The first school district in the Collister area was organized in 1910, and was known as Ada County School District #46. The first school term opened in the fall of 1911 in a one room wood frame building located on a one acre lot on the west side of Collister Road, directly across from Catalpa Street. Blanche H. Lovelace taught 56 students.

In 1912, a four room, brick with stone trim school was built amidst a prune orchard on land donated by Dr. George Collister. Cast iron Waterbury coal heaters heated rooms for students in grades 1-8. By 1914, 80 students were taught by two teachers, the Seburn sisters.

In 1922 Collister was annexed into the Boise City School District. A hot lunch program was organized in 1940, and hot water came to the school in 1944. By 1948 four rooms had been added to the west side of the school. During this period, the building was stuccoed, the basement kitchen was completed and land was purchased on the north end of the property to extend the playground.

Six classrooms, an auditorium and an office were added to the east end of the school in 1953, and the school grounds were landscaped in a PTA project.

More changes took place in the 1970's. A kitchen was added next to the gymnasium/auditorium, and counters with benches were installed in the hallway to serve as the lunchroom. The kitchen and lunchroom in the basement were turned into a library/media center. In 1976 the Parent Teacher organization worked with the District and the irrigation ditch that ran through the playground was covered. In the 1980's, new lunch tables with benches were purchased by the District and the gym is now used as the lunchroom.

Recently the beautiful Catalpa Park has been added next-door to beautify the surrounding area. This park is widely used by Collister's families.