursuing what we’re doing, ever viewing
The bright crest of the best
That will crown our quest,
And fan Ardenne's glorious flame.

• First Black Spelling Bee Champion, Jody Anne Maxwell 1998, in the 71st Scripps National Spelling Bee
• First Female Architect in the Caribbean' Verna Panton
• First Miconian to receive a Cornel Scholarship 1961, Hermon Saunders
• First Female President of York College, Dr Marcia Keisz[3]
• First Jamaican to win a basketball scholarship to the United States, Wayne Sappleton, who later played in the NBA and the Italian league
• First Sir Alexander Bustamante Scholar, Karl Isaacs, 1970
• First John J Mills Scholars 1978, Rosemarie Grant
• First Grace Kennedy Scholar, 1980 Maynard Mcintosh
• Ardenne High was named the most sought after school in the corporate area in 2001.
• According to the Dennis Minott Academic Report 2004, Ardenne was one of six schools to have an acceptable pass rate for CSEC mathematics.
• In 2006 Ardenne High was named the third most sought after school in Jamaica.
• According to the 2008-2009 statistical academic review of the University of the West Indies, Ardenne High had the second highest number of Undergraduates.
• In 2007-2010 Ardenne produced Jamaican Scholars, such as Daniel Thomas and Akeem Smith, who were recipients of the BBVA Ruta Quetzal Scholarship. Thomas was a science genius and Smith was able to memorize several languages and recite textbooks.
• Examinations Ardenne High had the second highest number of students placing in the top in the Caribbean for various CSEC subjects.
• For 2013 csec exams Ardenne High had the highest average.
• For 2013, Dea Thomas was the top CAPE performer in the Caribbean.
• Winner of 2015 School challenge quiz competition against St. Jago High School
• JCDC Marcus Garvey Award winner 6 years Straight 2011-2017[4]
• Referenced in "Young Don The Sauce God" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vOyusxDMCo
• Former high school of Grammy-award winning reggae artist Koffee
• Former high school of notable dancehall artist Alkaline
• Former high school of 2020 Rhodes Scholar Samuel Bailey
• Former high school of youtuber Yaad Man Etan
• Runner up 2019 TVJ All Together Sing.
• Most revered high school choir in Jamaica

Winner of 2020 School challenge quiz competition against St. Jago High School Creating history with 7 titles