Ashley Hall School

Ashley Hall is a private school in Charleston, South Carolina that serves students from kindergarten to grade 12, including a co-educational pre-k program. It was created in 1909 by Mary Vardrine McBee, who oversaw the institution for many years. This is South Carolina's only all-girls independent private school. The school motto is Possunt Quae Volunt, which means "Girls who have the will, have the ability." Ashley Hall's campus includes several historic properties, including the James Nicholson House (McBee House) at 172 Rutledge Avenue (c. 1816-1820), Warren Street House at 89 Warren Street (c. 1823), Elizabeth Rivers Lewine '54 House for Global Studies at 79 Rutledge Avenue (c. 1876), and Muti House for Performing Arts at 159 Rutledge Avenue (c. 1845). In 1909, Mary Vardrine McBee purchased the James Nicholson House at 172 Rutledge Avenue and established an independent college preparatory school for girls. She gave the school its name, Ashley Hall. During her 40-year tenure, the school expanded from 46 students in grades 10-12 to a significantly bigger student population in lower, middle, and upper schools. In 1948, the Ashley Hall Foundation was founded. The Foundation bought Ashley Hall from McBee in 1949, the year she retired. The foundation's first action was to hire William Piper as head of the school. He was the head from 1949 to 1954.