Founded in 1991, the school provides an education for over 2,200 students representing more than 40 nationalities from Nursery to Grade 12.

Starting in August 2020, CDNIS began the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Grade 6.

By 1994 it became popular with international families wishing to expose their children to Chinese languages in their education.

[10] The school continued to grow, and by 1999 has reached the "through-train" objective, providing education from Reception to Grade 12.

[12] The school campus, designed by Canadian architect Norman Grey-Noble, was built in three main phases over a period of several years.

The third phase, the Leo Lee Arts Centre (LLAC), was completed in the spring of 2008.

[13] The fourth phase includes the Green Roof Garden and Chinese Cultural Centre, which were completed in August 2015[14] In August 2019, the school created the Early Year Environment (EYE) and installed 349 solar panels to create the 2nd largest Photovoltaic Farm on Hong Kong Island.

[16] In August 2024, the school opened its second campus - the CDNIS Early Years Centre - at THE SOUTHSIDE.