Lowell High School

1101 Eucalyptus Drive

School District

San Francisco Unified
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for San Francisco Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by other on June 01, 2023

Three decades later, I’ve come to appreciate the safe haven (for sf) that Lowell provided for me. Stressful? Check ..safe? Check ….. challenging/competitive? Check …. Camaraderie among students and lasting relationships? Check, but you do need to go outside your comfort zone and find your tribe - May take a year(s) … teacher quality? Average….. this school literally saved me and my siblings from having to attend our dangerous neighborhood high school in the city. We were definitely not the brightest, but we put in quite a bit of effort. And that’s all you need. From there, it’s a high probability that you can go to a UC bc Lowell’s reputation does carry a lot of weight. One caution is if your child is overly anxious or does not deal with stress well in terms of academics or testing or a highly competitive academic environment , then I think Lowell may not be the best for a student for his/her mental health. And that’s perfectly fine bc grades are just that and perhaps just a subjective judgment of knowledge or competency in a subject at a particular point in time as compared to the pool of students in one or two classes. And it’s not the end of the world if you don’t go to the best academic public high school in sf.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2019

The education is amazing but can come at a cost to the child. Bullying in class is uncontrolled by teachers, especially substitute teachers who are regulars. Admin does not support parents and enables bad behavior.
Submitted by other on July 28, 2016

this school serves its student body well and has strong staff, but its facilities could use some TLC
Submitted by other on July 12, 2016

excellent school with high academic standards, good athletics, great teachers ,and motivated good students and good campus
Submitted by student on February 19, 2015

I love it here! I used to be bullied in middle school, and all of the movies and rumors made highschool scary to me. It's my sophmore year and I have to say that the Lowell community is amazing. Everyone is nice and helpful, and there is no bulliying. Obviously I can't say that there is no mean people, there are, but people are clear to them that it's not tollerated. People stand up for you, and you learn to stand up for your selves. There so many classes and programs that are available here compared to other public schools. We have the most variety in languages, science courses, english courses and math courses. Plus if that isn't enough or some of your interests are not met there are a ton of educating clubs, volunteer clubs, sports clubs, ethnic clubs, and clubs where you have fun! If you fall back on grades, there is a lot of support. There are tutors in the library, or if no in the tutoring table knows how to help me (if they haven't taken the class I need help with) you can litterally walk up to anyone in the library and ask them "have you or are you taking------" and if they say yes they'll happily agree to help you (if they can). The wellness center is super cool too.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2014

Lowell is a challenging, inspiring, fun school for my 17 YO son. He works hard, most teachers are dedicated and skilled, athletics are fantastic, and fellow students smart and kind. Awesome.
Submitted by student on February 13, 2014

After finishing my first semester at Lowell, coming from a small private school, I am pleasantly surprised. While most of my friends are attending cushy private high schools, I am enjoying being a public school student. I have made amazing, down to earth friends who I can rely on for everything. Yes, the school is run down, but it has heart! I am gaining a much better understanding of math and enjoying biology for the first time. My English class is quirky and interesting and my history teacher is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. I am involved in several clubs and the homework load is manageable. Lowell has definitely taken me out of the private school bubble, which I hugely appreciate. I have become more independent and open to the world. Do not be afraid to come to Lowell!
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2013

Lowell is not measurable to its reputation. My daughter arrived at this school an honor student and is leaving as one. It isn't because of this school that she is successful. Her counselor is ineffective. My child has been racially profiled by a profanity using teacher. It's her senior year and we couldn't be happier to leave. The courses are challenging but as far as prepping for college it's no different than Galileo. I have two children in SFUSD and my experience is Lowell is really not worth the hype. All of the hoops you must jump in just to get in is not worth it's salt. They have a practice where some students are allowed to skip lunch and take a class so potentially as a minor you can go the whole day without eating. My bottom line is if your child is already a model student, you don't have to further prove it by sending them to Lowell. This was my mistake. Once she is in college no one will care that she went to Lowell. Lowell will not provide you with a better opportunity to a UC than any other school will. Especially if the counselor is lazy. I've shared my experience so do as you please.
Submitted by student on December 02, 2013

Lowell high school is a great school with great encouraging students and teachers. This school is very challenging but it prepares you for your future. Also, it pushes us as students to look on our future to become very organize and successful. Lowell can be difficult to some students but at the end, they attend to look back and say " Everything here, was worth it!! " . Lowell is a friendly community. I recommend every student to enter Lowell High School.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2013

