Lowell High School is a single-campus public high school located in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. The school is a part of Lowell Public Schools. Lowell High's current enrollment is 4,019 students, making it the second largest high school in the state, behind only Brockton and also one of the largest high schools by enrollment in the country.
| Lowell High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Lowell, Massachusetts | |
| Information | |
| Established | 1831 |
| Superintendent | Dr. Chris A. Scott |
| Head of school | Edward J. Rozmiarek |
| Mascot | Red Raider |
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Lowell, Massachusetts was incorporated as a town in 1826. Lowell High School opened in 1831, as the first co-educational high school in the United States with 47 female and male students. One of its earliest homes was a small brick building on Middlesex Street owned by the Hamilton Manufacturing Company.[1] From their inception, Lowell's public schools were integrated. African American Caroline Van Vronker was a student at Lowell High School in 1843, at a time when every public high school in Massachusetts and the United States was segregated.[2] In 1840, the high school moved into a new building located between Kirk Street and Anne Street along the Merrimack Canal. Over the next 100 years, the school campus expanded.[3] In 1922, a large new building was built along Kirk Street and in the 1980s another building was built on the opposite side of the Merrimack Canal with connecting walkways over the canal. There are now three major buildings with one limited to the Freshman Academy. Current enrollment is over 4000 students.
Lowell High School has 4,000 racially and ethnically diverse students. Lowell High School has a variety of different programs, including Hospitality Academy, Communication Academy, and Lowell Latin Lyceum. Each of these programs provide learning experiences that prepare students for their fields of interests and advanced education. The Hosptality Academy creates a professional environment for students through “hands-on” training in a student-operated Daniel P. Kane Courtyard Restaurant. Students complete this program with a portfolio and enough experience to secure a position within the Food Service/Hospitality Industry or to further their careers through higher education. The Cummication Academy offers teaching in the art of communication with an emphasis on inquiry, reading, writing, research, and presentation skills. Advanced-level multimedia instruction includes journalism, video production, graphic design and photography. The Lowell Latin Lyceum is a rigorous four year accelerated program that requires a competitive exam to enter. The Latin Lyceum challenges students to an intellectually stimulating environment that emphasizes a classical education. Students take Honors, High Honors, and Advanced Placement level courses.
The mascot of Lowell High School is the Red Raider and the school colors are Crimson Red & Gray.
The ultimate symbol of academic achievement at Lowell High School is the Carney Medal. Each year, the top three male and top three female students of the graduating class are presented with this medal. This marked the first recognition of girls for academic achievement in high school. The award was established in 1859 by James G. Carney, a successful businessman and banker.
Lowell High School is a member of the highly competitive Merrimack Valley Conference.
In the 2007-2008 season, their basketball team went 22-2, ranking 30th in the nation at seasons end, and made it all the way to the eastern Massachusetts finals where they lost to Central Catholic of Lawrence.
Established in 1967, The Lowell High Wrestling team has won over 16 Division 1 State Titles and has fielded over 70 individual State Champions, more than 30 New England Champions and several High School All Americans and many NCAA Division I wrestlers. Coaches George Bossi and Timothy O'Keefe have found particular success in recent years, most notably winning a New England Title in 2007. With rivals in nearby Chelmsford High School, and further away in New Hampshire's Timberlane High School and Connecticut's Danbury High School, Lowell has made its mark on the New England Wrestling scene. Lowell Wrestling has also been considered one of the elite programs in the nation in recent years, capturing State titles in 2004, 2005, 2006 (Partial), 2007 and 2008.
The Lowell High Crew team is among the elite public rowing schools in the state. Rowing out of the Bellegarde Boathouse, Lowell High Rowing boasts a variety of novice and varsity boats that compete throughout the region. In 2007 the Men's Varsity Light-Weight 8 won their Regional event in Worcester, MA and earned the right to compete at the National Youth Rowing Championships in Ohio. The boys 1st, 2nd and 3rd varsity eights all took home silver medals at the Massachusetts State Championships making them the 2nd best team in the state. In 2007 and 2008 the Men's and Women's team raced at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA. In 2009 both the Men's and Women's lightweight fours qualified for nationals at the Regional event in Worcester, MA. At the National Championships in Cincinnati, OH the girls and boys placed 14th and 5th, respectfully, in the country.
The Lowell High Cross Country is very competitive in the MIAA Division 1. In 2009 they took home the Eastern Massachusetts Championship title with a score of 67 beating out the closest contender, Methuen, with a score of 107. In 2009 they also faced an almost undefeated season suffering only one loss to Methuen High School. In 2010 the cross country team went undefeated in the Merrimack Valley Conference for a record of 9-0, with a JV team not defeated by a single runner in the conference. The Lowell Cross Country team repeated its victory at the Eastern Massachusetts Championships in 2010, winning it for the second straight year. In 2011, they had another undefeated season with a record of 9-0 in the Merrimack Valley Conference.
Lowell High Hockey was a Division 1 Power House from Early Years up through 1986 when a Hazing incident of 2 Hockey Players almost crumbled the Program, After two hockey players suffered serious injuries, the school superintendent merely banned practices run by hockey team captains until the victim's parents protested,prompting five suspensions of veteran players.
The Lowell high boys hockey team has been successful over the years making the Division III state tournament for 10 straight years. They also were also the Division III North Champions in 2005. Also in 2006 Lowell High Hockey tied the record for most wins in a season (20) with the 2003 team.
Three Stars *** Indicate: Lowell High School - Distinguished Alumni Award
Two Stars ** Indicate: Lowell High School - Athletic Hall of Fame