Lowell, in the heart of Belmont Shore, is repeatedly recognized as among the top-scoring schools in the vaunted Long Beach Unified School District. It usually has a waiting list for students to transfer in from other campuses. Students in the neighborhood have priority, but the district has an open enrollment policy. This school has been a California Distinguished School each of the past three award years (2008, 2004, 2000), with the Academic Performance Indicator (API) test scores always over the 900 mark.
Extensive PTA-funded programs range from the Meet the Masters art program to a unique yearly Authors & Illustrators Night, which is free to the 250 family members who are led by published writers, graphic novelists, animators and screenwriters in creating their own work.
Lowell has a Learning Garden and is also an official Monarch (butterfly) Way Station.