5.8avg / 10

Lowell School District

School District · Lowell, Massachusetts

Last updated: August 2026

Students: 14,273

Teachers (FTE): 1,161

Estimated Scores: 4%

Avg Rating

5.8

out of 10

Schools

15 elem, 7 mid, 3 high

Enrollment

14,273

Student-Teacher Ratio

12.3:1

Avg Rating

5.8

out of 10

Schools

15 elem, 7 mid, 3 high

Enrollment

14,273

Student-Teacher Ratio

12.3:1

District shortlistschools + peers

Evaluating Lowell?

A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Lowell as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.

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Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Lowell · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Lowell · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Lowell · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

How this district compares

Massachusetts rank

#157 of 236

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.5

below Massachusetts avg

Per-pupil spending

$22,440

+$1,069 vs Massachusetts median

District size

14,273 students

Much larger than Massachusetts median

The short answer

Lowell ranks #157 of 236 Massachusetts districts by overall school rating. Lowell's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 25 schools. Its top-rated schools are Peter W Reilly (8.2/10), James S Daley Middle School (8.0/10), and Bartlett Community Partnership (7.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Top-Rated Schools in Lowell

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (25 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	Enrollment
1	Peter W Reilly	8.2 / 10	Elementary	—	461
2	James S Daley Middle School	8.0 / 10	Middle	—	680
3	Bartlett Community Partnership	7.4 / 10	Elementary	—	480
4	Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School	7.1 / 10	Middle	—	625
5	Dr Gertrude Bailey	6.9 / 10	Elementary	—	443
6	B.f. Butler Middle School	6.8 / 10	Middle	—	505
7	Leblanc Therapeutic Day School	6.8 / 10	High	—	36
8	Charlotte M Murkland Elementary	6.7 / 10	Elementary	—	436
9	Joseph Mcavinnue	6.7 / 10	Elementary	—	429
10	Abraham Lincoln	6.6 / 10	Elementary	—	489

See all 27 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Lowell

Lowell is a Lowell, Massachusetts school district serving 27 schools.The district educates 14,273 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1. District-level spending was $22,440 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 5.8/10, Lowell demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Peter W Reilly, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.

In standardized testing, Lowell students show an average math proficiency of 31.7% and ELA proficiency of 32.3%.

The district includes 15 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

District Map

Schools in Lowell, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency31.7%

School

State

Not reported

ELA Proficiency32.3%

School

State

Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Lowell with test data.

District Details

State: Massachusetts
City: Lowell
Total Enrollment: 14,273
Teachers (FTE): 1,161
District spending per student: $22,440NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate: 18.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year: 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Lowell?

Lowell has 27 schools in total — 15 elementary, 7 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Lowell?

The average composite rating for Lowell is 5.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the district spending per student in Lowell?

Lowell's district-level spending was $22,440 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Lowell?

The average student-teacher ratio in Lowell is 12.3:1.

What is the top-rated school in Lowell?

Peter W Reilly is the highest-rated school in Lowell with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What are the test scores in Lowell?

Across schools in Lowell with test data, the average math proficiency is 31.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 32.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Lowell compare to other districts in Massachusetts?

Lowell has an average school rating of 5.8/10 across 27 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Massachusetts by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating: 5.8/10
Math Proficiency: 31.7%
ELA Proficiency: 32.3%

Resources

🔍Search for District Website 📄Official NCES Data 🏫GreatSchools Profile 📍View on Google Maps

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Other School Districts in MA

Compare Lowell with neighboring districts in the state.

Boston (109)
Springfield (66)
Worcester (45)
Lynn (27)
Lawrence (26)
Brockton (24)
New Bedford (24)
Newton (22)
Quincy (19)
Fall River (18)
Cambridge (17)
Haverhill (16)
Chicopee (15)
Framingham (14)
Pittsfield (14)
Brookline (13)
Leominster (13)
Plymouth (13)
Taunton (13)
Wachusett (13)
Attleboro (12)
Westfield (12)
Arlington (11)
Chelsea (11)

See all districts in MA →

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.