Excellent
#4 of 45 private schools in DC
Top 7% of private schools
Lowell School
Elementary School
1640 KALMIA RD NW, Washington, DC 20012
Enrollment
279
Student-Teacher
5.9:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
279
Student-Teacher
5.9:1
Score
8.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
District of Columbia private schools
#4 of 45
In Washington
#4 of 45
public schools
Shortlisting around Lowell School?
Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Lowell School
Elementary School in Washington · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Ashreinu School for Girls Inc.
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Shepherd ES
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Lowell School
Lowell School is a private elementary school in Washington, DC. Lowell School serves approximately 279 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 5.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Lowell School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #4 of 45 private schools in DC.
- This school 8.3 · Excellent
- DC avg 6.5
What Parents Should Know
At 5.9:1 students to teachers, Lowell School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Lowell School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Lowell School compares to 207 public schools serving similar grades in Washington, DC
Student Demographics
Nearby Elementary Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Lowell School (this school) | 8.3 |
| Shepherd ES | 8.7 |
| District of Columbia International School | 8.7 |
| Takoma ES | 6.6 |
| Breakthrough Montessori PCS | 4.7 |
| Center City PCS - Brightwood | 8.1 |
| Military Road Early Learning Center | 6.3 |
| Ida B. Wells MS | 7.8 |
| Whittier ES | 8.8 |
| Friendship PCS - Online Academy | 3.2 |
| Brightwood ES | 6.1 |
| Paul PCS - MS | 5.6 |
| Lafayette ES | 8.5 |
| Friendship PCS - Ideal Elementary | 8.2 |
| Friendship PCS - Ideal Middle | 7.6 |
| Capital City PCS - MS | 5.7 |
| Capital City PCS - Lower School | 4.0 |
| Sela PCS | 8.9 |
| Truesdell ES | 5.9 |
| John Lewis ES | 7.6 |
| Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS | 6.6 |
Showing 20 of 207 schools. View all schools in Washington
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in DC.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in DC
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
1640 KALMIA RD NW, Washington, DC 20012
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Lowell School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Rock Creek Forest Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby Chevy Chase), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Shepherd ES (rated 8.7/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, East Silver Spring Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.3 miles away, in nearby Silver Spring), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Washington, see our Washington schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.6 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 20012 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$128,234
Median Home Value
$838,200
Median Rent
$1,638/mo
Population
17,662
College Educated
59.2%
Homeownership
62.8%
Avg Commute
37.3 min
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Median Age
40.2
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Two Rivers PCS - Young ES Washington, DC | 8.4 |
| Friendship PCS - Ideal Elementary Washington, DC | 8.2 |
| Center City PCS - Brightwood Washington, DC | 8.1 |
| Friendship PCS - Chamberlain Elementary Washington, DC | 8.1 |
| Key ES Washington, DC | 8.1 |
| LaSalle-Backus ES Washington, DC | 8.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lowell School
What grades does Lowell School serve?
Lowell School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Lowell School?
Lowell School has an enrollment of approximately 279 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lowell School is 5.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Lowell School rank in DC?
Lowell School ranks #4 of 45 private schools in DC.
What is Lowell School's MySchoolScout rating?
Lowell School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Lowell School a private school?
Yes, Lowell School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Lowell School a religious school?
No, Lowell School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 279
- Gender Split
- 50% M / 50% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 5.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 47
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 7.4 hours
- Days Per Year
- 175 days
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- District of Columbia
- Phone
- (202) 577-2083
Resources & Links
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 rateGet school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.