Harpeth Hall’s story begins in 1865 with the founding of Ward Seminary for Young Ladies, six-months after the end of the Civil War. The school merged with Belmont College for Young Women in 1913 and formed the Ward-Belmont School, a high school and junior college for women. In the spring of 1951, Ward-Belmont closed, and local community leaders organized to ensure that college preparatory all-girls education continued in Nashville. This group purchased the Estes Estate in Green Hills and renamed the school Harpeth Hall, based on the nearby Harpeth River Valley.

In 1951, the new campus opened with 161 students in grades 9-12, most of whom transferred from Ward-Belmont. The first head of school, Susan Souby, was the former high school principal Ward-Belmont. Additionally, nearly all of the founding faculty members previously taught at Ward-Belmont. The next year, Harpeth Hall received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Several of the traditions established at Ward-Belmont were carried over to Harpeth Hall. The origin of Step Singing and Lady of the Hall evolved from the traditional May Day festival. Harpeth Hall also maintains four intramural clubs that were part of the club system at Ward-Belmont: Ariston, Eccowasin, Triad, and Angkor.

Idanelle “Sam” McMurry became head of school in 1963 and served until 1978. The Daugh W. Smith Middle School opened in the fall of 1968. In 1973, McMurry introduced Winterim—one of Harpeth Hall’s signature programs. For three weeks each January, Winterim allows students to explore in-depth areas of interest through special coursework, internships, academic trips, and independent study.

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Stephanie Balmer’s tenure as head of school began in 2014 with a focus on the social and emotional health of students and the establishment of a school garden. With ties to Ward Seminary, founded in 1865, Harpeth Hall celebrated 150 years of educating young women in 2015. Following Dr. Balmer’s passing in 2018, Jess Hill was appointed head of school. She began her teaching career at Harpeth Hall in 1985 and served as Director of the Upper School from 2005 to 2017. Jess Hill’s collaborative leadership style, vision for leading edge programs, and sense of community remains central to Harpeth Hall’s role as a national leader in girls’ education.

Today, the Harpeth Hall campus comprises nearly 44 acres, and enrollment of 719 students projected for 2020-2021. The school has 88 full-time and 6 part-time teaching faculty and employs a total of 154 professionals. Harpeth Hall and its predecessor schools share a history of excellence in educating young women.