He started the school with only 52 learners in the Old Location, an area of Windhoek where today the suburb of Hochland Park is situated.

The school was named after the wife of Mr. A.H. du Plessis, the administrator of the S.A. government in South West Africa.

Ella du Plessis was the first non-racial government school of South West Africa, and it was for the poor and the deprived.

Today, Ella du Plessis has a learner population of 1050 and 37 teachers.

In 1978, the school moved to its current premises where it is situated at the corner of Viserend and Gladiola Streets.