Owyhee School History
Owyhee Elementary School first opened its doors in the Boise School District in September 1969 to relieve overcrowding in the Hillcrest, Whitney, and McKinley attendance areas. Designed with innovative "pod" structures, the school featured folding doors for open classrooms and team teaching—an educational approach that reflected the forward-thinking spirit of the era.
As Boise’s educational programs expanded in the early and mid-1970s, Owyhee, like many schools before it, found the need for additional space. The addition of special programs—kindergarten, counseling services, speech and hearing support, learning disabilities programs, gifted and talented instruction, and more—quickly filled the school's flexible spaces.
Located on the Boise Bench north of the airport, Owyhee boasts a large playground and a scenic setting. The school’s name is believed to have been inspired either by the striking view of the Owyhee Mountains to the southwest or from its proximity to Owyhee Street, where Pasadena Street was extended.
Owyhee has been a valuable and adaptable asset for the Boise School District. During times of enrollment fluctuation, such as when Owyhee’s own student numbers declined, it welcomed students from growing neighborhoods like the Oregon Trail subdivision, ensuring the school remained an integral part of the district’s educational network.
When Owyhee Elementary opened, it employed twelve classroom teachers, a special reading teacher, and additional support staff. Over the years, the school community grew to include 35 full- and part-time staff members. The school’s first principal, Mr. Arvin Spofford, and his family dedicated countless hours preparing the building for its inaugural school year. Fittingly, Mr. Spofford selected the school’s mascot—the Aviators—a nod to Owyhee’s close proximity to the Boise Airport.
In 2025, Owyhee Elementary School began a new chapter, transitioning to an Early Learning Center at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. This transformation reflects the District’s continued commitment to early childhood education, ensuring that Owyhee remains a place where the youngest learners can grow and thrive in a caring, student-centered environment.
Owyhee Elementary School
3434 W Pasadena Dr
Boise, ID 83705
Green and Gold - Home of the Jets
Owyhee Elementary is located on a piece of land located on the corner of Owyhee and Pasadena in Boise, ID. Owyhee was built as a 12 classroom building structure shaped into a honeycomb. It was designed by Hummel Jones and Shawver Architctural Firm, and built by Gramkow Construction Co. The school was officially opened with the help of Principal Arvin Spofford in 1969 for the school year 1969-1970.
Owyhee School Principals
Arvin Spofford 1969-
Dan Burns
Bob Deakins 1976-1985
Al Blacklock 1985-1991
Gloria Kaylor 1991-2000
Dr. Christina Olson 2000-2006
Nolene Weaver 2006-2014
Dr. Stacie Curry 2015-2021
Dr. Adria David 2021-2025