It was originally founded in 1951 near Walker, Iowa, by leaders of a local Presbyterian church, notably Max and Jean Belz and LeRoy Gardner.
It has served K-12 day and boarding students from around the United States and the world.
This Christian day and boarding school began as a ministry of Bible Presbyterian Church (PCA).
He, Jean, and their eight children lived on the 1-acre (4,000 m2) of donated property where the church building was built.
Today Cono has 192 acres (0.78 km2), 25 of which are developed with academic, athletic and student and staff residential facilities.