Gardner High School was established in 1872, with the first graduating class being the Class of 1876.[2] In 1897, a school building was designed by the architecture firm Barker & Nourse and was located at 130 Elm Street.
In 1978, Walt Dubzinski, Class of 1937, was named principal of Gardner High. From 1946 to 1966, Dubzinski served as the school football coach, and was named assistant principal in 1966.
In 1943, Norman Rockwell donated his painting titled Willie Gillis in Convoy to Gardner High School. The work of art was auctioned off by Sotheby's in 2014 to benefit the school.[3]