Westford Academy (WA) was founded in 1792 as a private secondary school for children “of any nation, age, or sex.” It was exceptional from its beginning, taking both boys and girls as students as long as they could read the Bible without sounding out words and pay 9 shillings per term.
Today, it is Westford’s public high school, open free of charge to all children in the town. Westford Academy ranks among the best schools in the state, and the town is justifiably proud of its long tradition of education
Westford Academy Building Generations
Original Founders and Trustee of Westford Academy
Westford Academy Trustee 1792
(Click on links for bios)
Capt. John Abbot, Westford, MA
Rev. Moses Adams, Acton, MA
Rev. Caleb Blake, Westford, MA
Col. Ebenezer Bridge, Chelmsford, MA
Jonathan Carver, Westford , MA
Hon. James Prescott, Jr., Westford. MA
Sampson Tuttle, Esq., Littleton, MA
Dr. Charles Proctor, Westford MA
Rev. Ezra Ripley, Concord, MA
Gen. Joseph Bradley Varnum, Dracut, MA
Col. Zaccheus Wright, Westford, MA
The Purchase of Westford Academy
Westford Academy was originally established as a private school, was changed to a public school in 1928. The vote took place a special town meeting on April 30, 1928 and the residents of Westford agreed to purchase the “Westford Academy” from the Trustees of the Academy. Below is the link to the Articles (1-5) as they were recorded in 1929 Annual Report of the Town of Westford for the year ending December 31, 1928
Special Town Meeting April 30, 1928 page 27
Special Town Meeting April 30, 1928 page 28
WHS History Pod: Geoff Hall Westford Academy Class of 1966 talks about attending Westford Academy
WHS History Pod: Jim Antonelli talks about the building of Westford Academy, Pattern Rd
and the 2000/01 Addition.
The Histories of the Westford Academies by Reed Peraner,
produced for Andy Norander’s Westford History class. (2012)