Cranbrook School was established by a Trust Indenture on 15 January 1926 to “provide for the moral and religious education of the youth committed to its care,” under the supervision of three governing boards. The Board of Directors oversees the management of the school and the care of its buildings and grounds. The Advisory Board comprised of the Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, an educator of high standing, and a layman of position in art, law, medicine, or business. The original Advisory Board personnel were Rt. Rev. Herman Page, Dr. Clarence Cook Little, and Mr. George G. Booth until 1933. The Board of Trustees was to have seven members, four of which were to be members of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Between 1912 and 1918, a small secular private school, named ‘Bloomfield Hills School’ had operated but closed following the war due to a decline in enrolment. When the Meeting House was erected 1918 for Sunday services, an addition was made with facilities for 75 children for a Sunday School. The construction of Christ Church Cranbrook included plans for a Church school including boarding capacity, although by September of 1924, George Booth had decided that the school should have a separate site to allow for expansion.

Booth created a preliminary sketch for the school building, which was designed by architect Eliel Saarinen with sculptural ornaments designed by Professor Geza Marȏti of Budapest. When it opened on September 19, 1927, the school comprised of an academic building with an auditorium, classrooms, gymnasium, dining hall, infirmary, administrative offices, and a junior dormitory (later renamed Marquis Hall). While it had a capacity of 200, it accepted no more than 75 pupils in its opening term. William Oliver Stevens was the first Headmaster of Cranbrook School. The original faculty were Arthur Kiernan (Mathematics), Charles J. Keppel (Science and Mathematics), Herbert Snyder (History and German), John M. Harlow (French), C. Warren Moore (Arts and Crafts), Howard E. Yule (Latin and French), George T. Nickerson (English), and Rev. S.S. Marquis (Bible Study). Other personnel included Margaret Fraser (Librarian), Harold Riche Roehm (Physician), Elsie C. Hudson (Nurse), Elizabeth G. Walker (Hostess).

In 1973, the Cranbrook administration reorganized, establishing an educational community with three divisions: Academy of Art, Institute of Science, and Schools. Although each school retained a Headmistress or Headmaster, common administrative services governed them. In 1985, Cranbrook School and Kingswood School merged to become the co-educational Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School. The Kingswood campus now hosts all Upper School English, history, and visual arts classes, while foreign languages, science, math, religion, and performing arts are taught at the Cranbrook campus. Cranbrook Middle School, referred to as a, “school within a school,” remains single sex, with the Girls Middle School occupying the lower level of the Kingswood School building, and the Boys Middle School at the Vaughan Campus.

Headmasters of Cranbrook School:

1927-1935: William Oliver Stevens

1935-1937: George T. Nickerson (Acting Headmaster)

1937-1944: Rudolph D. Lindquist

1943-1944: Charles H. Cadigan (Acting Headmaster)

1944-1950: W. Brooke Stabler

1950-1964: Harry D. Hoey

1964-1971: Robert M. Sandoe

1972-1979: Christopher Corkery

1979-1987: Samuel A. Salas