The best asset of this school is the student body. They're motivated, well behaved and I feel safe to have my child here. However, you're on your own to find out and to get what's right for you. There's not enough school support when issues come up. Some teachers are really bad but if you get the good ones, this is a great school with lots of opportunities. We're disappointed with some teachers in the math department who just don't care about students and their potential and development. It's very disheartening. Another veteran parent has told me before that she's not sending her second child here just because she found the math department so broken. All in all, it's still a very good place because of the wonderful peers any child will find and you'd still have your share of good teachers.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2013

I agree with the previous post: For all the hype and self-regard, Lowell hasn't been a fabulous experience for my son. He is an intellectual person who loves ideas, but he's found many of his courses dull and many of his teachers uninspiring (he's had a number of good teachers, who I'm grateful for, but too many Lowell teachers seem to be just putting in time.) SAT's, GPA's, and how many AP classes you can cram into your schedule seems to be the major preoccupation of students, parents, and administrators alike. What ever happened to the joy of learning?
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Great academic program. Students must like to compete and study hard. Teachers are helpful and responsive even though the lines are long. Many clubs to choose from. Best of all, there is no tuition.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Lowell is lauded because it's rated one of the top high schools in America. Unfortunately, although it's rated so high, the mantra there is "GPA, GPA, GPA." (At home, we cal lit the GPA factory.) and SATs. The focus is more on the grades and numbers, not the education. This has led to widespread cheating -- my son tells me. There are some excellent teachers but many surprisingly terrible ones (for such a supposedly great school) and because of the way students sign up for teachers, one semester they may get a really bad batch of instructors. On the plus side, it's a school filled with interesting students and your child can probably find her/his "people." There are so many clubs and organizations. Most students are focused on doing well and so, at least so far, our experience is that they stay out of trouble...well, in general.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2013

Lowell is an excellent high school with great peers and school environment. If your child comes home and tells you that he loves Lowell, he will be happy in college because: 1) Lowell is the right school for your child and he has the skills to adapt to a vigorous academic environment and 2) your child appreciates what Lowell offers (even though Lowell could use some improvements). I have one child who graduated from Lowell and has a great freshmen experience in college and a younger one is still at Lowell. They both enjoyed Lowell even though they have totally different personalities and interests. Be realistic about Lowell. If you are a middle student and considering Lowell, keep in mind that at least top 10% of your peers will be Ivy, Cal, and UCLA bound, at least 10 of them may never get a B in high school. I strongly recommend taking a tour after your admission to Lowell. To see what Lowell is like outside the classrooms, you definitely don't want to miss its Talent Show in May, school musical and play during the year. Lowell has a great tennis team this year. No matter what your child's interests are, there is something for him to enjoy at Lowell. Good luck and enjoy HS.
Submitted by other on April 11, 2013

This is one of the few best public schools in San Francisco. Most students that go to this school get admitted and go straight into UC Berkeley. Most of the students graduate from high school. The school is a huge campus with many classrooms. The school is mainly made up of Chinese American and Asian American students. The school is close to San Francisco State University. Every spring, the annual Chinese speech competition, from toddlers to college-aged students take place. Of course everyone is put in the right categories of school age and age.
Submitted by student on June 13, 2012

A year after graduating from this great, although challenging high school, I can honestly say that if nothing else, Lowell prepares its students very well for a college workload. I've yet to hear of any of my graduating class severely struggle with the work at their colleges, regardless of what institution they are attending. Studying through 3-5 AP classes a semester will gear most students for college education. True, Lowell is not for everyone - the work can range from 2-5 hours a night, depending on the student and the classes. The environment is competitive, but there are perhaps more opportunities here than any other school in the city, partially due to Lowell's size as well as the enthusiasm of the students. Would strongly recommend for all students with a more competitive nature and a drive to do well; the caveat is that with most public schools, there is no "cushion", kids must learn to stand up on their own.
Submitted by student on November 11, 2011

I think Lowell is great,there's a lot of opportunities,there's a lot of people who complain about the homework,but you just need to have good time management and not procrastinate.Lowell has a lot of school activities.Everybody is pretty nice,except some teachers.Lowell was actually better than i expected.
Submitted by student on March 24, 2011

Yes, it is true that Lowell has many faults, including some very terrible teachers. However, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. For those who complain about homework load, classes are individually chosen and AP courses are definitely not required. The only students with 4-7 hours of homework a night are taking more than 3 college level courses. Lowell offers so many opportunities for students to learn life skills, meet new people, and excel academically and socially. If you manage your time well, it is easy to join new clubs and try out for sports teams while managing a part-time job and great SAT scores. Lowell is by far the best public school in the city academically and opportunity wise. Go Cardinals!
Submitted by student on January 18, 2007

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