Originally two public schools, the Bunker Hill School, and the South Cranbury School, were established in 1850. On May 25, 1896, voters approved the construction of a consolidated grade school that would replace the Bunker Hill School and the South Cranbury School. Construction on the school began in August 1896, and ended in January 1897. The school opened on January 25, 1897, with a population of 159 students. The school was dedicated on February 22, 1897. The Cranbury School had three departments: primary, grammar, and high school. Cranbury Neck School closed in 1903, and the students who attended Cranbury Neck attended Cranbury School after their school closed. In 1906, a south wing with two classrooms was added to the Cranbury School building. Wyckoff Mills School closed in 1910, and the students also attended Cranbury School after their school closed. In 1922, a North wing was added to the Cranbury School building, bringing enrollment to 200 students. In 1924, the Cranbury Library moved into the Cranbury School building The school building received additions in 1949, 1957, and 1967. On May 6, 1971 the old building was added as a New Jersey State Historic Site. The old building was recognized and listed on the National Register of Historic Places effective June 21, 1971. In 1969, a new school replaced the old facility. The new facility received an addition in 1997. On October 14, 2001, the old school building was rededicated as Cranbury Township's town hall. The old school building also houses the Cranbury Township Board of education offices and the Gourgaud Gallery, an art gallery. Cranbury students had attended Hightstown High School and then Lawrence High School before the relationship was established with Princeton.
Awards and recognition
For the 1996-97, 2009-10, and 2016-17 school years, Cranbury School was formally designated as a National Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor that an American public school can achieve. During the 2009-10 school year, Cranbury School was awarded the Blue Ribbon SchoolAward of Excellence a second time.
School
Cranbury School had an enrollment of 469 students in grades PreK-8 as of the 2017–18 school year.
Dr. Susan L. Genco, Principal
Michele Waldron, Vice Principal
Administration
Core members of the district's administration are:
Nicole Petrone, Business Administrator / Board Secretary
The district's board of education has nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held as part of the November general election.