Ashley Hall (Charleston, South Carolina)

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Ashley Hall
Location
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Charleston
,
South Carolina

United States
Coordinates32°47′11″N 79°56′41″W / 32.78639°N 79.94472°W / 32.78639; -79.94472Coordinates: 32°47′11″N 79°56′41″W / 32.78639°N 79.94472°W / 32.78639; -79.94472
Information
TypePrivate, all-girls day school
MottoPossunt Quae Volunt (Girls who have the will have the ability)
Founded1909
Head of SchoolJill Swisher Muti
Faculty80
GradesPrimary2 through 12
Enrollment640
CampusUrban
Campus size4.5 acres (1.8 ha)
Color(s)violet & cream   
NicknamePanthers
YearbookSpiral
WebsiteOfficial website

Ashley Hall is a private school for girls located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States for students in pre-kindergarten-grade 12 with a boarding program for grades 9-12. It was founded in 1909 by Mary Vardrine McBee, who headed the institution for many years. It is the only all-girls' independent private school in South Carolina.

Ashley Hall enrolls girls 2 years to grade 12 with a coeducational preschool. For the 2019-2020 school year, Ashley Hall enrolled 640 students. The school motto is Possunt Quae Volunt, or "Girls who have the will have the ability."

Ashley Hall's campus features three historic properties: James Nicholson House (McBee House), 172 Rutledge Avenue (c.1816-1820), Warren Street House, 89 Warren Street (c.1823), The Elizabeth Rivers Lewine ’54 House for Global Studies, 79 Rutledge Avenue (c.1876)

History[]

In the spring of 1909, Mary Vardrine McBee bought the James Nicholson House at 172 Rutledge Avenue to found an independent college preparatory school for girls. She named the school Ashley Hall. During her forty-year tenure, the school grew from just 46 students in grades 10–12 to a much larger student body in Lower, Middle and Upper schools.

McBee set the tone for the school – holding it to the highest academic standards, establishing the Alumnae Association, instilling many of the traditions that still exist today, and acquiring facilities that would serve as the foundation for the institution for years to come. Her school included the McBee House (now so named) and surrounding grounds, an indoor swimming pool, the "Old Gym" (Burges auditorium), kitchen and dining room, the Headmistress House and faculty apartments across the street from Ashley Hall.

In 1948, in order for the school to continue to operate as a non-profit institution under a Board of Trustees, the Ashley Hall Foundation was established. The Foundation purchased Ashley Hall from McBee in 1949, the year of her retirement. The Foundation's first move was to appoint William Piper as Head of School. He served as Head from 1949–1954. He was an acknowledged fiscal expert and helped put the school in good economic standing.

Caroline Pardue joined Ashley Hall in 1950 as the Academic Head of the Upper School and teacher of history. She was appointed Headmistress in 1954 and continued to serve in that capacity for the next 25 years until 1978. Her many accomplishments include the establishment of Pardue, Lane and Jenkins Halls to officially house Lower, Middle and Upper school classrooms, the construction of Davies Auditorium, and the incorporation of a kindergarten for boys and girls. It was also during her leadership that the school shifted its student base, eliminating boarding opportunities to focus on providing local students with a superior education. In 1976 the school graduated its first African-American student.[1] Upon Pardue's retirement, Marian Bell Leland assumed the role of Headmistress from 1979 to 1984. Leland was instrumental in and created the Capital Campaign, “The Ashley Hall Fund,” which funded the construction of the school's gymnasium.

Margaret C. MacDonald led Ashley Hall from 1985 to 2004. She is credited for elevating the school's academic standards, expanding programs, and educating both her faculty and the community on the value of an education that addressed the specific learning needs of girls and young women. She established financial aid programs and additional scholarships, initiated the school's first campus master plan, developed teaching excellence awards, the aquatics and admissions departments, and added to the physical property of the school. MacDonald, along with the school's Board of Trustees, also helped create the 2003–2008 Strategic Plan. This comprehensive blueprint outlines the future goals of the school as they relate to academics, student and faculty recruitment and facilities enhancements.

School publications[]

Student publications

  • Spiral – school yearbook
  • Acanthus – Upper School literary magazine

Development publications

  • Perspectives – official school magazine, distributed to all alumni, families, students and faculty[2]

Athletics[]

Ashley Hall participates in the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA).

The school is famed for its excellent varsity volleyball and tennis teams.

It has rivalries with Porter-Gaud School and Bishop England High School.

  • Fall sports:
    • Cross country (SCISA Class AAA State Champions 2010, 2015, 2016, and 2020)
    • Golf
    • Swimming
    • Tennis (SCISA Class AAA State Champions 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020)
    • Volleyball (SCISA Class AAA State Champions 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018)[3]
  • Winter sports:
    • Basketball
  • Spring sports:
    • Archery
    • Sailing
    • Soccer
    • Lacrosse
    • Equestrian
    • Track (SCISA Class AAA State Champions 2013, 2014)
The Shell House

Notable alumnae[]

Legends[]

Charleston legend has it that George Trenholm, a resident of the McBee House, the mansion on the school property, was the man on whom Margaret Mitchell based the character Rhett Butler in her novel, Gone with the Wind.

References[]

  1. ^ Parker, Adam (June 27, 2020). "Private schools Porter-Gaud and Ashley Hall pledge to work with alumni calling for improved diversity". The Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Perspectives Magazine : Ashley Hall". Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 11, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "The State | 04/24/2005 | at Ashley Hall, girls learn to ask questions". Archived from the original on December 5, 2005.
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ "Lady's First | Charleston Magazine". October 20, 2015.
  7. ^ "Ashley Hall". Archived from the original on April 30, 2009.
  8. ^ "Ashley Hall Prospective Families - Alumnae Profiles". Archived from the original on May 26, 2005.
  9. ^ "Ashley Hall". Archived from the original on May 13, 2012.
  10. ^ "Duke Alumni Magazine". Archived from the original on January 18, 2005.
  11. ^ "Facts about Ashley Hall : Ashley Hall". Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.

External links[]

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