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Lowell Elementary

Q: Is Lowell Elementary a good school?

Lowell Elementary ranks 340 th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

340^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,039 Wisconsin Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of Wisconsin elementary schools

Summary

Lowell Elementary is a PK–5 school in Madison, Wisconsin, serving 329 students as part of the Madison Metropolitan School District. In 2025–2026, Lowell ranked 340th of 1,039 Wisconsin schools — 67th percentile, 3 stars — well above its district's statewide standing of 321st of 432 districts (26th percentile, 1 star). The school's rank history has swung widely: 27th percentile in 2015–2016, 86th percentile in 2020–2021, 44th percentile in 2023–2024, and back up to 67th percentile in 2025–2026, making the recent rebound one of the more notable patterns in the data.

Latest Forward Exam results are strong. Lowell beats the district in every listed subject and grade, and beats the state in math at all three grade levels, 4th and 5th grade ELA, 4th grade social studies, and 4th grade science. Its 4th grade science score of 75.93% is the highest among all nearby schools listed, including Winnequah School (72.92%) and Marquette Elementary (72.13%). Averaged across grades 3–5, Lowell's ELA proficiency is about 60.95% versus 48.95% district and 53.19% state; math is about 58.19% versus 45.09% district and 53.14% state. The clearest academic weak point is 3rd grade ELA, at 47.83% — above the district but below the state's 52.08%. Among nearby schools, only Marquette (80th percentile, 4 stars) and Winnequah (79th percentile, 4 stars) rank higher overall; Lowell sits ahead of Elvehjem Elementary, Nuestro Mundo, Emerson Elementary, Dr Virginia Henderson Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary, Schenk Elementary, and Hawthorne Elementary.

Chronic absenteeism has improved markedly, from 34.2% in 2021–2022 to 22.9% in 2024–2025 — better than the district's 29.6% but still above Wisconsin's 17.3%. Lowell spends $21,086 per student, less than most same-district peers, with a student-teacher ratio of 11.7 and a free/reduced lunch rate of 44.68%. The biggest concern is uneven school effectiveness across student groups: ratings are high for white students (93rd percentile) and male students (72nd percentile), and lower for low-income students (24th percentile, up from 7th), African American students (7th percentile in 2023–2024), and English Language Learner students (9th percentile in 2022–2023). These are measures of how well the school serves each group, not judgments about the students themselves.

329

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,086

Per pupil spending ?

44.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

91%

Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements (2025-26)

401 Maple Ave
Madison, WI 53704-5894

(608) 204-6600

District: Madison Metropolitan School District

Students who attend Lowell Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	O'Keeffe Middle
High:	East High

Racial breakdown:

White:

51.1%

African American:

25.5%

Hispanic:

11.6%

See top rated Wisconsin elementary schools

Compare Lowell Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 27th percentile in 2016 → 67th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Wisconsin average (64% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 40 percentile points since 2016

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Madison Metropolitan School District

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg49%

Wisconsin avg55%

340^th of 1,039

Wisconsin public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 41 pts since 2016

From bottom 27% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 29Elementary Schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District

