Lowell Elementary School, K-5 (Public)

My son loves Lowell and I have to say I'm very pleased with the teachers and staff. The parents are a different story. Such elitist and is most likely due to the affluent community. Small price to pay in my opinion. I was planning on sending my son for kindergarten only then to a private school but changed my mind when I saw how invested his teachers were.

I have 2 children at lowell and I love it. Excellent school, very impressed. My children are very happy and are learning so much- spanish, computors, dance, art, math, science, reading. The families and the teachers are super.

Lowell is excellent! As a educator myself, this school is amazing. Has totally helped our son who transferred in from private school and was behind! Thank you, Lowell!

Lowell teaches the test. The students aren't learning problem solving, just rote memorization.

Lowell is an amazing school where teachers and parents work together for the students. Yes, there is emphasis on test performance, but every public school in CA has the same concern. My child has had an amazing and enlightening experience so far and can't imagine that changing anytime soon!

I took my child out of Lowell due to bullying. Lowell is just another public school in Los Angeles County trying to be something that it clearly isn't.

I have two kids at Lowell and we have been pleased, overall, with the quality of their education. But I have to agree with others that the emphasis on test scores is a little disheartening. I am not worried that my children will not perform well on standardized tests. I am more concerned that they feel happy and successful in school. In my opinion that forms the basis for success later in life. The administration seems focused on winning awards and recognition, rather than cultivating an atmosphere of nurturing, and love of learning. I wish we could turn the tide with parental input. If everyone would speak up, in a positive way, it could have an impact.

Great school however a little to much emphasis on test scores. There is a lot of parent involvment which helps raise money for art and other extracurricular activities that the normal school budget does not allow.

This is a great school if you are up to par with the rest of the children. If your child needs help in a specific category then there is alot of pressure to keep up with the other children. This is a magnet school and there is a lot of pressure to keep the scores up. I know of a few parents that have taken their children out because of the pressure to perform.

To future parents of Lowell, I just wanted to say my daughter Had the best year ever in elementary school when she transferred to Lowell. Her whole attitude toward school changed for the better when we enrolled her to this fantastic school. She had a wonderful and caring teacher who immediately did everything she could to make my daughter feel like she had been there for years. She had a horrible experiences with her former school (Naples Bayside Academy) that have left wounds and emotional scars that I feel will be there for life! My daughter is a good girl and did not deserve the treatment that she got from her former school. Thank you Lowell for being there for my daughter, I truly appreciate it!

A very good school, with excellent parent participation. The school has wonderful, parent-sponsored art and Spanish Language programs. The focus is definitely on testing. Be aware!

Lowell Academy is a high performing school. My child attended Lowell from kinder through 3rd grade. I truly loved the teachers' devotion and leadership--but-- did not enjoy the PTA. I realize the affluent atmosphere, there is a lot of parental involvement, don't get me wrong. I just did not enjoy the exclusive feeling I recieved when attempting to partake in PTA-run activities. Staff and administration is okay. Principal in 03-04 was fierce. Great education but too much of a private-school attitude. No thanks I'll stick with Fremont.

This school provides an excellent learning environment. We have been fortunate to have exceptional teachers for both my children. Lowell gets down to the business of learning and has strong parent involvement to support the process. We have been more than happy with our experience. It is a great neighborhood school. There are some extras in the curriculm such as the PTA supported Meet the Master's art appreciatin program, Spanish exposure program, instrumental and chorus in the upper grades. For the most part academics are the focus, which is what we want for our children. Our children are very happy, not stressed and have lots of friends. What more could you want?

Good school, lives up to its reputation for competitiveness, though I think the parents are the force behind this, not the school. The state tests, (API etc.) are the focal point of the teaching. From Kindergarten on, the kids learn to bubble in answers. The PTA keeps a close watch on things, which is good. We have parents who are on top of things, and get things done. There are many excellent individual teachers, many mediocre ones. As in all public schools, if your kid is more than a standard deviation from normal in any way, achievement, disposition, energy level, competitiveness, you will have some advocating to do on your kid's behalf. Overall, a vey good place to be in school!

Lowell is a wonderful environment and supportive school. With that said all parents today must realize that parents must be very involved with their child's studies, for them to be successful. With up to 35 students in each class, (4th and 5th grade), the teacher must juggle many learning styles and learning speeds. Without the parents filling in the gaps at home, a child could become overwhelmed. Lowell has been a Blue Ribbon school for the quality of its programs, without a strong foundation in elememtary school, Middle school will be a mightmare and so on. Children need to learn early on that if they want to succeed school is hard work. I beleive Lowell is giving them a good dose of reality to better prepare them for what is yet to come.

I transferred my eight year old son from Kettering to Lowell because of the Gate program. Now, he hates school. What a push for grades. Isn't school suppose to be a little bit fun? My husband and I have seen the light and are transferring him back!

I think that the focus at Lowell is too much on test scores and being number one. It seems that the teachers are under alot of pressure, therefore the un-due pressure is transfered to the students. There seems to be alot of memorization focus to get the high scores than on student comprehension. It is a very serious (not fun) atmosphere at the school, just walk thru the halls of the school and you can hear a pin drop not students interacting with the learning process. In kindergarden, my child was tested at six weeks and I was given a formal written report at a very serious meeting with his teachers of their academic expectations of him by January and told he was in the bottom half of the class at that time. (no positives) The local tutoring centers are packed with Lowell students from kindergarden on up, I think it is too much pressure on students of all levels of learning.

My daughter just started Kindergarted and I have heard that the schools in California in general are 'pushing'. I worry about what the pressure will do to our children and certainly do not want my kids to hate school. I have heard from friends in the district that the GATE program was pushed to 3rd grade rather than 2nd grade in our school due to parent competition. I want my daughter to do the best she can without feeling like she is competing in elementary school for goodness sakes! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can maintain the 'balance'! I am VERY pleased with the school in general and so far she is very happy there!