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Lowell Elementary

Q: Is Lowell Elementary a good school?

Lowell Elementary ranks 773 rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

773^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 48% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Lowell Elementary is a PK–5 school in Lowell, NC, serving 367 students as part of Gaston County Schools. Nearly all students (99.2%) come from economically disadvantaged households, making Lowell one of the highest-poverty schools in its immediate area. The school's most recent state ranking places it at the 48th percentile—earning 2 stars—after back-to-back 3-star ratings in the prior two years. Among nearby elementary schools, Lowell sits in the lower-middle tier. It clearly outperforms the lowest-performing high-poverty schools in the area, including Brookside Elementary and Gardner Park Elementary, but trails several similar schools such as Catawba Heights Elementary and McAdenville Elementary.

The most striking pattern inside Lowell is the gap between grade levels. On the latest state tests, Lowell third and fourth graders scored below both the Gaston County Schools district and North Carolina statewide averages in reading and math. Fifth graders told a very different story: about 74% were proficient in math, compared with 62.9% statewide; about 64% were proficient in reading, versus 55.3%; and 84.5% were proficient in science, versus 67.7% statewide. Science is Lowell's standout subject. Fifth-grade science has beaten the district and state for three consecutive years, and in the latest year it even exceeded the science scores posted by New Hope Elementary and Belmont Central Elementary—two higher-ranked nearby schools with far fewer students in poverty.

Lowell Elementary also posts better attendance than expected for a school with this much need. Its chronic absenteeism rate was 16.6% last year—well below the district's 23.2% and the state's 24.2%—and Lowell has stayed below both benchmarks for three consecutive years. The school also benefits from a low student-teacher ratio of 12.9, more favorable than most nearby elementary schools. In sum, Lowell Elementary is a school with clear strengths: strong fifth-grade outcomes, a standout science program, and reliable attendance. The challenges are equally visible—early-grade reading and math need attention, and the school's overall state ranking has slipped two years in a row. Bolstering the early grades would build on the promise its older students already show.

367

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

97%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 3% (any vaccine)

1500 Power Drive
Lowell, NC 28098-1236

(704) 836-9118

District: Gaston County Schools

Students who attend Lowell Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Holbrook Middle
High:	Ashbrook High

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.2%

Hispanic:

20.2%

African American:

19.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Lowell Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 64th percentile in 2016 → 48th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg61%

773^rd of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 48%▼ down 15 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to bottom 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

145^th of 246Gaston County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	47.6	773 of 1492	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.1	668 of 1490	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.1	714 of 1505	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.8	803 of 1502	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.2	685 of 1514	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.5	676 of 1489	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.4	997 of 1473	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.4	740 of 1434	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.8	718 of 1429	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	62.6	518 of 1425	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.9	605 of 1440	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	35.9	919 of 1390	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.7	853 of 1403	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.5	791 of 1388	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	55.2	702 of 1381	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	66.8	475 of 1363	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.0	489 of 1354	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.7	337 of 1324	74.5%	★★★★☆
2007	69.8	346 of 1293	73.2%	★★★★☆
2006	71.3	319 of 1276	75.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.4	44 of 903	95.1%	★★★★★
2025	54.5	349 of 918	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.1	126 of 924	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	45.0	495 of 933	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.9	622 of 927	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.2	352 of 896	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.6	710 of 949	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	53.9	400 of 927	56.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	32.3	430 of 634	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.1	374 of 646	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	15.2	841 of 878	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.0	872 of 897	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	62.7	127 of 533	76.2%	★★★★☆
2023	63.0	117 of 514	77.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.3	807 of 1447	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.4	694 of 1451	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.3	468 of 1455	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.6	527 of 1459	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	587 of 1458	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.6	760 of 1440	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.0	1061 of 1424	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.7	950 of 1405	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	31 of 743	95.8%	★★★★☆
2022	46.5	393 of 500	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	56.9	270 of 494	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.0	691 of 981	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	69.7	211 of 961	78.0%	★★★★☆
2024	53.0	417 of 951	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.6	280 of 915	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.2	231 of 893	74.1%	★★★★☆
2021	63.5	222 of 843	73.7%	★★★★☆
2019	45.1	487 of 865	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.5	602 of 851	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.6	768 of 1434	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	66.3	374 of 1437	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	73.6	259 of 1450	82.1%	★★★★☆
2023	55.2	596 of 1437	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.8	431 of 1366	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.4	563 of 1329	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.8	814 of 1361	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.7	640 of 1332	52.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.6	745 of 1451	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.4	639 of 1450	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.1	850 of 1464	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.0	1015 of 1461	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.9	767 of 1464	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	58.7	569 of 1444	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.6	830 of 1430	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.6	554 of 1413	60.8%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.1	644 of 815	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.3	506 of 821	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.3	573 of 801	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.4	846 of 1146	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	46.0	671 of 1172	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.4	802 of 1166	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.7	929 of 1183	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.1	759 of 1194	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.1	736 of 1172	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.0	1013 of 1183	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.3	884 of 1178	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2026)96th percentile+48 vs school

