Marian High was founded by three Dominican Sisters in 1931 and classes were initially held in a tent and in the church to accommodate the growing number of students. The Sisters financed the school entirely and it was only later on in the school’s history that parents were asked to contribute financially. In the 1950’s / 1960’s the school began to accommodate more students from the surrounding areas and operated as a private school where parents were required to pay fees. The school continued to grow in numbers and in the 1970’s Marian was one of the first schools to open its doors and accept isiXhosa speaking learners. In 1976, the school became a state-aided school with financial support from the government. As the sisters moved out of the convent, more of the convent buildings could be used for classrooms and the chapel was converted into a school hall. Today, Marian School hosts 510 learners from Elsies River, Delft, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Langa, Bishop Lavis, Gugulethu...