Advertisement

GreatSchools Rating

Lowell James R School

Public | PK-4 | 1026 students

Community Rating

3 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
Based on 1 rating
2010:
No new ratings

Teacher quality

Principal leadership

Parent involvement

Rate this school

Click on stars to rate
Please select a star rating for this school.
    Helpful reviews answer questions:
  • What do you think others should know?
  • What do you like?
  • How could your school improve?
    Review Guidelines
    GreatSchools won’t post reviews that contain:
  • Inappropriate language
  • Allegations of criminal conduct
  • Names of students, teachers or staff
1200 characters remaining
Please indicate your relationship to the school.
Please read and accept our Terms of Use to join GreatSchools.
Indicates a required field

3 reviews of this school


Sort by:
Show reviews by:
Posted March 23, 2012

This school is like a private school in the middle of Olney. Climate is outstanding and staff (majority) seem to care. I see teachers arriving as early as 6:30 am and leaving after 5pm. My child looks forward to going to school everyday. As I read the prior review, a class with 28 students is not overcrowded considering other Philly schools. The Principal not principle is always available and involved. I'm sorry it only goes to 4th grade.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted May 5, 2011

This school has improved for the better since I was a child. My little sister went to this school. Now my two children attend the school. The teachers are excellent and show that they are really interested in the success of the children. Some of the teachers have a great rapport with most students. There are many parents like myself who are single and working who count on these teachers, help them understand that we are just as interested in the success of the children as they are. My son is reading way beyond the level he is supposed to be at. My daughter also reads beyond her level and they exceed at academics. I am very proud to have kids here and the school has shown that they are as involved as any parent would be.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 15, 2007

Lowell school is overcrowded. There are about 28-30 children per class and the school only goes up to the fourth grade. If there are any extracurricular activities, we do not know about them. The reading level for majority of the students is below average. When you ask for help or guidance from the teacher or principle, you are basically on your own. I was told by the principle 'Teachers are not required to spend extra time or go beyond the call of duty'. While that may be true, there are a many teachers who are willing to do just that! I currently looking for a better school for my child.
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 80% in 2012.

166 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
51%

2011

 
 
51%

2010

 
 
47%

2009

 
 
59%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 74% in 2012.

166 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
46%

2011

 
 
46%

2010

 
 
35%

2009

 
 
52%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Pennsylvania used the Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in math and reading, in grades 5, 8 and 11 in writing, and in grades 4, 8 and 11 in science. The results for reading, writing, science and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles. The PSSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Pennsylvania. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Pennsylvania's state standards

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 83% in 2012.

176 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
57%

2011

 
 
55%

2010

 
 
52%

2009

 
 
51%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 72% in 2012.

176 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
44%

2011

 
 
42%

2010

 
 
44%

2009

 
 
47%
Science

The state average for Science was 82% in 2012.

189 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
45%

2011

 
 
45%

2010

 
 
49%

2009

 
 
53%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Pennsylvania used the Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in math and reading, in grades 5, 8 and 11 in writing, and in grades 4, 8 and 11 in science. The results for reading, writing, science and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles. The PSSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Pennsylvania. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Pennsylvania's state standards

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Math

All Students51%
Female51%
Male51%
Black44%
Asian72%
Hispanic63%
Multi-ethnicn/a
Whiten/a
Economically disadvantaged51%
Students with disabilities (IEP)0%
English language learners56%

Reading

All Students46%
Female48%
Male44%
Black43%
Asian61%
Hispanic50%
Multi-ethnicn/a
Whiten/a
Economically disadvantaged46%
Students with disabilities (IEP)5%
English language learners36%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Pennsylvania used the Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in math and reading, in grades 5, 8 and 11 in writing, and in grades 4, 8 and 11 in science. The results for reading, writing, science and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles. The PSSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Pennsylvania. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Pennsylvania's state standards

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Math

All Students57%
Female61%
Male54%
Black52%
Asian82%
Hispanic46%
Multi-ethnicn/a
Whiten/a
Economically disadvantaged57%
Students with disabilities (IEP)n/a
English language learners35%

Reading

All Students44%
Female55%
Male33%
Black41%
Asian61%
Hispanic39%
Multi-ethnicn/a
Whiten/a
Economically disadvantaged44%
Students with disabilities (IEP)n/a
English language learners22%

Science

All Students45%
Female49%
Male40%
Black40%
Asian71%
Hispanic31%
Multi-ethnicn/a
Whiten/a
Economically disadvantaged45%
Students with disabilities (IEP)10%
English language learners30%
Scale: % at or above proficient

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Pennsylvania used the Pennsylvania System of State Assessments (PSSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 in math and reading, in grades 5, 8 and 11 in writing, and in grades 4, 8 and 11 in science. The results for reading, writing, science and math are displayed on GreatSchools profiles. The PSSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Pennsylvania. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

The different student groups are identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. If there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Pennsylvania's state standards

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 68% 16%
Asian/Pacific Islander 17% 3%
Hispanic 13% 7%
White 2% 73%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0% 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 19N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

450 West Nedro Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19120
Phone: (215) 276-5272

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare this school
to nearby schools

Compare schools »

Compare

Add this school to compare

Nearby schools

St. Helena School
Philadelphia, PA


Marshall Thurgood
Philadelphia, PA


ADVERTISEMENT