Named after José Pedro Varela –who in 1876 carried out a reform that established free, compulsory and secular education in Uruguay–, it has two campuses: one in Cordón, Montevideo and another in Ciudad de la Costa, Canelones Department.

[1] It was created by the Uruguayan Teaching Society (Spanish: Sociedad Uruguaya de Enseñanza) as an all-girls educational institute for secular training on October 24, 1942.

[4][5] The then Board of Directors decides to close the School, without having the approval for it from the Assembly of Members of the Uruguayan Teaching Society, the highest body that administers the institution.

[6] In January 2016, the Assembly of Members of the Uruguayan Teaching Society accepted a proposal presented by the parents of the students, alumni and officials, so the school continued with its operation.

[10][11] In February 2017, the authorities of the institution decided to stop serving primary education on the Ciudad de la Costa campus.