As early as 1807, there is evidence that a school was established in what is currently the Fort Zumwalt School District. The school was located in the log cabin home of Quentin Miller Zumwalt, wife of Jacob Zumwalt, an original settler in the area.

In 1869, a school for O'Fallon was built in the area known as Convent Park on the grounds of St. Mary's Academy. Julius Reichenstein was employed as the first teacher by the townspeople.

One and two room schools located in Flint Hill, Dyer, Josephville, Mount Hope, St. Peters and Cool Springs were opened in the late 1800's. In 1910 O'Fallon outgrew the one-room school and built two new schools at the present location of Hope High School.

A high school operated until 1918, at which time a parochial high school was established leaving too few students to operate a public high school. Students wishing to attend a public high school were transported to St. Charles or Wentzville for their secondary education.

A school district reorganization law was enacted during the 1947 session of the Missouri General Assembly which included procedures to be followed in combining the state's small school districts into larger units, thus providing more extensive and effective educational and service programs. This law required each county in the state to elect a six-member board of education that would be responsible for developing a county plan of reorganization.

In implementing this law in St. Charles County, the newly elected board developed, and had approved by the state, a plan which proposed combining 12 small districts into one large district designated as Central School District R-II. Formation of this unit was approved by the voters on July 19, 1949.

Joseph L. Mudd was hired as principal of the new facility which was located on Virgil Street (now the 100 wing of North Middle School). Additions in the form of classrooms and a multi-purpose room were soon made to this building.

In 1958, plans were formalized for construction of a high school to eliminate the necessity of transporting students to St. Charles and Wentzville. The high school opened in 1960, and an educational system for students in grades one through twelve was established.

During the next nine years, the increase in students at all levels was amazing. Additional elementary schools were added to help meet the continuing influx of students.

The Fort Zumwalt School District struggled to meet the demands of its growing student population while attempting to provide the very best in educational instruction. The district experienced several years of "split sessions" when students in the secondary grades were in buildings from 6:30A.M. to 6:45 P.M. Students returned to regular school hours in 1973-74.

Many classrooms, activity areas and office spaces have been added to most buildings in the district to meet the growing number of students. The Kindergarten Curriculum and subsequent classrooms were added in 1978-79. Studies of anticipated growth patterns indicated that additional space may continue to be necessary to meet the needs of a growing district.

In the 1987-88 school year, the district opened its eighth elementary building, Dardenne Elementary School, and a second high school, Fort Zumwalt South High School. Since then major additions have been made to both buildings.

During the decade of the 1990's, the district continued with major construction projects, adding new facilities and building additions to keep up with the enrollment growth. Twin Chimneys Elementary was opened for the 1993-94 school year with the final addition completed for the Fall of 1997. During the 1995-96 school year, DuBray Middle School was opened; in 1996-97 Rock Creek Elementary; in 1997-98, Mid-Rivers Elementary; and in the 1998-99 school year, the district's twelfth elementary school, Pheasant Point Elementary opened, as well as Fort Zumwalt West High School, the district's third high school. Capital improvements for the 2000-2001 school year included the construction of the new Herbert A. Westhoff Elementary School and West Middle School, both opening for students for the 2001-2002 school year. During the 2002-2003 school year, two new elementary schools, Ostmann and Emge, opened to help alleviate overcrowding in the Dardenne and Twin Chimneys Elementary Schools.

Currently, plans are in place for a fourth comprehensive high school to open for the 2007-08 school year. Long range plans for the future guarantee capital improvement projects will always be accounted for.