In the late 1970s, the evangelical Christian organization Youth With a Mission decided to establish a school for children to serve the greater Tyler, Texas area.

The old Dixie School football field was converted to a soccer pitch, and the gymnasium would have a chemistry lab installed inside and locker rooms and weight rooms were added in the second level of the gymnasium.

In the Spring of 2016, James Kilkenny, who had been the Headmaster for almost 36 years, died suddenly.

They rely on donations from school benefactors or sponsors affiliated with YWAM for income.

Despite this arrangement, many teachers stay at CHS if they find steady income and continue to teach for many years.