321^st of 432Madison Metropolitan School District among Wisconsin 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	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	68.4	340 of 1039	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.6	467 of 1044	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.3	589 of 1061	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.1	528 of 1067	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.0	301 of 1067	71.8%	★★★★☆
2021	80.2	147 of 1050	86.0%	★★★★☆
2019	78.1	169 of 1037	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	62.6	383 of 1025	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	43.8	671 of 1071	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	33.9	789 of 1075	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	51.7	605 of 1076	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	57.1	482 of 1061	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.7	345 of 1053	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	40.1	815 of 1045	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	43.4	765 of 1046	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	34.3	821 of 1045	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	32.0	840 of 1030	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	45.9	704 of 1021	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	59.1	358 of 689	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	36.6	548 of 712	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	50.2	398 of 632	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2024	19.4	128 of 137	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.6	116 of 138	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.4	115 of 133	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.6	124 of 141	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.3	160 of 161	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	42.2	76 of 165	53.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	23.5	226 of 249	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	26.1	212 of 248	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.9	107 of 275	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	14.1	284 of 287	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	50.9	547 of 986	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.9	465 of 1001	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.7	517 of 1011	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.1	422 of 1010	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.6	207 of 1017	79.6%	★★★★☆
2021	81.9	124 of 1004	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.4	202 of 1002	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	52.7	520 of 997	47.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2018	66.9	63 of 271	76.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	31.0	646 of 848	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.8	790 of 870	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.1	802 of 866	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.9	793 of 871	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.9	710 of 859	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.1	665 of 847	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.5	575 of 874	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.3	531 of 854	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	70.7	279 of 989	71.8%	★★★★☆
2025	58.7	439 of 1000	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.2	582 of 1012	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.1	585 of 1011	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	60.2	395 of 1017	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.5	222 of 1003	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	78.8	146 of 1002	85.4%	★★★★☆
2018	71.9	236 of 997	76.3%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	57.6	59 of 142	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	29.1	69 of 96	28.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.7	41 of 77	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	77.4	14 of 85	83.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	60.7	259 of 791	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	43.0	454 of 802	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.4	453 of 790	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	67.7	180 of 770	76.6%	★★★★☆
2022	68.3	157 of 748	79.0%	★★★★☆
2021	87.8	36 of 746	95.2%	★★★★★
2019	71.2	133 of 742	82.1%	★★★★☆
2018	62.3	206 of 721	71.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2026	86.3	49 of 697	93.0%	★★★★★
2025	80.9	95 of 718	86.8%	★★★★☆
2024	88.8	27 of 727	96.3%	★★★★★
2023	84.2	61 of 715	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	84.7	54 of 704	92.3%	★★★★★
2021	88.4	33 of 699	95.3%	★★★★★
2019	91.5	22 of 718	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	81.1	85 of 686	87.6%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2026)93rd percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2018)77th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2026)72nd percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2026)67th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)58th percentile-9 vs school

Female (2026)45th percentile-23 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)24th percentile-43 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)9th percentile-41 vs school

African American (2024)7th percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2025-2026) ?

Science76%+22 vs state

Social Studies74%+9 vs state

English Language Arts62%+8 vs state

Mathematics58%+5 vs state

4.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Friday, January 31, 2014

Excellent 4 K teachers good to children, very devoted to this what they do. Great job! Close Quote

