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Edith Dalton James High School was opened on September 5, 1977. The school is named after Mrs. Edith Dalton James who was an excellent teacher, politician and a champion of teacher’s welfare.

Edith Dalton James High School is situated at 40 Herrick Avenue in Duhaney Park. The school was opened for classes on the 5th of September 1977 to accommodate only the Grade 7 students from Duhaney Park Primary, George Headley Primary, and Drews Avenue Primary School. The school also accepted grade eight students from All Age Schools in the area. At the end of the first year, there was an enrolment of approximately Eight Hundred (800) students whose ages ranged between 12 and 14 years. The Academic Staff of Twenty – seven (27) including the Principal, Vice Principal, Administrative staff of (5), and an ancillary Staff of Fourteen (14) were entrusted with the job of educating and caring for the students. An eight (8)member Board of Governors, chaired by the Rev. Gladstone E. Clarke, was charged with seeing to the satisfactory operation of the school on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

In 1978, the Shift System was introduced as the Grade 10 programme came on stream. The school’s population had almost doubled to 1,500 and the academic staff increased to over sixty (60) including a second Vice Principal. The Grade 10 programmes included vocational courses such as Food and Nutrition, Machine Shop and Welding, Clothing and Textile, Child Care, Art and Craft, Electrical Installation, and Cabinet Making. Our first set of students graduated in July 1980.

The first principal was Mr. H. R. Johnson who held the post form 1977 to 1985. The position was then filled by Mr. Gladstone Thompson who served at the school since 1978.Today the school is managed by Principal, Mr. Ray Howell, another vibrant stalwart of our local education system. Mr. Howell began his tenure in 2005, and has helped to raise the standards and discipline of thee school significantly.

The school is divided into Junior and Senior shifts with grades 7-9 and grades 10 and 11 respectively. The students are placed in ability groupings and the classes are named after the initial letters of the school as well as a past vice principal, Mrs. Pauline Lawrence. The students on the senior shift are divided into continuing and functional groups. The continuing students are primarily prepared for the CSEC and G.C.E’ O level exams while the functional students are prepared for the CCSLC exams. Students from Grades 9-11 also have the opportunity to sit the Jamaica Secondary Certificate Exams (JSC).

Socio-cultural clubs play a major role in helping to develop ‘well rounded’ students. These include Drama, African Studies, Dance, Inter-School Christian Fellowship (I.S.C.F), Bible Society, Cadet, and the 4-H Club. Our 4-H Club under the dynamic leadership of Miss Lorna Grant received many awards for placing first in National 4-H competitions in previous years.

Since 1980, over 5,522 students have entered this institution .Our present enrolment now stands at approximately over 1200. We are proud that some of our graduates have left us for tertiary institutions and others have been excelling in various fields. Great emphasis has been placed on academic as well as vocational training.

The history of this school is incomplete without highlighting our sports department. Since 1979 we have been having Inter-House Sports Competition. Our houses are named after prominent citizens –Louise-Bennett, Olive Lewin, Wesley Powell and Arthur Wint. We have entered Secondary Schools Championship and the Gibson Relays. In 1980, we came fifth in the Secondary School Championship. In 1985-1986 at the Gibson Relays, we won Gold Medal for the 4x200 relay and placed second in the 4x100 relay. In the secondary schools football competition, the school was placed second in the academic year 1986-1987. The Sports Department continues to excel in Inter-School Football and Track & Field competitions annually.

A solid foundation has been laid on which students and teachers can build. No greater honour can be given to the memory of the founder than to make the performance and achievements of this school worthy of the high ideals of Mrs. Edith Dalton James.

School Information: Address: Tel: 876-933-3454, 933-4570 Principal: Mr. Ray Howell Co-operating teacher: Ms. Faithlyn Reader Tel: 876-883-9934