Interest in the Christian education and training of the youth is clearly evident throughout the history of Christ Lutheran congregation. It has always been a priority of our members to educate both our young children and our older “children.” At the very beginning, 1871, when the first parsonage was built east of town, the pastor’s home served not only as a church but also as a school. Pastor Rupprecht opened the school the first year when the congregation was organized. It has been in existence (except for the spring of 1880)  without interruption up to the present time. When the congregation moved to town in 1876, an annex was added to the parsonage, which served as the schoolroom. That first parsonage in town was located on the southeast corner of Braasch and Second Street. This lean-to served as a school until 1880.

The school was then conducted in the church, which stood on the southwest corner of Norfolk Avenue and Fourth Street. In 1883, when the church was moved from Norfolk Avenue to the Fifth Street location, a school was erected next to the church. When the new church was built in 1893, the old church building was used as the second schoolroom. These two buildings served as the school until the south portion of the present school building was erected in 1924. The pastors serving the congregation taught the school. In 1884, Mr. August Kirchoff became the first. In the fall of 1894, the congregation engaged a second teacher. In 1926, a third teacher was added. The Christian Day School continued to grow at a cost of $50,000. In 1950, an annex to the school added three classrooms. An addition consisting of several classrooms and a gymnasium was completed in 1964. The school saw tremendous growth, which necessitated the next school addition. Nine new classrooms with a new office were completed in 1985.

The 1985-86 school year marked the beginning of the Preschool program. At that time classes were held in the afternoon only. God has richly blessed our efforts and we now offer both morning and afternoon classes. In 1992, a new playground was built just north of the school. In 1994, Mr. Donald Weber accepted our Call to become the new principal. Mr. Weber was instrumental in our school becoming nationally accredited. A ninth-grade class was added in 1996, with twenty-one students enrolled. This ninth grade was absorbed into the new Lutheran High North East School, beginning with the 1997-98 school year. God continued to bless our school with increasing numbers, and in 2004 the northernmost school addition was constructed, providing more classroom space, expanded and updated library and computer services. The playground east of campus was taken down in 2016 to make room for a new Childcare Center. In 2018 three houses were torn down to the north of our school. The playground equipment plus some additional equipment was purchased. Concrete was poured to the size of a high school size basketball court plus some additional play area.

In 2020, Christ Lutheran celebrated its 150th anniversary! Beginning September of 2020, Principal Drew Urban and a group of Christ Lutheran and community members began discussing a new addition for our building. We began with a survey and discussion of what was needed for our campus based on site plans dating back to 2012. There was interest in a new building! In June of 2022 we began with a short ceremony and watched as the 1924 and 1964 additions were demolished. In October of 2023, we gained occupancy to the new addition to use which included: the band/music room, secretary, principal, marketing, & nurse offices, staff workroom, kitchen & cafeteria/multi-purpose area, gymnasium with lockers, storage, P.E./Athletic Director office, youth room, storm shelter in hallway, public restrooms and a family restroom. The total cost of this project was ten million dollars that was funded entirely with donations and pledges from many friends of CLS including the LCMS congregations of Mount Olive, Our Savior, and Grace Lutheran! This project was completed in totality in 2024. In 2024, our school is working toward double tracking our upper grades which may lead to another small addition of two classroom.

Christ Lutheran School has been blessed beyond measure with the vision and commitment to Lutheran Christian education here in Norfolk!