# Ashley Hall (Charleston, South Carolina)

Ashley Hall is a private school located in Charleston, South Carolina, enrolling students in kindergarten through grade 12 with a co-educational pre-k program. 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.The school motto is Possunt Quae Volunt, or "Girls who have the will have the ability."
Ashley Hall's campus features numerous 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), and the Muti House for Performing Arts, 159 Rutledge Avenue (c. 1845).

## 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 40-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 established 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 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 to 1954.
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 local students. In 1976 the school graduated its first African-American student. 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. 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

## 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)
* Winter sports:
** Basketball
* Spring sports:
** Archery
** Sailing
** Soccer
** Lacrosse
** Equestrian
** Track (SCISA Class AAA State Champions 2013, 2014)

## Notable alumni

* Madeleine L'Engle (Class of 1936), author
* Barbara Bush (Class of 1943, née Pierce), former First Lady
* Nancy Stevenson (Class of 1945, née Backer), Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
* Nancy Friday (Class of 1951), author
* Alexandra Ripley (Class of 1951, née Braid), author
* Harriet McDougal Rigney (Class of 1956, née Popham), editor
* Josephine Humphreys (Class of 1963), author
* D'Anna Fortunato (Class of 1963), mezzo-soprano
* Martha Rivers Ingram, business leader, philanthropist
* Mena Suvari, actress
* Lisa Sanders (Class of 1973), physician, medical author, and journalist
* Frederica Mathewes-Green, Orthodox Christian author
* Emma Navarro, professional tennis player