Summary:
The city of Lowell, North Carolina is home to two schools: Lowell Elementary and Holbrook Middle, both part of the Gaston County Schools district. While Lowell Elementary stands out as a high-performing school, Holbrook Middle appears to be underperforming compared to district and state averages.
Lowell Elementary boasts significantly higher test scores than the district and state, particularly in mathematics, where 79.3% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in 2023-2024, compared to 54.2% for the district and 62.7% for the state. The school's reading and science proficiency rates are also strong, and its statewide ranking has consistently placed it in the top half of North Carolina elementary schools. In contrast, Holbrook Middle lags behind the district and state on most metrics, with a statewide ranking in the bottom quarter of North Carolina middle schools.
The differences between the two schools extend beyond academic performance. Lowell Elementary has a higher percentage of White students and a lower student-teacher ratio, while Holbrook Middle has a more even distribution of racial groups and a higher student-teacher ratio. Both schools serve a significant population of economically disadvantaged students, with high free/reduced lunch rates. However, Lowell Elementary appears to be outperforming Holbrook Middle despite the similar socioeconomic profiles.
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