The history of Christian School International (CSI) is inextricably interwoven with the development of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and that of the Church Among the Palms (CAP).

In February 1980, a group of parents, Filipinos and internationals, who were working at IRRI and the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) of UPLB, shared a common vision…that of a dynamic community-based Christian school, a Christ-centered school fully devoted to the development of the whole being of children which will teach them a Biblical perspective and which shall serve as a center for academic and spiritual excellence.

Dr. Melanda Hoque, the late Mr. Jerry Fielder, Dr. Al Early, Dr. Melvin Garrison (NCPC), Mrs. Violeta Quintana, Rev. Emilio Puerto (CAP), and the late Mrs. Betty Mae Dyck (IRRI), formed an Ad Hoc Parents’ Committee which, after a series of prayer meetings and planning workshops, formulated the school policies. Classes started on August 4, 1980 with three Filipino teachers, a custodial worker and 49 pupils, using curricular materials from the International Institute of Chicago, Illinois, USA and housed in the Sage Hall, originally a missionary residence given to the Church as a gift by Mrs. Margaret Sage in 1923.

The school’s By-Laws was formulated and approved by the CSI School Board in September 1980. The Elementary Program was given preliminary recognition from the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) in October 1980 and full recognition in 1983.

The management of the school was officially turned over to the Board of Trustees of the CAP in 1983. This time, the School Affairs Committee (SAC), composed of representatives from CAP, parents and faculty was formed to provide assistance and advice on important matters affecting the school.

In 1984, the CAP Nursery School became the Pre-Elementary Department of CSI and was given full recognition in 1993.

On June 14, 1989, CSI opened its High School Department with 42 First Year students and was given full recognition in 1993. The first Commencement Exercises was held on March 30, 1993.

Dr. Ben S. Vergara, a Philippine National Scientist, who thought of establishing the CSI High School back in 1988, furnished the high school library, the Lina Manalo-Vergara Library. The two science laboratories in the high school were donated by Mr. Hector Navasero who dedicated these for his wife, Mrs. Sylvia Navasero.

CSI has come a long way from 49 students in SY 1980-1981 to more than 1,000 students at present; from 2 Filipino full-time teachers, 1 Canadian full-time volunteer and one custodial staff to 55 full time teachers and 22 administrative and support staff; from 3 classrooms to 34 classrooms and 9 laboratories. CSI is indeed a living witness of God’s faithfulness and benevolence.

CSI believes that excellence is not measured solely by being on top of the class or garnering numerous awards. Excellence means becoming a good steward of all which God had entrusted to each one in leading and in service of others.

In School Year 2018-2019,  the Pre-Elementary Program of CSI was awarded a 3-Year Re-accreditation Status and the  Elementary and High School Programs were awarded a 5-Year Re-accreditation Status by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies in the Philippines (FAAP) through the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities -Accrediting Council, Inc. (ACSCU-ACI).