in 1899, armadale state school was established in the mechanics institute hall which was located on the present-day carpark of the armadale town hall. a purpose-built school building was erected at the intersection of church and third roads in 1900. this was initially a single classroom, but by 1905 a second classroom was added. the district's population increased steadily in the first half of the 20th century, and additional classrooms were added to the school as the need presented. a roman catholic school, st francis xavier, was established uphill on third road in 1938. this school has recently relocated to forrest road, haynes. following ww2, the population growth was more rapid and the state saw fit to establish a regional high school in armadale. armadale senior high school opened in 1955, initially only as a high school but from 1963 it catered for years 11 and 12).