Christine Donnell School of the Arts is the first magnet school, and first art-based elementary school, in the state of Idaho.

What does this mean? It means that starting in the fall of 2004, 364 students from five traditional elementary schools chose to come to a school where art is at the heart of each school day. Today, the school serves 462 students in grades K through 8. The student body is selected by lottery rather than by any admission criteria. 

Today, in addition to a strong focus on the basics (math, reading, science, etc.) and the Idaho Achievement Standards, students at the Donnell School of the Arts participate in keyboarding, music, dance, drama, visual art, choir, band, orchestra, and foreign language.

Bus transportation to the school is provided via a shuttle bus system from each student's traditional home school.