Whitfield School - School History

School History

In 1952, John Barnes and Allen Cole purchased Dumford Academy, located on Bartmer Avenue, thereafter continuing operations as Whitfield School. The school moved to its current location during spring break of 1957, at which point a residential house was converted into classrooms and also served as the home for Barnes and Cole. The house now serves as administrative offices as well as a meeting and congregating facility, and has come to be named the "Barnes and Cole Alumni House."

The school experienced major growth and changes, under the fourth head of school, Dr. Mary Leyhe Burke. Dr. Burke raised money to build a new building on the land which was directly adjacent to the house; this building was completed in the early 1990s. Whitfield then received major additions, as well as several renovations in the 90's and 00's. The last major construction project, completed in 2002, added new gymnasiums, locker rooms, a state-of-the-art weight room with coaches' offices, a new dance studio and a new music studio, as well as an atrium which would serve as an a strong visual presence on Ladue Road as well as an entrance to the Cady Athletic Center and Woods Hall. This project included backstage space for the theatre department, new computer commons areas, as well as a library, called the Intellectual Commons, which occupies the space of a former gym. A 2008 construction project expanded parking lot.

In January 2010, Mark Anderson announced he would relocate to Sanford School, a K-12 school in Hockessin, Delaware. Principal Ruth Greathouse was the Interim Head of School. John Delautre was announced as the new Head of School in December 2012 and began his tenure on July 1, 2012.