Friends School of Wilmington was founded in 1994 by members of the Wilmington Friends Meeting. Classes opened in the fall of 1995 for 30 middle school students, meeting in the Brigade Boys Club of Wilmington. The school purchased the Peiffer Campus property in 1996 and moved to that location in 1998.
In April 2002, the school purchased the Pine Grove Campus property and opened a preschool and elementary school to serve students from 18 months through 5th grade at that location, and enrollment expanded from 60 to 182 students. In August 2003, the school purchased the Garden House property, adjacent to the Peiffer Campus, enlarging that site to seven acres. Beginning in 2007, modular classrooms were installed on the Peiffer Campus, thus providing enough classroom space for 3rd through 8th grades.
In January 2015, the Board of Trustees adopted a strategic plan that would result in a unified campus, enhancing all aspects of school life and ensuring financial sustainability. In March of 2019, the school broke ground on an infrastructure project, and in January 2020, drawings were completed for two new Lower School buildings. In October 2020, the Pine Grove Campus was sold, and in January 2021, our Preschool and K-4 buildings opened on what was previously known as the Garden House property, creating a unified campus at 5814 Camellia Lane.
In April 2021, the school purchased an additional 2.8 acres adjacent to the Garden House with intention to conserve the green space for student and community use. After renovating the existing cottage, adding front and rear decks, and establishing nature trails, this area of the campus became the Longleaf Center for Environmental Learning at Friends School of Wilmington. This additional green space and cottage provide a unique place to focus on environmental stewardship and justice through engaging interdisciplinary lessons for learners of all ages.
