Hill School was founded by the American missionaries, John Henry and Frances Maria (née Mulligan) Hill in 1831, as an educational facility in Plaka, near the Ancient Agora of Athens. At the time of its establishment, Greece had just gained independence from the Ottoman Empire and was attempting to establish a functioning state. Athens had not yet been designated as the capital and upon arrival in the city, the Hills found the city in ruins. They began offering a classical school with Biblical training in their home to local children and within two months enrollment had gone from 20 to 167 pupils. It was the only school in Greece offering education to women at that time. By 1834, the school had gained approval from the Greek authorities and King Otho of Greece suggested that it include training to teach girls to become teachers. The following year, the school building was constructed at the corner of N. Nikodimou Street and Toukididou Street (in the same location which it is now housed) and the nursery school, the first kindergarten in Greece, began operating.