Lowell Area Schools

{{Short description|School district headquartered in Lowell, Michigan, United States}}

{{Infobox school district

| name = {{PAGENAMEBASE}}

| address = 300 High Street{{cite web| author= Lowell Area Schools| title= Lowell Area Schools| url= https://www.lowellschools.com| access-date= April 6, 2025}}

| city = Lowell

| county = Kent

| state = Michigan

| zipcode = 49331

| country = United States

| type = Public

| us_nces_district_id = {{NCES District ID|2622050 |district_name=Lowell Area Schools |access_date=April 6, 2025}}

| grades = PreK–12

| superintendent = Nate Fowler{{cite web| author= Lowell Area Schools| title= Superintendent| url= https://www.lowellschools.com/our-district/superintendent/| access-date= April 6, 2025}}

| budget = $67,148,000 expenditures 2021-2022

| students = 3,436 (2023–2024)

| teachers = 193.13 (2023-2024) FTE

| staff = 410.68 (2023-2024) FTE

| ratio = 17.79:1

| website = {{URL2|https://www.lowellschools.com}}

}}

Lowell Area Schools (LAS) is a school district serving Lowell, Michigan.

In addition to Lowell itself, the school district serves parts of the following townships in Kent County: Ada, Bowne, Cascade, Cannon, Grattan, Lowell and Vergennes.{{cite web| author= Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget| title= Kent County School Districts| url= https://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_KENT%20COUNTY.pdf| access-date= April 6, 2025}} In Ionia County, it serves parts of Boston Township, Campbell Township, and Keene Township.{{cite web| author= Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget| title= Ionia County School Districts| url= https://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_IONIA%20COUNTY.pdf| access-date= April 6, 2025}}

History

In 1838, Lowell built the first schoolhouse between Grand Rapids and Ionia. In 1862, the town upgraded to a union school, which was organized with a modern grading system. The building had two stories, was made of wood, and had a central cupola with a bell. It was known as the "Old White Schoolhouse." In the 1870s, elementary schools were built in the town and the union school served high school students.

A new Lowell High School was built in 1916.{{cite news| last= LaPonsie| first= Maryalene| title= The ABCs of Lowell History: U is for Union Graded School| date= November 3, 2021| publisher= Lowell's First Look| url= https://lowellsfirstlook.com/the-abcs-of-lowell-history-u-is-for-union-graded-school/}} It was located at the southwest corner of N. Monroe Street and King Street.{{cite book| author= Editorial staff of Lowell High School yearbook| title= 1958 Retrospectus (Lowell High School Yearbook)| page= aerial photo p. 1}} It continued to serve until fall 1963, when it was replaced by a building at 750 Foreman Road. The architectural firm of the 1963 building was Post-McMillen-Palmer.{{cite news| title= Architects show work| date= November 6, 1962| publisher= Grand Rapids Press| page= 33}} That building became Lowell Middle School when the current Lowell High School opened in 1994.{{cite news| last= Maliepaard| first= John M.| date= June 16, 1994| title= Open house at new high school a success| publisher= The Grand Rapids Press| page= East section 13}}{{cite book| author= Editorial staff of Lowell High School Yearbook| title= Too Much Class 1994 (Lowell High School Yearbook)| page= 1}} Renovations and several additions were completed at the middle school in 2023.{{cite news| last= Smith| first= Michelle| title= Lowell Middle School Ribbon Cutting and Open House Draws Crowd| date= August 31, 2023| publisher= Lowell's First Look| url= https://lowellsfirstlook.com/lowell-middle-school-ribbon-cutting-and-open-house-draws-crowd/}}

Schools

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of Schools in the Lowell Area Schools District{{cite web\| author= Lowell Area Schools\| title= Lowell Area Schools\| url= https://www.lowellschools.com\| access-date= April 6, 2025}} ! School !! Address !! Notes
Lowell High School	11700 Vergennes, Lowell	Grades 9-12. Opened fall 1994.{{cite news\| last= Maliepaard\| first= John M.\| date= June 16, 1994\| title= Open house at new high school a success\| publisher= The Grand Rapids Press\| page= East section 13}}
Unity Alternative High School	300 High St., Lowell	Alternative high school headquartered at administration building.
Lowell Middle School	750 Foreman Road, Lowell	Grades 6-8. Renovation project completed fall 2023.{{cite news\| last= Smith\| first= Michelle\| title= Lowell Middle School Ribbon Cutting and Open House Draws Crowd\| date= August 31, 2023\| publisher= Lowell's First Look\| url= https://lowellsfirstlook.com/lowell-middle-school-ribbon-cutting-and-open-house-draws-crowd/}} Formerly Lowell High School.{{cite book\| author= Editorial staff of Lowell High School Yearbook\| title= Too Much Class 1994 (Lowell High School Yearbook)\| page= 1}}
Alto Elementary School	6150 Bancroft, Alto	Grades K-5
Bushnell Elementary School	700 Elizabeth St., Lowell	Grades K-1
Cherry Creek Elementary School	12675 Foreman Road, Lowell	Grades 2-5
Murray Lake Elementary School	3275 Alden Nash NE, Lowell	Grades K-5
Yieter Learning Center	320 Amity, Lowell	Preschool
The Wittenbach-Wege Agriscience and Environmental Center	11715 Vergennes, Lowell	Natural sciences center

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.lowellschools.com}}

Category:School districts in Michigan

Category:Education in Kent County, Michigan

Category:Education in Ionia County, Michigan