SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Situated in the foothills of Santa Cruz, Park Mountain Primary and Infant School continues to excel despite its many challenges which include no water supply, spotty Internet access and the desperate need for two additional classrooms.

The school was placed in the national spotlight on Monday when one of its students, Jasonnia Beadles, was named the top primary student in the 2026 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) attaining a score of 394.2.

While basking in Jasonnia’s success on Thursday Principal Carlene Williams-Heath told the Jamaica Observer that the school, which has a population of 466 students, has been struggling for the past eight months since it was hit by the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.