DOWN MEMORY LANE: HIGH STREET SCHOOL, KUALA LUMPUR

 

Located at Jalan Panggung, K.L

This location was part of the original school compound that once housed High Street School. 

Historical Overview

• The Property's Roots: The signboard on the wall reads Pejabat Pengurusan Barang Kes & Stor Bekalan Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi. This indicates it is currently utilized as an evidence management office and supply store for the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters. 
• The High Street Connection: This entire site on Jalan Tun H. S. Lee (historically known as High Street or Jalan Bandar) has deep historical roots in Kuala Lumpur's education sector. 

Timeline of the Grounds:

• 1893–1929: The complex was originally built to house the prestigious Victoria Institution (VI).
• 1930–1954: After Victoria Institution relocated to Petaling Hill, the campus was used by the Technical College (which later evolved into Universiti Teknologi Malaysia).
• 1955–1963: When the Technical College moved to Jalan Gurney, the premises became High Street School. The school eventually relocated to Jalan Setapak in the 1960s and is known today as SMK Tinggi Setapak. 

The main historical Victorian school building sits just adjacent to this section of the compound and has been repurposed over the years for cultural departments, including the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN). 

THE HISTORY AND RELOCATION OF HIGH STREET SCHOOL'S TRANSITION TO SMK TINGGI SETAPAK

The history and relocation of High Street School into what is known today as SMK Tinggi Setapak marks an important chapter in Kuala Lumpur’s educational development. 

The transition took place through distinct historical phases:

1. The Genesis at High Street (1955)

• Founding: High Street School was established on January 12, 1955. It was officially opened by Dato' Othman bin Mohamed, the Menteri Besar of Selangor, with a royal opening later that year by Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah. 
• The Site: The school inherited the historic 1893 brick campus on High Street (now Jalan Tun H. S. Lee). This site was previously vacant after its former occupant, the Technical College, relocated to Gurney Road. 
• Purpose: Under its first headmaster, Mr. Herman M. de Souza (a former teacher from the Victoria Institution), the all-boys, English-medium school was formed to accommodate the growing population of youths who could not secure placements in heavily congested premier institutions like Victoria Institution or Methodist Boys' School. Its initial school motto was "Lead By Leading". 

2. Disruption and "Squatting" (1961–1962)

• Urban Development: By 1961, downtown Kuala Lumpur was undergoing rapid modernization. The construction plans for the Kinabalu Flyover directly impacted the High Street area. 
• Temporary Relocation: The school had to vacate its historic premises. Without a permanent home ready, the students and staff "squatted" at St. John's Institution, operating strictly during the afternoon sessions. This arrangement fostered a unique, fierce sports rivalry between High Street School and St. John's during that era. 

3. The Move to Setapak (1963)

• A New Campus: In January 1963, the school finally moved to its newly constructed permanent campus on Jalan Ayer Jerneh in Setapak. 
• Name Progression: To better fit its new geography while honoring its roots, the school dropped "Street" from its name, becoming High School Kuala Lumpur. Local communities affectionately referred to it simply as "Setapak High". 
• Official Opening: The new Setapak campus was officially opened on April 15, 1968, by the Minister of Education, Mr. Mohamed Khir Johari. 

4. Modern Era as SMK Tinggi Setapak

• Identity Updates: With the relocation came a newly designed school badge in 1968. By the 1980s, following national language policies, the school transitioned to Malay-medium instruction and adopted the motto "Ilmu Tangga Kemajuan" (Knowledge is the Key to Progress). 
• Legacy: Today, SMK Tinggi Setapak functions as a national secondary school. It remains an all-boys school for Forms 1 to 5, while maintaining a co-educational format exclusively for its Form 6 pre-university classes.

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR (1974-1978)

Memories of studying at Setapak High School from 1974 - 1978.

Period of service	Name
January 1955 – May 1966	Herman M de Souza
June 1966 – December 1966	S.M. Ponniah
January 1967 – December 1970	N. Rajendra
January 1971 – April 1971	Michael Loh
April 1971 – June 1981	Peter Tay
June 1981 – January 1988	V. Chakaravarthy
February 1988 – September 1988	June bin Jais
October 1988 – August 1992	Abdul Manaf bin Mohamed
August 1992 – January 1994	Muda @ Ibrahim bin Aki
February 1995 – March 1996	Abdul Rahim bin Mohamad
March 1996 – June 1998	Aziz bin Said
January 1998 – February 2000	Wan Mohamad Kasim bin Wan Abu Bakar
February 2000 – October 2005	Mohd. Nor bin Rajikin
November 2005 – June 2008	Che Azizah binti Saad
July 2008 – 2010	Maslan bin Buniran
2010 - 2013	Esaah binti Ismail
2013 - 2017	Naseh bin Hassan
2018 - 2023	Zubidah binti Md Yunos
2023–Present	Norazah BintI Shahrifudin

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Ex-High School Setapak (1974-1978)

9 July 2026: 8.38 p.m