DETROIT – It's being called Ellen's "biggest, most generous gift ever."

The students and staff at Spain Elementary-Middle School thought they were staying after school to be a part of a documentary on the problems plaguing Detroit Public Schools Wednesday for The Ellen Show.

They were in for a massive surprise.

“I couldn’t breathe," the school’s principal Ronald Alexander said. "I started crying. I didn’t know what to do.”

Degeneres delivered the news to the children and staff from her LA studio.

The TV show host teamed up with Lowe's to donate a half million dollars to the school. The donation comes as the district gets national attention for the horrible condition in some classrooms.

A check for $250,000 was written out to the school to pay for improvements. $50,000 also went towards new technology and $200,00 will go towards services. Students and staff were also given gift cards.

The Ellen Show airs at 3 p.m. on Local 4.

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