Between 2006 and 2009, Tyson Principal Mrs. Laura Trimmings, Washington Academy of Music Principal Mrs. Brenda Veale, the Mayor Robert Bowser and District Arts Coordinator Mrs. Iqua Colson worked with Ms Cicely Tyson on the design and curriculum for the project.

In September 2009, Tyson's historic Elmwood Avenue building (formerly known as Vernon L. Davey Junior High) closed, and a new $180 million, 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) facility on Walnut Street (on the site of the former East Orange High School) took its place.

The new facility, the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts, is among the largest and most technologically advanced schools ever built in the state of New Jersey, with extensive performing arts facilities which meet or exceed the highest professional standards.

The school's 800-seat theater has been built to Broadway standards in terms of sound, lighting and acoustics.

The classrooms all feature smartboards, advanced integrated audio-visual systems, and multiple computer workstations.