Whitfield School was founded in 1952 by John Barnes and Allen Cole. During the mid-1980s, the school experienced a period of growth, both in physical space and student population. Under the leadership of then Head of School Mary Leyhe Burke, Whitfield became a nationally-recognized leader in the progressive education movement. It was during this time that many of the important tenets that impact the school’s culture today were formed, including depth over breadth, demonstrations of mastery, and teacher as coach. In 2012, John Delautre became head of school. During his tenure, the school has updated its mission statement and has continued to focus on character, scholarship and global citizenship.