In January 1858, the Scottish Franciscan Sisters set up a Preparatory and Secondary School for girls at Duke Street in Kingston. The School was dedicated to and named after Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. In January 1879, the Scottish Franciscans handed over the school to the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. Mothers Paula and Veronica set a high standard of achievement which is today still being preserved.
In the summer of 1858, the school moved to Duke Street. On Saturday 23 October 1937, the ICHS was burnt to ashes in a terrible fire that started a block away at a beauty parlor. The school moved to Old Hope Road (temporarily) and then in 1941, the school acquired the Constant Spring Hotel (which was operated by Niagara Falls businessman Frank A. Dudley and the United Hotels Company of America in 1933.[1]) which is now used for the Immaculate Conception High School, Preparatory School and Convent.
The school was separated into two sections, one section for the English speaking students of Jamaica and the other for French speaking students of Haiti. Due to the lack of Haitian students, the French section has been closed down.
The school was a Boarding and Day School.
Campus
ICHS is located on a large campus with many facilities including:
Administrative Block
Faculty Room
School Chapel
Library
Classrooms
Performing Arts Centre
5 Computer Rooms
Medical Room
Offices of Guidance Counsellors
Book Store
Science Building
2 Home Economics Labs
2 Art Studios
3 Audio-Visual Rooms
Campus Ministry Room
Cafeteria
Music House
School Pool
Tennis Court
Netball Court
Summer House
Sixth Form Lounge
Drama House
Insignia
Motto
Ad Astra Per Aspera "Through Difficulties to Excellence"
Tracy Robinson, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, Jamaica; Rhodes Scholar 1992; member of the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).[3]