Ashley Hall
Secular
Updated July 2026
Ashley Hall is the only all-girls’ independent private school in South Carolina, serving students from kindergarten through grade 12 with a co-educational preschool. It is located in the heart of downtown Charleston and is dedicated to providing an exceptional program tailored to how girls learn best.
Curriculum
Teaching approach
Founded in 1909, the school is committed to educating girls and young women to be independent, ethically responsible, and prepared to meet the challenges of their world with confidence. The educational approach is guided by seven "Hallmarks"—habits of mind and action—which include being intelligent, creative, compassionate, discerning, collaborative, purposeful, and worldly. The school emphasizes a culture of agency, trust, and respect, asserting that inclusive diversity is essential to academic excellence.
Programmes
The academic program is based on a classical curriculum that prioritizes innovation and experimentation across all divisions, from the Ross Early Education Center through the Upper School. The curriculum includes comprehensive offerings in the fine arts—such as visual arts, dance, chorus, drama, and music—and a broad range of athletic opportunities. Signature programs provide hands-on learning experiences, such as scientific laboratory work, community-based research, and sailing.
Student support
Learning support
The school prioritizes a developmentally appropriate approach to teaching, utilizing a "Learning Spiral" philosophy that creates a continuum of concepts and academic mastery tailored to the individual student's needs. Dining services are provided in partnership with FLIK Independent School Dining, which employs a registered dietitian to assist families with allergies and special dietary needs.
Tuition & fees
No published fee schedule was found for this school.
Admissions
The admission process is designed to be unique to each applicant, aiming to ensure the school is a perfect fit for the student's individual talents, needs, dreams, and hopes. The school is a K-12 independent institution for girls, with a co-educational preschool, and it welcomes students of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin. Prospective families are encouraged to inquire, visit, and follow the formal application process for the Early Education Center, Intermediate Program, Lower School, or Upper School.
Calendar
The academic year typically runs from mid-August through late May. The calendar includes scheduled breaks for Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, a winter holiday period, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Winter Break, and Spring Break. The school year concludes with Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies for Upper School students in late May.
Facilities
About the campus
The historic downtown Charleston campus features oak-canopied grounds and historic buildings. Athletic facilities include the 11-acre Ashley Hall Sports Complex on Johns Island, which serves as the home field for soccer and lacrosse teams. The campus also houses the Muti House for Performing Arts and an outdoor classroom.
Co-curriculars
Students have access to a variety of after-school programs, athletic teams, and arts enrichment events. The school offers a private lesson program and travel opportunities, both domestic and international, which are led by faculty to enhance the existing curriculum. Additionally, students may participate in the Big Sister/Little Sister program and various leadership initiatives.
Dr. Anne Thornhill Weston ’73Head of SchoolDr. Anne Thornhill Weston ’73 is the school’s sixth Head of School and the only alumna to hold the position. A seasoned educator, she has championed important curricular and wellness programs while celebrating an expanding record of student scholarship and college placements.
- Grace WingfieldAssistant Director of Upper School, Academic Support Director, and Math, Science, and Technology Department Chair
Grace Wingfield has been appointed the Math, Science, and Technology Department Chair and Assistant Director of Upper School. She holds B.A. and M.Ed. degrees in Math Education from the University of Delaware and has deep experience in working with students to maximize their potential.
- Ricard BordasVoice Studies Program Director
Ricard Bordas is a world-renowned artist and music educator who serves as a Director of the Voice Studies Program and directs the Upper School choral classes and ensembles. He is a Grammy nominee, conductor, and countertenor who currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Charleston Southern University.
- Margaret Kelly CookVoice Studies Program Director
Margaret Kelly Cook is a world-renowned artist and music educator who serves as a Director of the Voice Studies Program, overseeing the vocal studio and instructing private vocal lessons. She is a highly regarded vocal instructor in Charleston and an active participant on the concert stage.
- Flora NevarezStrings Program Coordinator
Flora Nevarez serves as the Strings Program Coordinator. She has served as an associate instructor at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and holds multiple degrees in music education and violin performance.
- Aimee Phelan-DeconinckPerforming Arts Coordinator/Dance
Aimee Phelan-Deconinck serves as the Performing Arts Coordinator/Dance. She has studied with the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance and the School of American Ballet and holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University.
- Jon PerkinsGlobal Education Coordinator
Jon Perkins serves as the Global Education Coordinator. He is an experienced foreign service officer and analyst specializing in East Asia who previously served as a Course Director and Lead Instructor at the Sherman Kent School, CIA University.