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Lowell, WisconsinPhoto: Wonder al · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Lowell · Dodgeland School District, Waterloo School District

Lowell’s public schools score below 65% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduation

28% of students in Lowell’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Wisconsin average (39%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lowell, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Wisconsin, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Wisconsin state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
34%
▼ 4 pts vs WI 38%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 11 pts vs WI 39%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▼ 0–4 pts vs WI 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.2K
▲ 4% vs WI $16.5K
FY2024 · Waterloo
Students per teacher
12.3
WI 13.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
1,319 students on the public path
In brief

Lowell’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1158 Wisconsin towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lowell’s, its schools beat 25%, lower than their 35% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 34% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 38% and 39% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin (the state reports Lowell’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Dodgeland spends $17,435 per student and Waterloo $17,167, against $16,459 across Wisconsin (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Lowell’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 35% of Wisconsin school districts. Graduation is above the Wisconsin average; test scores are below it.

Wisconsin school districts we grade (441)Better than 35%
Lower resultsHigher results
Wisconsin towns with similar household incomes (1158)Better than 25%
Towns in Dodge County (23)Better than 4%
C−B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 778 test results and a graduating class of 69 could put Lowell anywhere from C− to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Lowell’s students in the tested grades sat them (780 in math, 778 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lowell, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to C+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressD to B−

Lowell runs its own schools through grade 12 (Dodgeland School District). From grade PK, students attend the Waterloo School District, shared with Portland, Waterloo and Waterloo. Its elementary school is in Juneau. Parts of Lowell (17% and 2% of its land) are served by Beaver Dam and Watertown instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Lowell

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Dodgeland School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 688 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$17,435WI $16,459 · FY2024
B−
Waterloo School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 745 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 12.6 per teacher (WI 13.6)
$17,167WI $16,459 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Dodgeland School District39%
State average 38.1% · 389 students tested
Math · PK–12, Dodgeland School District31%
State average 38.7% · 392 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Waterloo School District30%
State average 38.1% · 389 students tested
Math · PK–12, Waterloo School District25%
State average 38.7% · 388 students tested

Lowell vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Wisconsin towns that share Lowell’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LowellC+Dodgeland PK–12 · Waterloo PK–12
Shields—Watertown
Beaver DamC+Beaver Dam
ElbaB−Columbus
CalamusB−Beaver Dam PK–12 · Columbus PK–12 · Fall River PK–12
PortlandC−Waterloo
Clyman—Dodgeland
Oak GroveB+Dodgeland PK–12 · Horicon PK–12
EmmetC+Watertown

2 of the 8 neighbors share Dodgeland with Lowell for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Lowell

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Wisconsin’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Lowellin other towns
Dodgeland Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Juneau
C+
315 students13:1Rate it →
Waterloo Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Waterloo
C
281 students11:1Rate it →
Dodgeland Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Juneau
C
140 students12:1Rate it →
Waterloo Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Waterloo
C−
118 students15:1Rate it →
Dodgeland High
High · Grades 9–12 · Juneau
D
233 students11:1Rate it →
Waterloo High
High · Grades 9–12 · Waterloo
B−
232 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Lowell’s schools

Are Lowell’s schools good?

On Wisconsin’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lowell children attend score below 65% of Wisconsin’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 25%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lowell in?

Two districts: Dodgeland School District runs grades PK–12, and Waterloo School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Portland, Waterloo and Waterloo.

Where do Lowell kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Dodgeland High and Waterloo High.

What is Lowell’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Waterloo School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Wisconsin.

How much does Lowell spend per student?

$17,435 in Dodgeland School District and $17,167 in Waterloo School District (FY2024), against $16,459 across Wisconsin. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lowell families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lowell → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Wisconsin. Stars are from neighbors.