African American (2026)95th percentile+47 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)76th percentile+24 vs school

Male (2026)49th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)46th percentile~ school

Female (2026)44th percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)32nd percentile-23 vs school

Hispanic (2026)30th percentile-19 vs school

White (2026)26th percentile-22 vs school

Special Education (2026)21st percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science84%+17 vs state

Mathematics58%-5 vs state

Reading50%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Lowell Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lowell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1500 Power Drive	Lowell	28098	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9118	367	28	12.9	—	177 (48.2%)	72 (19.6%)	74 (20.2%)	20 (5.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.0%)	47.6	773^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	48.2%		54.1	668^th of 1490 public elementary schools	55.2%	105	46.8	55.2	74.1	41.9	44.8	63.8	84.5	97%	3%	$8,896	$1,107	$7,789
McAdenville Elementary	Public	K-5	275 E Wesleyan Drive	Mc Adenville	28101	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9117	190	11	17.3	—	94 (49.5%)	31 (16.3%)	44 (23.2%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.5%)	83.3	202^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	86.5%		72.6	354^th of 1490 public elementary schools	76.2%	152	81.3	86.7	79.3	56.3	73.3	72.4	89.7	100%	0%	$12,737	$1,535	$11,202
North Belmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	210 School Street	Belmont	28012	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9135	371	26	14.2	—	172 (46.4%)	29 (7.8%)	133 (35.8%)	17 (4.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.9%)	55.3	650^th of 1492 public elementary schools	56.4%		70.6	380^th of 1490 public elementary schools	74.5%	270	59.3	73.1	67.2	45.8	63.5	53.7	70.1	94.9%	3.4%	$10,302	$1,927	$8,375
Catawba Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	101 Ivey Street	Belmont	28012	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9119	238	20	11.9	—	120 (50.4%)	23 (9.7%)	68 (28.6%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.4%)	59.7	588^th of 1492 public elementary schools	60.6%		56.6	620^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.4%	32	54.5	65.2	66.7	54.5	56.5	64.3	85.7	92.5%	2.5%	$10,876	$1,354	$9,522
Gardner Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	738 Armstrong Park Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6082	560	39	14.4	—	126 (22.5%)	186 (33.2%)	193 (34.5%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (7.9%)	18.7	1303^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	12.7%		18.5	1308^th of 1490 public elementary schools	12.2%	5	36.7	54.0	35.5	35.8	47.8	34.4	52.7	92.5%	1.1%	$9,619	$1,304	$8,314
Belmont Central Elementary	Public	2-5	310 Eagle Road	Belmont	28012	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9137	693	36	19.4	33.9%	492 (71.0%)	69 (10.0%)	88 (12.7%)	17 (2.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.6%)	84.8	183^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	87.7%		77.4	286^th of 1490 public elementary schools	80.8%	103	84.7	76.2	78.0	73.6	70.5	71.1	82.1			$7,586	$686	$6,900
Brookside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1925 Auten Rd.	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6283	512	34	15.2	—	171 (33.4%)	162 (31.6%)	137 (26.8%)	5 (1.0%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (6.3%)	17.2	1332^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	10.7%		16.6	1331^st of 1490 public elementary schools	10.7%	1	55.8	40.0	32.9	46.8	42.5	32.9	41.1	94.6%	0%	$9,017	$1,395	$7,622
Sherwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1744 Dixon Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6609	553	34	16.3	—	86 (15.6%)	239 (43.2%)	164 (29.7%)	11 (2.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (9.2%)	30.2	1091^st of 1492 public elementary schools	26.9%		10.6	1410^th of 1490 public elementary schools	5.4%	319	56.2	63.5	40.0	34.2	54.1	41.4	52.9	93.8%	0%	$8,790	$1,325	$7,465
Ida Rankin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 W Central Avenue	Mount Holly	28120	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9136	533	37	14.2	97.6%	266 (49.9%)	128 (24.0%)	91 (17.1%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (7.9%)	66.2	487^th of 1492 public elementary schools	67.4%		62.2	527^th of 1490 public elementary schools	64.6%	40	65.1	59.3	86.7	60.2	56.0	72.0	77.3	96.3%	3.7%	$8,721	$1,006	$7,715
J B Page Primary School	Public	PK, KG-1	215 Ewing Drive	Belmont	28012	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9116	396	27	14.8	34.6%	281 (71.0%)	37 (9.3%)	42 (10.6%)	14 (3.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.3%)								(n/a)								98.7%	1.3%	$8,892	$635	$8,257

Frequently Asked Questions about Lowell Elementary

Is Lowell Elementary a good school?

Lowell Elementary ranks 773^rd of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Lowell Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 367 students attended Lowell Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Lowell Elementary attend?

Students who attend Lowell Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Holbrook Middle
High : Ashbrook High

What district is Lowell Elementary in?

Gaston County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Lowell Elementary?

Students at Lowell Elementary are 48% White, 20% Hispanic, 20% African American, 6% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.