English College was established on 21 March 1914, with 21 students selected from Bukit Zaharah School.

[1] The school was initially located close to the Sungai Chat Palace facing the Lido Beach in Johor Bahru.

These 21 students can be regarded as the pioneers, and from this beginning EC became an educational institution in Johor Bahru.

Some of the notable teachers there were Pendeta Za'Ba, T. Drury, T. Grundy, Mr Bion Dury, Hj.

In 1949, with the admission of the first group of girl students, the EC became co-ed for a brief period before returning to its all-boys configuration.

This was followed by creation of the school song with lyrics written by Yusof bin Karto set to music by Lim Teck Siang.

Also in 1974, the first batch of students of Sekolah Menengah Sains Johor was placed temporarily in the English College until the completion of the school's building in the month of April 1974.

In 2005 EC recorded the best PMR[clarification needed] performance for Johor Bahru when three EC students were selected as national top PMR candidates, namely Joshua Soo Iyn Zhou, Mukeshakumar and Wong Guo Wai and Yong Jenn.

The second school building was initially located close to the Sungai Chat Palace facing the Lido Beach in Johor Bahru.

The most recognisable feature of the school is The New School (built in 1930), a building with pseudo English Classic Victorian architecture once be a Malay Teacher Training College at Johore Bahru and later on change into the famous English College Johore Bahru in 1931.

The third open space is in front of the Sultan Iskandar Hall reserved for cricket, baseball, and hockey practice, and it is used for various purposes and competitions.

In odd-numbered years, the match is held in Seri Gelam Field (Home of English College Rugby Team).

Other than rugby, EC has excelled in sports such as soccer, hockey,[8] athletics, chess, cricket, basketball, and bowling.

In 2013, English College decided that The Annual Sports Day held at school field for the first time since 1981.

(Yellow is considered a royal colour in Malaysia, and it usually represents the sovereignty of the reigning monarchs) On the left and right sides of the shield are laurel wreaths symbolising the close co-operation and understanding among the citizens of EC to keep its glorious hope.

The first Regius Professor in Malaysia (Ungku Abdul Aziz)[10] and one of Asia's richest man received their education here.

The alumni association is based in the management of ECESA at Sultan Iskandar Hall English College in Johore Bahru.