St. Mary’s Senior High School is a distinguished Catholic public institution located in Korle‑Gonno, Accra. Founded to provide young women with a strong academic foundation and moral values, the school has grown in reputation and size over the decades.
Its emphasis on character, leadership, and community service shapes graduates who excel in higher education and professional careers. It is nicknamed ‘Merries’
History of the school
St. Mary’s began in 1950 under the auspices of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It opened with a small cohort of students and a handful of teachers, offering core subjects and religious instruction.
In the 1960s, the school expanded its academic programs, added boarding facilities, and achieved full accreditation from the Ghana Education Service. Over time, St. Mary’s integrated national curriculum reforms while preserving its Catholic heritage and commitment to holistic education.
Location
The school is situated on a hillside in Korle‑Gonno, a coastal suburb of Accra. Its address on Marine Drive overlooks the Gulf of Guinea, offering sea breezes and scenic views.
Located seven kilometres west of Accra’s city centre, the campus is accessible via public transport and lies close to beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks.
Population
As of the 2024–2025 academic year, St. Mary’s enrols approximately 1,800 female students. These learners hail from varied regions of Ghana, bringing diverse cultural perspectives.
A teaching staff of 110 subject specialists maintains a student‑teacher ratio of around 16 to 1. Support staff—including counsellors, matrons, and medical personnel—ensure that students receive academic guidance and personal care.
Campus
The campus blends mid‑century and modern architecture across its eight‑acre site. The main administrative block houses offices and meeting rooms. Classroom wings include well‑ventilated lecture halls and specialised rooms for music and visual arts.
Science laboratories for physics, chemistry, and biology are fully equipped for practical experiments. A library stocked with over 8,000 volumes and digital resources supports research.
Outdoor facilities feature a full‑size football field, basketball and netball courts, and a covered assembly pavilion.
Boarding houses, a chapel, a cafeteria, and a health clinic complete the campus infrastructure.
Extracurricular activities
Students can participate in a broad range of clubs and societies. The National Science and Maths Quiz team competes regionally, while the debate and public speaking society hones oratory skills. The drama club stages annual productions of both classical and contemporary works.
Musical ensembles include a choir and instrumental band that perform at school and community events. Sporting teams in athletics, basketball, volleyball, and football represent the school in inter‑school competitions. Service groups such as the Red Cross and Environmental Club lead blood drives and clean‑up campaigns.
Boarding houses
St. Mary’s operates five boarding houses, each named after a Marian title or notable sister. Dormitories accommodate between 150 and 200 students in rooms shared by two to four boarders. Each house is supervised by a housemistress and supported by matrons and senior prefects.
House life includes structured study periods, morning devotion, and weekly meetings to discuss welfare and academic progress. Inter‑house competitions in sports, quizzes, and cultural displays foster camaraderie and healthy rivalry.
School uniform
The uniform consists of a white short‑sleeved blouse embroidered with the school crest and a green skirt that falls below the knee. On formal occasions, students wear a green blazer and a striped tie in the school’s colours.
Plain black shoes and green socks complete the attire. For physical education days, the kit includes a white polo shirt with green trim and matching sports shorts. Grooming standards require neat hairstyles and polished footwear, reflecting discipline and unity.
Courses offered
St. Mary’s follows the Ghana Education Service curriculum for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. It offers four main tracks: General Science, General Arts, Business, and Visual Arts. General Science students study elective mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science.
Arts pupils take literature in English, history, economics, government, and geography. The Business track covers accounting, economics, business management, and elective mathematics. Visual Arts includes courses in graphic design, painting, sculpture, and art history.
All students also take compulsory subjects such as English Language, Core Mathematics, ICT and Integrated Science.
Other relevant information
The school places strong emphasis on spiritual formation and community service. Weekly chapel services and student‑led prayer groups enrich moral values. A guidance and counselling unit supports personal development, career planning, and exam preparation.
The on‑site health clinic, staffed by a nurse, attends to medical needs. The Old Girls Association actively funds scholarships, infrastructure projects, and mentorship programs that benefit current students.
Ranking
When evaluating St. Mary’s Senior High School, the quality of tuition is evident in consistently strong examination results and university placements. Facilities, including modern laboratories, sports courts, and a well‑stocked library, rank highly among girls’ schools in Accra.
St. Mary’s Senior High School is a category A SHS in Ghana.
Read More: Top 10 Category A SHS in Ghana
All Category A Schools in Ghana
Extracurricular achievements in academic quizzes, sports tournaments, and cultural festivals underscore a vibrant school life. While there is no formal international ranking system for secondary schools, St. Mary’s reputation extends through alumnae’s success abroad and partnerships with overseas institutions.
Considering academics, infrastructure, extracurricular offerings, and global connections, St. Mary’s Senior High School stands among the top all‑girls institutions in Ghana.
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