The school offers a 6-year program that allows students to take either the internationally recognized Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) or the Malaysian government examinations, PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) and SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia).

Penang Chinese Girls' High School was initially established as Penang Fukian Girls' High School by Hokkien immigrants from China in 1919.

Due to the increasing number of students, the school relocated several times and was forced to close temporarily in 1941 due to the outbreak of World War II.

It resumed operations in 1945 and was renamed Penang Chinese Girls' High School in 1951.

The school used to accept boys, but it now exclusively enrolls girls.