THE HISTORY OF ATKINSON SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

In June 1899, the Sisters of St. Ann: Mother Angela, Sr. Hyacinth and Sr. St. Charles, started a primary school comprising 16 pupils up to Class I, from the Honorable Mr. Atkinson, the erstwhile Collector of Krishna District. For this purpose they established their convent in Bezwada (Vijayawada) at the behest of the Bishop of Hyderabad.

Due to their dedicated labor, within a year the student strength swelled to 56 and the initial inspection occurred in 1900. Since then there was no looking back. A Boarding was inaugurated for the convenience of out-station students and new class rooms constructed. Atkinson School was raised to Middle School and later Secondary School status within 4 years. It was a co-education school. The students attempted the Madras Board Anglo Indian High School Examination.

The School steadily progressed. After 50 years, the staff increased to 15 members and the student strength to 500, which grew to 800 after 75 years. However the last 45 years experienced a sudden spurt in progress. The student strength soared to 4331 with 127 staff members catering to their needs.

Sr. Stella D’Souza took over the school in 1982. She acquired land and constructed 6 Massive Buildings. The new constructions sprang up to accommodate a spacious Library, modern Laboratories with sophisticated apparatus. Computer Labs, Audio visual hall and numerous classrooms, inevitably the campus expanded. It was a period of nomenclature “Atkinson Higher Secondary School”.