Crosswinds focuses on cultural diversity, alternative learning styles, and environmental science as the foundations of its education.

It provides academic and artistic opportunities for students from urban and suburban neighborhoods to achieve continuing success in a year-round program.

The student body of Crosswinds had been divided into six houses (Sun, Sol, Earth, Pangaea, Water, and Aquarius) before the Perpich Center for the Arts took over management.

Instead of a traditional summer vacation, Crosswinds students have part of the months of November, February, May, and August off.

Crosswinds aims to offer artistic and academic opportunities to children from urban and suburban neighborhoods to create a culturally diverse environment recognizing each student's individual learning style.

The school was designed specifically as an arts and environmental science integration magnet and its architecture has won awards.

From when the Crosswinds building opened and up until 2004 the houses of Sun, Water, and Earth each taught students from the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in one integrated classroom.

In late 2012, when none of its member districts wanted to take over running the school as an integration magnet program, EMID approached Perpich to request a proposal.