Over the years, Jessie Ripoll has displayed excellence in the academics as well as the performing arts especially in the field of dance and music. For the past four years, the school has won at least ten gold medals annually in various categories of dance ranging from traditional to contemporary. The Music Department has distinguished itself by winning a series of outstanding performance awards at the regional and national levels.
Both Departments entered the HIV/AIDS campaign competition organised by the Ministry of Education and Youth where they were crowned the regional champions. Since then, they have been a part of the Ministry's ongoing HIV/AIDS Education campaign. The school also received numerous awards in speech at the Parish and Regional levels.
The school's dance troupe and musical ensemble have become staple performers in many of corporate Jamaica's functions. The students excel academically in all the curriculum areas. This is evidenced by the outstanding GSAT performances. The school has produced two Rhodes Scholars - Richard Thompson and Kim-Marie Spence.
The students are also fearless competitors in sports. They have made lasting impressions on their competitors in the areas of football, netball, basketball, rugby athletics and cricket. Although few trophies have been won in this discipline, the students believe in the school's motto Ever to Excel and will not go down without a fight. Jessie Ripoll Primary has also made its mark in the Junior Schools' Challenge Quiz, other quiz shows and debating competitions.
The Scarlet Family
The Scarlett family headed by Mr. George Scarlett consists of five children who have all attended and continued to excel after successfully graduating from Jessie Ripoll Primary School. Of the five children are two girls and three boys, who all graduated to their schools of choice on their first sitting. Anieka, the eldest child, graduated after successfully passing the Common Entrance Examinations in 1992 where she was placed at the St. Andrew High School for Girls. The second child, George Junior, was placed at Kingston College after being the only child at the school, in his year, to be awarded the Government Scholarship in 1994. The third Scarlett child, Georgia, sat the Common Entrance Examinations in 1997 and was placed at St. Andrew High School for Girls also. The fourth and fifth child- Andre and Knox respectively sat the Grade Six Achievement Test and were placed at their first choice, Kingston College.
Today these children are successful professionals and or students. Anieka, having successfully graduated from the University of Technology with first class honours is now a Manager at the Mona Visitor's Lodge. George Junior is presently in the Bahamas, where he is a Doctor, after studying Medicine at the University of the West Indies. Georgia, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, now works at leading Caribbean Company- Spatial Innovision and is also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. Andre is presently pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Computer Science at the University of the West Indies while Knox is a member of the sixth form at Kingston College.
