Lowell Elementary School, Seattle WA

Original Research by School Decision on Lowell Elementary School

Lowell Elementary School is a regular public school in Seattle serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Capitol Hill neighborhood of the city, an area that blends residential streets with commercial corridors. Seattle itself is a major Pacific Northwest city, dense and walkable in its core, with a tech-driven economy anchored by Amazon and Microsoft, a strong port presence, and Boeing manufacturing in the region. The housing market in the school’s zip code is expensive, typical of central Seattle, and the broader metro area continues to grow, though the city has seen some cooling in home prices recently.

The student body is diverse and economically mixed. The school serves a predominantly non-white population, with the largest groups being Black students, followed by Hispanic students, then Asian and white students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that many families face financial stress. The school has a moderate enrollment for an elementary, with classrooms across the grade span.

Academic performance, as measured by Washington’s state assessments in the most recent school year, shows that in each tested grade, the share of students meeting the state standard in math and English language arts fell well under half. In grade-level science, about a third of fifth graders met the standard. These results place Lowell’s overall proficiency index in the bottom quartile when compared with districts across King County, meaning most other school systems in the county posted higher proficiency rates. A parent considering Lowell may want to ask the school about its academic intervention strategies and how it supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.

The school is part of Seattle School District No. 1, the largest public school district in Washington. Two recent district-level developments are relevant for families. Voters approved a large capital levy in 2022 that funds school construction, renovation, and technology upgrades, which could affect facility conditions at Lowell. Separately, the district has faced a projected budget deficit tied to declining enrollment and the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds. This led to proposals for school closures and staff reductions, though plans were scaled back after community pushback. The district’s financial picture remains unsettled, and families should be aware that continued budget pressures may lead to changes in programming or school operations in the coming years.

For a family looking at Lowell Elementary, the core picture is a school in an expensive, urban setting with a racially and economically diverse student body and academic results that are low compared to other King County districts. The school does not serve grades beyond fifth, so the high school trajectory is a separate decision. The district context of a large capital investment in facilities alongside ongoing budget strain suggests a mixed resource environment. Families who value a central Seattle location and diverse peer group may find Lowell a fit, but those focused on academic proficiency scores would likely want to investigate supports and classroom instruction further.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 67% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 427%

School 27% · District 64% · ▼ 37 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 33 pts below county median

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 48% · ▼ 25 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 31% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 422%

School 22% · District 64% · ▼ 42 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 36 pts below county median

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 24% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Science

Grade 534%

School 34% · District 32% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

This schoolSeattle School District No. 1, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income31%Higher-income64%33 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income14%Higher-income40%26 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income26%Higher-income43%17 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income32%Higher-income55%22 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income24%Higher-income33%9 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income17%Higher-income33%16 pp gap