Mountain View Elementary has been a cornerstone of the community for over 50 years. After many rural districts were annexed by the Boise School District in the late 1940s, a need for increased space led to a large school building project in which 14 schools were built between 1950 and 1960, including Mountain View in 1958.
From September 1958 until Mountain View School was completed in February of 1960, the first, second, and third grade students met in the gymnasium of Koelsch School, while the fourth, fifth, and sixth graders held classes in the Cole gymnasium. The new building consisted of the principal's office and rooms 1 through 6. There were six teachers and approximately 240 students the first year. Since there was no library or gymnasium, all programs were held in the individual classrooms and the students either brought cold lunches or went home for their noon meal.
The first addition to the school was completed in the 1961-62 year. The library, the gymnasium, and rooms 7 through 12 were added at that time.
In 1964 rooms 13-18 were added onto the West wing to complete the building as it now stands. At the present time (1973) there are three classes of each grade with 18 teachers and approximately 430 students.
When the parents and teachers met during the first year they decided not to join the PTA with it's national affiliation but rather, to form a local Parent-Teacher Organization. This PTO was the first organized in the Boise School District and has served as a guide for various other schools to follow.
Mr. James Saad served as school principal from 1958 until the end of the 19771-72 school year, at which time he was replaced by Mr. Hylon Plumb.
In the 2017 Bond, Mountain View was identified as a school that would need a new building. In the 2019-2020 school year, a new school building for Mountain View was designed to mirror our Mid-Century surrounding neighborhood style and construction was started. The building was open for students for the 2020-2021 school year.