Located on 42 acres of a beautiful hilltop, Applewild's campus is rich in history and tradition, while embracing the future needs of our students with comprehensive renovations and expansions. Since our founding in 1957, sprawling mansions have become state-of-the-art classrooms, old houses have become modern dorms, and our community has come together repeatedly to support new construction that enables Applewild School to fulfill its commitment to educating a vibrant and evolving student body.

A Brief History of Applewild

Applewild School was founded in 1957 on a hillside in north Fitchburg, a gift of the Crocker family to honor CT and Fay Crocker, who built “Applewild” in 1910 and hoped to enjoy “the happy sound of children playing.” Led by founding Headmaster William Laverack and his wife Persis, the group launched an educational institution dedicated to academic excellence, the pursuit of one’s personal best on and off the athletic field, and sound preparation for secondary school. 

In 1961 Applewild undertook its first major renovation with the addition of a Lower School wing to Crocker House and incorporating the former Bond Street School (K-3). In 1981 the Gr 1-3 Lower School was relocated to the then Wallace House on View Street and the bottom floor of the Crocker Building was renovated to house a dedicated science wing. The “preprimary” continued in the Sutton addition, named for the second School Head Hoover Sutton, and the locker rooms were repurposed as a wood shop and music classroom. The Simonds Gymnasium, honoring an early Trustee, was built and the Flat Rock (High Prospect) faculty apartments renovated in the early 1980’s.

Another major expansion took place in 1994, when the Ansin Building was erected, providing state-of-the-art science facilities, an art room, along with classrooms and a fully wired information center and library.

In 2000 the Alumni Center for the Performing Arts and the Bill and Donna Marshall Lower School were added, named for Headmaster William Marshall and his wife, who, over a period of twenty-two years, led Applewild’s growth. This facility has its own art studios, library, science lab, kitchen, multipurpose room, and the 396 seat Alumni Center for Performing Arts.  

Renovation of “Music House’ into a new Wood Shop and of the faculty apartments at Flat Rock and the opening of the Stone Family Dining Hall was completed in 2012.  

In 2013 the Burbank Child Development Center three and four year old preschool program was assimilated into Applewild as the Child Development Center at Applewild. The next year the Board committed to opening a satellite preschool and transportation hub at Devens, which opened in September, 2014.

In September 2020, junior boarding students moved into the Flat Rock Dorm that was renovated from faculty housing. The Flat Rock Dormitory is located at the top of the hill, adjacent to our athletic fields and neighboring conservation lands. 

2022 saw the expansion of Applewild’s preschool program offerings with a recently completed toddler room and toddler playground for children as young as 18 months old.  The Ansin building was also renovated, including the addition of new science labs and a makerspace classroom. The complete renovation of a View Street residence let the school open a second dorm to enhance the experience for Applewild’s residential students and staff. 

In 2024, Applewild launched the Applewild Forever Campaign, a bold and future-focused fundraising initiative aimed at ensuring the long-term strength, access, and innovation of the school. As part of this effort, we proudly opened our newest residential dormitory in January 2025, continuing our tradition of growth and commitment to the student experience.