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Excellent

#258 of 2,105 schools in WI

Top 12% in state

Lowell Elementary

Elementary School · Madison Metropolitan School District

401 Maple Ave, Madison, WI 53704

Enrollment

335

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

8.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Wisconsin schools

#258 of 2,105

In Madison

#5 of 54

public schools

In district

#5 of 52

Madison Metropolitan School District

Academic growth

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Lowell Elementary

8.4/10

Elementary School in Madison · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Operation Fresh Start

7.0/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Emerson Elementary

7.6/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Lowell Elementary

Lowell Elementary is a public elementary school in Madison, WI, part of Madison Metropolitan School District. Lowell Elementary serves approximately 335 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Lowell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #258 of 2,105 schools in WI.

Structured state assessment records for Lowell Elementary show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.5 pts above district
  • This school 8.4 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.9
  • WI avg 6.8

What Parents Should Know

34% of students at Lowell Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.5Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.08 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency51.8% (2025 FORWARD)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.8% (2025 FORWARD)
Math vs. State Avg-2.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+5.6 pts
Overall Proficiency54% (2025 FORWARD, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 FORWARD)
vs. Expected+7.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile62th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,411
Chronic Absenteeism34%

Lowell Elementary — Students at Lowell Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

42.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WI FORWARD (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 52.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.0% (2025 FORWARD)
ELA Proficiency 53.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
50.9% (2025 FORWARD)

Based on 34 test records from WI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2012
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
57%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
51.8%
ELA
55%
2025
Math
51.8%
ELA
56.8%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.5/10.

How Lowell Elementary Compares

See how Lowell Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
88th percentile in WI
Academic
7.4/10
Very Good
Growth
9.5/10
Excellent
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
43%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
27 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
34.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

401 Maple Ave, Madison, WI 53704

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lowell Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Winnequah School (rated 8.1/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Monona), with a comparable rating. Another option is IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 1.9 miles away, in nearby Monona), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Marquette Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Madison, see our Madison schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
OPERATION FRESH START Madison 0.6 mi 7.0
Emerson Elementary Madison 0.8 mi 7.6
East High Madison 0.8 mi 5.8
Schenk Elementary Madison 0.8 mi 6.2
Whitehorse Middle Madison 0.9 mi 4.5
Marquette Elementary Madison 1.0 mi 7.9
O'Keeffe Middle Madison 1.0 mi 6.7
Hawthorne Elementary Madison 1.5 mi 5.5
ST DENNIS SCHOOL Madison 1.3 mi 6.9
Monona Grove High Monona 1.7 mi 5.9
Winnequah School Monona 2.0 mi 8.1
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Monona 1.9 mi 8.0
Isthmus Montessori Academy Public Madison 1.9 mi 8.6
Nuestro Mundo Monona 2.2 mi 7.8
Innovative High Madison 1.7 mi 4.7
Lapham Elementary Madison 1.7 mi 6.3
WINGS TO SOAR ONLINE ACADEMY Madison 1.9 mi 4.2
Sherman Middle Madison 2.0 mi 5.1
Shabazz-City High Madison 2.0 mi 4.2
TOAD HILL CHILDRENS HOUSE Madison 1.8 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 53704 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,007

Median Home Value

$289,000

Median Rent

$1,231/mo

Population

47,136

College Educated

49.5%

Homeownership

53.5%

Avg Commute

21.3 min

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Median Age

35.2

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Altoona Intermediate Altoona, WI 8.4
Barrie Elementary Fort Atkinson, WI 8.4
Colfax Elementary Colfax, WI 8.4
Cushing Elementary Delafield, WI 8.4
Dodgeville Elementary Dodgeville, WI 8.4
Kennedy Elementary Janesville, WI 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lowell Elementary

What grades does Lowell Elementary serve?

Lowell Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Lowell Elementary?

Lowell Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 335 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lowell Elementary rank in WI?

Lowell Elementary ranks #258 of 2,105 schools in WI.

What is Lowell Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Lowell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Lowell Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lowell Elementary has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lowell Elementary a charter school?

No, Lowell Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lowell Elementary a Title I school?

No, Lowell Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lowell Elementary?

42.7% of students at Lowell Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
78 Very Walkable
Transit Score
44 Some Transit
Bike Score
97 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
335
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Free/Reduced Lunch
42.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Dane County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.0%

District

Madison Metropolitan School District
District Enrollment
25,247
Schools in District
54
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,411
District Rank
#5 of 52

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