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Lowell Elementary School

Summary:

Lowell Elementary School is a public elementary school in Bellingham, Washington, serving 303 students in grades PK-5. As part of the Bellingham School District, Lowell consistently outperforms the district and state in academic assessments, ranking in the top 25% of Washington elementary schools.

Lowell's academic excellence is evident across subjects, with 63.31% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, 55.8% in Math, and 72.5% in Science - all significantly higher than district and state averages. The school's strong statewide ranking and excellent performance across student subgroups, including female students and those with special needs, further demonstrate its commitment to providing a quality education for all. However, Lowell has seen a slight shift in its student demographics, with an increase in the percentage of students from lower-income families receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

When compared to other elementary schools in the Bellingham district, Lowell generally outperforms its peers, particularly in English Language Arts and Science. Nearby schools like Wade King Elementary and Columbia Elementary also demonstrate strong academic performance, but Lowell's consistent excellence and statewide recognition make it a standout choice for families in the Bellingham area.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 914 15th St
       Bellingham, WA  98225-6305

(360) 676-6430

District: Bellingham School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
291st of 1,168 Washington Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $19,813 Help


Students who attend Lowell Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Fairhaven Middle School
High:    Sehome High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.7 Help
Number of students:  308

Racial breakdown:

White:
72.4%
Hispanic:
13.6%
Two or more races:
8.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  36% Help


 See top rated Washington elementary schools

 Compare Lowell Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Lowell Elementary School ranks better than 75.1% of elementary schools in Washington. It also ranks 3rd among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Bellingham School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.66. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (72.4%), Hispanic (13.6%), two or more races (8.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 36% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School is 15.7. 8 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Lowell Elementary School employs 19.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lowell Elementary School is $19,813. 8 elementary schools in the Bellingham School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lowell Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Lowell Elementary School 291st of 1168 Washington public elementary schools. (See Lowell Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Bellingham School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bellingham School District 86th of 247 Washington school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Lowell Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Lowell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 63.23 349th 1026 66.0%
2005 88.09 93rd 1031 91.0%
2006 88.05 76th 1051 92.8%
2007 86.12 88th 1069 91.8%
2008 82.56 122nd 1067 88.6%
2011 89.73 66th 1092 94.0%
2012 85.43 99th 1097 91.0%
2013 89.13 61st 1106 94.5%
2015 87.94 107th 1067 90.0%
2016 88.70 97th 1053 90.8%
2017 71.13 296th 1056 72.0%
2018 78.47 210th 1054 80.1%
2019 83.88 161st 1130 85.8%
2021 82.11 183rd 1107 83.5%
2022 67.00 353rd 1169 69.8%
2023 65.42 368th 1169 68.5%
2024 72.66 291st 1168 75.1%
See the entire list of Washington Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Lowell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 74.32 91st 566 83.9%
2022 59.49 135th 478 71.8%
2023 24.17 259th 308 15.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lowell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 46.33 552nd 979 43.6%
2021 52.57 345th 854 59.6%
2022 58.69 352nd 1019 65.5%
2023 40.35 621st 1013 38.7%
2024 47.58 541st 1024 47.2%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Lowell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.09 282nd 1004 71.9%
2019 83.69 143rd 1068 86.6%
2021 84.53 134th 1008 86.7%
2022 64.89 351st 1100 68.1%
2023 69.75 298th 1094 72.8%
2024 79.52 204th 1093 81.3%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Lowell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.29 168th 999 83.2%
2019 75.81 246th 1075 77.1%
2021 71.55 271st 1025 73.6%
2022 67.27 332nd 1113 70.2%
2023 58.91 413th 1099 62.4%
2024 63.04 386th 1099 64.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Lowell Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools WA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.75 144th 833 82.7%
2019 83.61 130th 1027 87.3%
2021 77.45 179th 943 81.0%
2022 60.25 392nd 1031 62.0%
2023 59.50 396th 1011 60.8%
2024 67.48 314th 1009 68.9%
See the entire list of Best Washington Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Lowell Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
Help