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)				Forward Exam English Language Arts (2026)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2026)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2026)	Forward Exam Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	Forward Exam English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 4th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 5th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 3rd Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 4th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 5th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 4th Grade	Forward Exam Science 4th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners meeting all minimum immunization requirements	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lowell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	401 Maple Ave	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-6600	329	28	11.7	44.7%	168 (51.1%)	84 (25.5%)	38 (11.6%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (9.4%)	68.4	340^th of 1039 public elementary schools	67.3%		59.6	467^th of 1044 public elementary schools	55.3%	127	47.8	72.2	62.8	60.9	55.6	58.1	74.1	75.9	91%		$21,086	$695	$20,391
Emerson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2421 E Johnson St	Madison	53704	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-2000	297	30	9.9	54.2%	128 (43.1%)	80 (26.9%)	44 (14.8%)	7 (2.4%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (11.4%)	39.9	724^th of 1039 public elementary schools	30.3%		41.2	712^th of 1044 public elementary schools	31.8%	12	50.0	49.2	41.2	41.7	40.3	38.2	55.6	55.6	83%		$23,216	$1,144	$22,073
Schenk Elementary	Public	K-5	230 Schenk St	Madison	53714	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-1500	394	42	9.4	58.1%	116 (29.4%)	79 (20.1%)	138 (35.0%)	20 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (10.4%)	19	873^rd of 1039 public elementary schools	16.0%		19.6	876^th of 1044 public elementary schools	16.1%	3	22.2	35.9	31.6	22.2	26.9	24.6	52.6	41.0	93%		$25,633	$1,089	$24,545
Marquette Elementary	Public	3-5	1501 Jenifer St	Madison	53703	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-3220	169	15	11.1	36.1%	97 (57.4%)	41 (24.3%)	13 (7.7%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (7.7%)	77.2	209^th of 1039 public elementary schools	79.9%		70.1	315^th of 1044 public elementary schools	69.8%	106	70.4	75.4	63.0	70.4	65.6	55.6	80.3	72.1			$20,381	$527	$19,854
Hawthorne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3344 Concord Ave	Madison	53714	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-2500	360	35	10.2	66.7%	65 (18.1%)	90 (25.0%)	117 (32.5%)	38 (10.6%)	8 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (11.7%)	17.5	887^th of 1039 public elementary schools	14.6%		15.3	904^th of 1044 public elementary schools	13.4%	17	18.6	34.8	29.0	9.3	32.6	31.6	54.4	32.6	83%		$22,157	$1,261	$20,896
Lapham Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	1045 E Dayton St	Madison	53703	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-4140	182	23	8.0	44.0%	105 (57.7%)	33 (18.1%)	16 (8.8%)	3 (1.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (12.6%)								(n/a)									89%		$21,320	$492	$20,829
Winnequah School	Public	PK, KG-5	800 Greenway Rd	Monona	53716	Dane County	Monona Grove School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 221-7677	602	51	11.8	20.3%	455 (75.6%)	21 (3.5%)	53 (8.8%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (10.8%)	77	214^th of 1039 public elementary schools	79.4%		78.1	189^th of 1044 public elementary schools	81.9%	25	74.5	72.9	59.7	67.4	71.9	57.9	80.2	72.9	94%		$16,598	$309	$16,289
Nuestro Mundo	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	4201 Buckeye Rd	Madison	53716	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-1079	311	28	11.1	40.8%	80 (25.7%)	10 (3.2%)	199 (64.0%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.8%)	42.1	695^th of 1039 public elementary schools	33.1%		46.7	634^th of 1044 public elementary schools	39.3%	61	45.1	46.7	55.8	54.9	31.1	60.5	48.9	42.2	≥ 95%		$22,479	$839	$21,640
Kennedy Elementary	Public	K-5	221 Meadowlark Dr	Madison	53714	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	Yes	(608) 204-3420	582	53	10.9	61.5%	174 (29.9%)	238 (40.9%)	62 (10.7%)	41 (7.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (11.3%)	19.4	869^th of 1039 public elementary schools	16.4%		13.3	920^th of 1044 public elementary schools	11.9%	51	21.9	42.9	21.4	33.3	31.9	20.0	47.8	42.9	71%		$23,491	$1,260	$22,230
Elvehjem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5106 Academy Dr	Madison	53716	Dane County	Madison Metropolitan School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 204-1400	415	31	13.6	36.6%	218 (52.5%)	51 (12.3%)	61 (14.7%)	23 (5.5%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (13.5%)	58.1	479^th of 1039 public elementary schools	53.9%		55.4	526^th of 1044 public elementary schools	49.6%	47	55.4	63.0	52.2	60.7	54.4	35.8	73.9	71.7	≥ 95%		$22,344	$491	$21,853

Frequently Asked Questions about Lowell Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Lowell Elementary?

Students at Lowell Elementary are 51% White, 26% African American, 12% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Lowell Elementary attend?

Students who attend Lowell Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : O'Keeffe Middle
High : East High

Is Lowell Elementary a good school?

Lowell Elementary ranks 340^th of 1039 Wisconsin elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Lowell Elementary in?

Madison Metropolitan School District

How many students attend Lowell Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 329 students attended Lowell Elementary.

Rate Lowell Elementary!

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Latest Wisconsin data All new data »

2018–19 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 20, 2026

2016–17 through 2017–18 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 ACT & Forward Exam scoresOct 1, 2026

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataJul 16, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Wisconsin Department 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.