West Ridge High School is a comprehensive Special School institution for Learners with Special Needs. We have approximately 715 learners from Level 1 to Level 4. The school first opened on 4 August 1914 as Mayville Government School with 34 children ranging from Class 1 to Std 4. On 1 October 1937 the name changed to West Ridge Government School with 130 pupils on roll.
During the period 13 – 17 September 1965, Dr Joubert, Department Psychologist visited the school for testing 18 children with the view op opening a special class.
In 1968 – boys from Hunt Road Special School started using the Woodwork rooms. At the end of 1968 it almost collapsed with only 33 enrolments for 1969 and, with a few Std V “slow learners”, enrollment for 1969 would not exceed 40.
West Ridge Government / Primary School was officially closed on 12 December 1968 and became West Ridge High School – declared by the Department of Education to cater for the needs of learners who are mildly and moderately handicapped and opened on the 28 January 1969 with 113 pupils: 69 boys and 44 girls.
In January 1984 South Hills Special School and West Ridge High School amalgamated with South Hills moving to West Ridge High School. The number of learners was 499 pupils: 364 boys and 135 girls.