Union School Haiti History
For more than a century, Union School Haiti has stood as a beacon of learning, resilience, and community. Founded in 1919, the school began with a clear purpose: to educate the children of U.S. Marine Corps families stationed in Haiti. From its earliest days, guided by curriculum from Washington, D.C., Union School embraced academic excellence and a global outlook that continues to define its identity.
From 1920 to 1934, the school, then known as Colony School, flourished on Turgeau Avenue. When the Marines departed Haiti in 1934, enrollment declined dramatically, yet the school endured. Through determination and strong community support, Union School relocated to Hasco, introduced French across all grade levels, and sustained its mission through tuition and spirited fundraising efforts—demonstrating an early and lasting commitment to perseverance and partnership.
After several relocations in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the school reopened in 1943 on the Champs de Mars, marking a defining chapter in its story. Admissions expanded to qualified students of all nationalities, and the school proudly took the name Union School Haiti, reflecting its growing spirit of unity and inclusion. As enrollment increased, the dream of a permanent campus took shape. Through annual bazaars and the generous donation of land by the Haitian government, that vision became reality in 1954 with the move to Harry Truman Boulevard. Campus expansions in 1958 and 1962 followed, enriching academic programs and student life.
In 1987, Union School relocated to Juvenat, serving nearly 380 students, before establishing its current home on Rue Lamartinière (Route du Juvenat) in 2001. From this campus, Union School continues its enduring mission: to educate young men and women of character and to nurture the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of the whole child.
Adapting to the needs of each generation, Union School expanded once again in 2022 with the addition of five new classrooms, supporting safe and engaging learning environments. With final work nearing completion, the school looks ahead with pride and anticipation to the construction of a dedicated auditorium, projected for completion by the end of the 2026–2027 academic year, a milestone that will further enrich academic, cultural, and community life.
As Union School Haiti reflects on more than a century of impact, it celebrates not only its campuses and milestones but the generations of students, families, educators, and partners who have shaped its legacy. Deeply rooted in service and community engagement, the school continues to open its doors, through outreach initiatives and shared spaces, to foster collaboration, leadership, and shared responsibility.
Honoring the past. Educating the present. Inspiring the future.