
History
Long Trail School was founded in 1975 by Dave and Rene Wilson with an eye toward helping the individual student succeed. The School provided attention, support and respect for students challenged by constraints and expectations of traditional classrooms. As the School met student needs and incorporated their interests into its programs through offerings in academics, athletics and arts, both the students and Long Trail School flourished. These successes led to institutional growth as the word about this Dorset school spread. Families realized that the strategies employed here would work for a broad spectrum of students: the program benefits so many students, with individual strengths and goals, who yearn for challenge and rigor. The educational philosophy of Long Trail School continues to be the underlying heartbeat which keeps the School alive: “a commitment to caring and respect, to the individual and the community, to high academic expectations, to small group instruction, and to sound financial management.” [2003 NEASC self-study]