The town of Windham grew from south to north and so, in 1804, the final part of the town was annexed and included 63 lots of 70 acres each. These lots were assigned to proprietors, many of whom never left Massachusetts but instead transferred ownership to a family member or sold their lot outright. A few early settlers had moved into the area, building sawmills and settling down. The town called the area District 14, a designation applied to the school, which later was called “Arlington.”

By 1840 “North Windham” had 25 houses and 26 families, including 65 school age children. The schoolhouse was near the end of today’s Arlington Cemetery, on Route 302. It was a plain building with a low gable roof. It had one door in the south end, an entry on the east side and a wood room on the west end. (Wood was the fuel in those days.) School began at 9 a.m. and the kids, all ages together in one room, left at 4 p.m.

Drinking water was carried from a nearby well. The water was kept in a pail at the school, where pupils used a dipper when they were thirsty. Kerosene lamps provided light in the school. One night a week, a writing school was held at which old and young could attend.

As the population grew, this schoolhouse was discontinued. A new one was built across Route 302 and toward the back of a lot. The old schoolhouse building was moved to the lot also and was used as a blacksmith shop.

By 1900, the new North Windham School was known as Arlington School. There were 80 pupils, ranging in age from 4 to 20. The Arlington school, like all others in town, was an eight-grade school. Some of the “district” schools offered “high” school classes as well.

On June 29, 1900, the first class graduated from eighth grade at Arlington. They included Addie Cram, Beatrice Field, Charlie Mann, Dana York and Ernest Gerry.

In the 1932 town report, the superintendent’s report stated that a new four-room school building at North Windham had been completed for about $15,000. It would house 100 pupils. As time went on, more additions were made, including one built from brick. In the early part of the 21st century, the school was taken down and pupils attended the Primary School in Windham Center.