Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School is a top-ranked all‑girls boarding institution in Takoradi, Ghana.
Established by the Catholic Church, the school combines strong academics with moral formation and a supportive community. Over the years, Archbishop Porter has earned a reputation for nurturing confident young women equipped for leadership and service
History of the school
Archbishop Porter Girls was founded in January 1965 by the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi–Takoradi. It was named in honour of Archbishop William Porter, an early missionary leader in the region.
The school began with just fifty students and a handful of teachers, offering a curriculum focused on core academic subjects and Christian values. In subsequent decades, the student body grew rapidly, and new facilities were added.
Today, Archbishop Porter is among Ghana’s Category A second‑cycle schools, reflecting its sustained academic excellence and strong reputation.
Location
The school is located on Chapel Road in Takoradi, the capital of Ghana’s Western Region. Its campus sits on approximately forty acres of gently rolling land within the city outskirts, offering a tranquil learning environment close to urban amenities.
Major landmarks nearby include the Takoradi Harbour, trade fair grounds, and the regional hospital. The setting provides students with both serenity and access to city resources.
Population
As of the current academic year, Archbishop Porter Girls enrols around 3,400 students aged sixteen to nineteen. The teaching staff comprises about 140 educators, yielding an average student‑teacher ratio of roughly 17 to 1.
Boarders represent the majority of the student body, with a smaller number of day scholars drawn from Takoradi and neighbouring towns. Learners hail from all regions of Ghana, contributing to a culturally diverse campus.
Campus
The campus blends historic buildings with modern expansions. The original administration block and chapel date to the 1960s and feature classic colonial architecture.
Newer classroom wings house general lecture rooms, specialised labs for physics, chemistry, and biology, and an ICT centre equipped with internet‑enabled computers.
The school library contains over 10,000 volumes and offers quiet study carrels.
Outdoor facilities include a full‑size football field, courts for basketball, volleyball, and hockey, and a covered multipurpose hall used for assemblies and cultural events.
Staff residences, a dining complex, and a student health clinic complete the infrastructure.
Extracurricular activities
Students can join a wide array of clubs and societies that foster talents and leadership skills. The debate and public speaking club competes in zonal and national tournaments. The drama troupe stages annual productions reflecting Ghanaian culture and social issues.
Musical groups include a chapel choir and an instrumental band that perform at school and community events. Sporting teams in athletics, basketball, volleyball, hockey, and soccer participate in regional leagues.
Service clubs—such as the Red Cross Society, Ghana Health Service Club, and Environmental Conservation Club—lead blood donation drives, health education workshops, and campus clean‑ups.
Boarding houses
Archbishop Porter operates six boarding houses, each named after a significant saint or school pioneer. Houses accommodate 300–400 students in dormitory rooms arranged by class year.
A housemistress, assisted by matrons and senior prefects, oversees welfare, discipline, and academic support.
House routines include morning devotion, structured study periods, and weekly meetings to review progress.
Friendly inter‑house competitions in sports, quizzes, and cultural displays promote camaraderie and house pride.
School uniform
The uniform underscores unity and discipline. Students wear a white short‑sleeved blouse embroidered with the school emblem and a mustard‑yellow skirt featuring narrow brown stripes. On formal occasions, a matching brown blazer and striped tie complete the attire.
Black leather shoes and brown socks are required. For physical education, the kit consists of a white polo shirt trimmed in brown and mustard shorts.
Courses offered
The school follows the Ghana Education Service curriculum for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. Five main tracks are available: General Science, General Arts, Business, Visual Arts, and Home Economics.
Science students take elective mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. Arts pupils study literature in English, history, government, economics, and geography. Business track includes accounting, economics, business management, and elective mathematics.
Visual Arts covers painting, sculpture, graphic design, and art history. Home Economics offers food and nutrition, clothing and textiles, management in living, and elective mathematics.
All students also take core subjects such as English language, Core Mathematics, ICT, and Integrated Science.
Ranking
As a Category A school, Archbishop Porter Girls’ ranks among Ghana’s top second‑cycle institutions. Quality of tuition is evidenced by consistently strong WASSCE results and high university placement rates. Facilities—including modern laboratories, sports fields, and an ICT centre—meet the needs of a comprehensive curriculum.
Extracurricular success in academic competitions, sports leagues, and cultural showcases highlights a vibrant campus life. Although there is no formal international ranking system for secondary schools, Archbishop Porter’s reputation extends through exchange programs and alumnae achievements abroad.
Considering school category, teaching quality, infrastructure, extracurricular offerings, and community impact, Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School stands as one of the leading girls’ boarding schools in Ghana.
Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School is a category A senior high school in Ghana.
Read More: Top 10 Girls’ SHS in Ghana
Top 10 Category A SHS in Ghana
All Category A Schools in Ghana
Other relevant information
Archbishop Porter Girls’ emphasises spiritual growth alongside academics. Daily chapel services and retreats foster reflection, while a resident chaplain provides pastoral care.
The guidance and counselling centre supports personal development, career planning, and university applications. An active alumnae association contributes scholarships, infrastructure upgrades, and mentorship programs.
Annual events—such as Founder’s Day and Speech and Prize‑Giving Day—celebrate student achievements and the school’s heritage.
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