Manchester High School was established for the purpose of providing "a good middle class education" to boys and girls.

[1] Since portions of the current parish of Manchester were a part of Vere, the funds from the Vere Trust, a result of charitable donations from several individuals, were used in 1855 to establish several institutions.

Manchester Middle Grade and Elementary schools had separate sections for boys and girls and were conducted on premises adjacent to St. Mark's Anglican Church (Mandeville Parish Church) beginning April 20, 1861.

Prior to this, the school was located on the lower storey of the Mandeville Court House, then on the premises of a private citizen.

[2] In 1952, the current site of the institution on Perth Road was acquired from the Anglican Church after the primary and middle schools moved to the campus currently known as Mandeville Primary and Junior High School and the school was officially opened in 1953.