Lowell School

As far as I can tell Lowell School is the best early education institution in the world. My two sons attended from pre-K to 6th grade. Every teacher experience was excellent and each child received an education exactly tailored to their unique personalities and learning abilities. There is a strong emphasis on community building and accepting diversity. They had an affirmative action toward children of gay couples and adopted children. My children were top performers in their classes, and yet were discriminated against when applying to private schools after Lowell because the parents were not rich. Most DC private schools only give their financial aid to increase minority representation.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is a Kindergartener and I couldn't be happier! The school teaches to the whole child. My son has a fantastic teacher (and assistant teacher). The teacher is warm, receptive, and REALLY takes a genuine interest in each child. This is my son's first year- both he and I have made great friends! The community is extremely warm and welcoming. The student/teacher ratio is wonderful! The school has many extracurricular activities- a swim team, track team, basketball, etc. What I love is they even allow the K's to participate!!!! I couldn't be happier!!!!
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children attending Lowell and couldn't be more pleased with their experience. There is a deep concern for the development of the WHOLE child. Lowell has provided us with what we were looking for in terms of diversity and a progressive learning environment.
--Submitted by a parent

Lowell is a wonderful, nurturing, school. We have been a part of the community for 7 years and have 2 children attending. The new head of school has made important and well thought out improvements. She has done a great job of keeping the core missions in place while making good decisions including some changes to personnel to maximize quality teaching, improvement of communication with parents and supporting technological advances to name a few. Graduates of the school do in fact attend top tier schools. Eleven of last years 6th grade class members were accepted to Maret (curriculum and philosophies are very similar between the two schools). Others went to St Albens, Holton Arms, Sidwell, GDS...Middle school expansion could be very good for this school. While Lowell's pre-primary remains a gem, our best years have come in 1st, 3rd and (our current year) 4th. Strong curriculum, excellent teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

Lowell is a wonderfully nurturing and inspiring place to learn. After six years at the school (now a 3rd grader), my daughter is thriving as a strong student and also developing a strong voice and sense of self. The classroom and specialist teachers are tremendously dedicated, talented, and creative. The children are challenged to do their best academically and to grow socially as part of a diverse community. Key themes each year help tie the curriculum together, with many opportunities for students to explore topics through different lenses (math, social studies, literature, music, dance, art). The science program has been revamped and is fantastic, full of hands-on projects. I particularly appreciate the value placed on diversity, participation, and inclusion for the school community as a whole. Plans for expansion to middle school, emphasizing student initiative and leadership, look very promising.
--Submitted by a parent

My child attended Lowell for two wonderful years of pre-primary, a magical kindergarten year, and a foundation-building and productive first grade. Beyond that, it was uneven-to-poor teaching and inconsistent administration. We left before the sixth grade, leaving very good friends and a great community of very diverse and committed families behind. We loved it there, but did not see the sense in 'settling.' Lowell continues to be an early years specialist, even as it plans to expand to eighth grade with a new head of school. If Lowell would follow basic organizational principles of shoring up their core strengths, and get the 2-6 grades right, they could surely blossom as a top early years school.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attends Lowell's Junior Kindergarten program. Every aspect of the school has been a delight. The teaching staff carry heavy credentials from top schools. The administration is supportive, progressive and in touch with the parent community. The student:teacher ratio is outstanding. The campus looks like a Spanish style resort located on 8 acres of rolling hills. The school borders the Rock Creek Park, making it's impressive grounds seem even bigger. Lowell truly embodies the spirit of progressive education. I feel as though my son is being grown and nurtured, not just taught. I've looked at many schools and considered several options. In my opinon, Lowell rivals all the best schools in Washington for academics and beats the others hands down for their commitment to the emotional development of their sudents.
--Submitted by a parent

Both my children attended Lowell for the magical pre-primary and early elementary years. The Lowell way treats the children with regard and teaches parents how to give choices and describe without too much praise or criticism. These children become great writers and are able to look you in the eye and reply with a well-developed response, which reflects their healthy self-esteem. The school suffered from a long-time inflexible head who made decisions she liked, rather than those that were best for the school. This is changing with the new head. She is repairing problems of uneven quality of teachers, and a slack academic curriculum. Both my children left by third grade. The children do go on to highly selective schools including Maret, Sidwell, GDS, Holton Arms. There have also been many high-needs children attending Lowell in the past, which take a lot of missing resources. Very close parent body.
--Submitted by a parent

Lowell's strength is its Pre-Primary program for three-year-olds and four-year-olds. I strongly recommend Lowell for Pre-Primary. Beyond Pre-Primary, Lowell becomes a different school in terms of the teacher quality and overall educational experience especially in 3rd - 6th. The school tends to progress students to the next grade even if age/grade appropriate skills have not been mastered. It becomes the next teacher's challenge. Parent/teacher and parent/administration communication could be improved. Lowell tends to attract a high number of families with special needs children. However, the school does not have the resources to support these students. Most graduates of Lowell do not attend highly selective independent schools (e.g., St. Albans, NCS, GDS, Sidwell, Potomac). Lowell is strong in promoting diversity (e.g., ethnical, economic, lifestyle, religious), which is highly reflected in its faculty and student body. Parent involvement is also strong. While extracurricular activities are lacking (especially organized sports), Lowell's summer camp is wonderful.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. The extracurriculars are improving, but not great still. Teachers are very supportive. The principal and administration are wonderful. Everyone is very friendly - it was my community for ages. Academics may seem lax, however I learned everything I needed for acceptance to a highly selective magnet program in my seven years there. Discipline is enforced in a way that seems more appropriate for kids than the traditional methods. Lowell is very diverse, although mainly white. They celebrate holidays of all religions and are very open to any race/culture/sexual preference.
--Submitted by a former student