Data source: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Lowell Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 273 2 2 0 1 n/a n/a 0 278
1989 318 1 0 4 1 n/a n/a 0 324
1990 302 1 16 5 4 n/a n/a 0 328
1991 312 3 13 8 2 n/a n/a 0 338
1992 313 3 15 6 0 n/a n/a 0 337
1993 320 7 12 8 2 n/a n/a 0 349
1994 292 4 19 9 0 n/a n/a 0 324
1995 263 3 10 11 6 n/a n/a 0 293
1996 263 3 10 11 6 n/a n/a 0 293
1997 243 2 9 8 4 n/a n/a 0 266
1998 233 4 14 16 3 n/a n/a 0 270
1999 231 5 10 16 9 n/a n/a 0 271
2000 210 3 12 13 5 n/a n/a 0 243
2001 216 8 11 18 11 n/a n/a 0 264
2002 215 9 10 22 9 n/a n/a 0 265
2003 215 9 10 22 9 n/a n/a 0 265
2004 259 8 16 20 6 n/a n/a 0 309
2005 251 9 14 25 3 n/a n/a 3 305
2006 213 3 11 26 7 n/a n/a 7 267
2007 234 1 10 20 5 n/a n/a 10 280
2008 234 2 9 17 7 n/a n/a 20 289
2009 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 0
2010 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 0
2011 200 2 8 12 3 0 0 0 225
2012 199 2 13 20 1 0 0 0 235
2013 209 2 13 10 1 0 10 0 245
2014 241 2 15 15 2 0 13 0 288
2015 254 5 13 21 1 0 19 0 313
2016 232 8 10 31 2 0 12 0 295
2017 247 7 14 22 2 0 13 0 305
2018 234 7 7 24 1 0 18 0 291
2019 234 7 7 24 2 0 25 0 299
2020 214 6 8 17 1 0 24 0 270
2021 175 9 8 18 1 0 19 0 230
2022 214 8 5 24 5 0 19 0 275
2023 223 8 3 38 5 0 26 0 303
2024 223 6 5 42 5 0 27 0 308

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Lowell Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 278 11.0 25.2 0
1989 324 13.0 24.9 n/a
1990 328 14.5 22.6 0
1991 338 14.5 23.3 n/a
1992 337 14.5 23.2 n/a
1993 349 14.5 24.1 n/a
1994 324 15.6 20.8 n/a
1995 293 13.1 22.4 n/a
1996 293 13.1 22.4 n/a
1997 266 12.6 21.1 n/a
1998 270 11.5 23.5 n/a
1999 271 11.5 23.6 n/a
2000 243 12.0 20.3 n/a
2001 264 12.0 22.0 n/a
2002 265 12.1 21.9 25.3
2003 265 12.1 21.9 25.3
2004 309 14.0 22.1 25.9
2005 305 13.5 22.6 23.8
2006 267 13.5 19.8 28.8
2007 280 12.3 22.8 23
2008 289 12.3 23.5 23.8
2009 0 12.3 n/a n/a
2010 0 0.0 0.0 n/a
2011 225 11.5 19.5 10.2
2012 235 12.1 19.2 22.6
2013 245 13.4 18.2 18.8
2014 288 n/a n/a 18.4
2015 313 20.0 15.6 20.4
2016 295 17.0 17.3 25.1
2017 305 17.2 17.6 23.3
2018 291 17.2 16.8 24.7
2019 299 18.6 16.0 24.1
2020 270 18.3 14.6 25.2
2021 230 18.0 12.7 27.4
2022 275 18.4 14.8 25.8
2023 303 20.2 14.9 35.3
2024 308 19.5 15.7 36

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Lowell Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 278 11.0 25.2 0
1989 324 13.0 24.9 n/a
1990 328 14.5 22.6 0
1991 338 14.5 23.3 n/a
1992 337 14.5 23.2 n/a
1993 349 14.5 24.1 n/a
1994 324 15.6 20.8 n/a
1995 293 13.1 22.4 n/a
1996 293 13.1 22.4 n/a
1997 266 12.6 21.1 n/a
1998 270 11.5 23.5 n/a
1999 271 11.5 23.6 n/a
2000 243 12.0 20.3 n/a
2001 264 12.0 22.0 n/a
2002 265 12.1 21.9 25.3
2003 265 12.1 21.9 25.3
2004 309 14.0 22.1 25.9
2005 305 13.5 22.6 23.8
2006 267 13.5 19.8 28.8
2007 280 12.3 22.8 23
2008 289 12.3 23.5 23.8
2009 0 12.3 n/a n/a
2010 0 0.0 0.0 n/a
2011 225 11.5 19.5 10.2
2012 235 12.1 19.2 22.6
2013 245 13.4 18.2 18.8
2014 288 n/a n/a 18.4
2015 313 20.0 15.6 20.4
2016 295 17.0 17.3 25.1
2017 305 17.2 17.6 23.3
2018 291 17.2 16.8 24.7
2019 299 18.6 16.0 24.1
2020 270 18.3 14.6 25.2
2021 230 18.0 12.7 27.4
2022 275 18.4 14.8 25.8
2023 303 20.2 14.9 35.3
2024 308 19.5 15.7 36

