The Christian Brothers were invited to Shillong in 1915 and St.Edmund's College began in 1916. On 24th May,1923 the College started Inter-Arts and Inter-Science classes,and affilation to Calcutta University,for these courses was received in 1923.The first classes of the University section of St. Edmund's College opened in 1924. Bro.J E McCann was the first Principal of the College (he was also the Principal of the School at this time).Bro. I O'Leary was the first Principal of the College(separate from the School).

St.Edmund's College,Shillong,is one of the premier ingtitutions of the North East of India and Meghalaya in particular. Since 1924, till the present date,St.Edmund's College has maintained its excellence by regularly introducing new courses, updating its infrastructure, achieving the highest academic records and inculcating a spirit of discipline and academic enquiry among its students.

From 1924 to 1936, St.Edmund's College was a junior college for Intermediate Arts and Science. Later St.Edmund's College was affiliated for these Pre-University courses by the Gauhati and then the North-Eastern Hill University. In 1995,when the Pre-University was discontinued in the Universities, the College was affiliated to the Meghalaya Board of School Education for the Higher Secondary courses.

With effect from the year,2010,the Higher Secondary classes,have been segregated from the Degree Section of the College.This is to ensure more personal attention to the students(60 students per class) with teachers dedicated to this section of students, while availing of the facilities of the College (well established laboratories).In addition, admission will be open to boys and girls in all the streams(Arts, Commerce and Science).

From its inception,the Higher Secondary has endeavored to instill in its students a love for excellence, integrity,concern for one's fellow human beings and the preservation of the environment in an atmosphere conducive to the awareness of God. The Higher Secondary creates an environment where the all-round development of the individual is promoted with dignity,principally through right relationships with God, with others and with the whole of creation.

It is our attempt at St.Edmund's to encourage our students to use their imagination and intuition as tools to initiate change. Sensitization towards a need to bring about equality and change in society and the world at large are modes of interest instilled in the minds of our students,hence making them more responsible citizens. Higher Secondary Motto: FACTA NON VERBA:DEEDS NOT WORDS