It had been the long cherished dream of Blessed Chavara to open a school for the education of girls at Changanassery.The then Bishop of Changanassery Diocese Mar. Charles Levinge and the then secretary to the bishop Rev.Fr. Louis Pazhayaparampil took pains for the realization of the dream of Blessed Chavara.
St Joseph’s Girls Higher Secondary School, a realization of this blessed priest’s dream,was started as an English elementary school on 30th October 1894 by the religious sisters of the Congregation of Mother of Carmel with the purpose of imparting education to women. It was the first one of its kind in this part of the country. In a society where the girls were not even allowed to get to the veranda of the house, a school for girls was of course a revolutionary and daring step which later led to the social, economic and cultural development of the locality.
The convent school,situated at the heart of Changanassery town known for its religious tolerance, and rich cultural heritage, meant for girls is patronized to Saint Joseph, the guardian of virgins. It was founded by Msgr. Cyriac Kandankerry together with its co-founder Thoppil Rev. Sr.Thresia Kathrena.
When Pre-Degree education was de- linked to schools as Higher Secondary, Rev.Fr. Joseph Manalil, the then Vicar of Metropolitan church and Rev. Sr. Sancta CMC, the then Mother provincial of Changanassery tried their best to get the school upgraded as Higher Secondary. Thus by the joint efforts of the Priests, the catholic community at Changanassery and the religious sisters of CMC, it has become a full fledged Higher Secondary School managed by the Archdiocese of Changanassery.
Right when the Higher Secondary Section started onwards, it met periodical and steady growth. The Higher Secondary started functioning in the vacant class rooms in the High School Section. As the classes doubled the number of class rooms were found insufficient, the section was moved to the Sunday school building of the Metropolitan Church where it functioned for one year.
In the next year itself a three storey building with almost all infrastructural facilities was erected for the purpose in the heart of the town. Later the roof top auditorium was made ready for use, the courtyard beautified by interlocking bricks and a beautiful garden was set in front too.
When a principal took charge of the office for the Higher Secondary Section alone, every facility needed for the smooth functioning of the office was arranged.
In 2010 a MAT (Multimedia Assisted Transaction) Room was modified for facilitating ICT enabled transaction. Now the school leads as a full fledged Aided school with all infrastructural facilities.
The school is whole heartedly accepted to its bosom by the region which includes Changanassery town, its neighboring panchayats and part of Kuttanadu as it is easily accessible and approachable to all people irrespective of their caste, community and financial status.