Schools have existed in Twizel since 1970 when Twizel Primary School and Twizel High School opened to serve the educational needs of the children of the workers on the Upper Waitaki Power Project.

Once the project was completed, the number of people requiring schooling in the district dwindled, and in 1986 the two schools were consolidated into one when Twizel Area School was opened on the High School site.

New industry and tourism have created work opportunities and continue to attract people to the area, reinvigorating the community and the number of students learning at Twizel Area School.