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Lowell Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussisMeaslesMumpsRubellaTetanus
201667.4%0.0%0.0%4.3%84.8%82.6%78.3%78.3%84.8%82.6%
201782.6%0.0%0.0%4.4%6.5%89.1%89.1%87.0%84.8%89.1%89.1%
201965.9%0.0%2.4%9.8%17.1%78.1%85.4%78.1%78.1%87.8%85.4%
202085.7%0.0%2.9%2.9%8.6%88.6%91.4%85.7%94.3%91.4%94.3%94.3%94.3%91.4%
202182.4%5.9%0.0%0.0%11.8%85.3%91.2%91.2%82.4%91.2%91.2%91.2%91.2%91.2%
202293.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%2.3%95.4%93.0%95.4%95.4%93.0%97.7%97.7%97.7%93.0%
202370.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%71.7%70.0%83.3%73.3%70.0%78.3%78.3%78.3%70.0%
202481.0%1.6%0.0%0.0%0.0%84.1%85.7%87.3%87.3%85.7%88.9%88.9%88.9%85.7%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health

Immunization Rates (Entire school)

Lowell Elementary School

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionPersonal ExemptionPolioDiphtheriaHepatitis BVaricellaMMRPertussis
201985.9%0.3%1.4%9.1%91.9%93.3%90.6%92.3%93.9%93.6%

Data source: Washington State Department of Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Lowell Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,023 (6.1%) $15,656 (93.9%) $16,680
2020 $694 (5.8%) $11,251 (94.2%) $11,945
2021 $925 (4.0%) $22,125 (96.0%) $23,050
2022 $1,674 (8.4%) $18,139 (91.6%) $19,813

Data source: Washington Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lowell Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 161st of 1130 Elementary schoolsRanks 368th of 1169 Elementary schools
 17.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary School)80.446.3
 34.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)54.147.8
 6.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Washington)56.348.9
 7.4%
3rd Grade Math (Lowell Elementary School)78.447.2
 31.3%
   3rd Grade Math (Bellingham School District)5147.9
 3.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Washington)5951.6
 7.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary School)7264.1
 7.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)5251.4
 0.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)57.750.1
 7.6%
4th Grade Math (Lowell Elementary School)6266.7
 4.7%
   4th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)45.348.6
 3.3%
   4th Grade Math (Washington)54.949.4
 5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary School)8358.2
 24.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.452.3
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Washington)61.353.8
 7.6%
5th Grade Math (Lowell Elementary School)6650.9
 15.1%
   5th Grade Math (Bellingham School District)43.238.8
 4.4%
   5th Grade Math (Washington)49.142
 7.1%
5th Grade Science (Lowell Elementary School)73.665.5
 8.1%
   5th Grade Science (Bellingham School District)59.258.3
 0.9%
   5th Grade Science (Washington)54.152.3
 1.8%
All Grades English Language Arts (Lowell Elementary School)78.655.4
 23.2%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Bellingham School District)63.755.8
 7.9%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Washington)6152.9
 8.1%
All Grades Math (Lowell Elementary School)68.853.7
 15.1%
   All Grades Math (Bellingham School District)46.945
 1.9%
   All Grades Math (Washington)50.141
 9%
All Grades Science (Lowell Elementary School)73.665.5
 8.1%
   All Grades Science (Bellingham School District)60.459.2
 1.2%
   All Grades Science (Washington)52.748.8
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students299303
 1.3%
African American78
 14.3%
American Indian25
 150%
Asian73
 57.1%
Hispanic2438
 58.3%
Pacific Islander00
White234223
 4.7%
Two or More Races2526
 4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients24.1%35.3%
 11.2%

Schools Near Lowell Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Lowell Elementary School

Students who attend Lowell Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Fairhaven Middle School
High : Sehome High School

Lowell Elementary School ranks 291st of 1168 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 308 students attended Lowell Elementary School.

Students at Lowell Elementary School are 72% White, 14% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian, 2% American Indian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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