Lowell High School

What makes this school special

The oldest public high school west of the Mississippi, and still SFUSD's academic flagship
Admissions is local legend: a pandemic lottery, then back to merit "bands" after a board recall
Has a reputation as a pressure cooker. There's even a documentary about it, Try Harder! (2021)
We have a guide to admissions here: Getting into Lowell

Academics

Curriculum

Extensive honors coursework across every department

Advanced Placement

31 AP courses

See the course list

World languages

French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

Schedule

Semester

Signature programs

Army JROTC
Lowell Science Research Program
Lowell Forensic Society (debate)
Early College Program (City College partnership)

UC admissions

In fall 2025, 443 students applied to the UC system from this school; 373 were admitted to at least one campus, and 201 enrolled.

See UC’s data

What these numbers can and can’t tell you

Athletics, arts & activities

Athletics · CIF San Francisco Section (AAA)

BadmintonBaseballBasketballCheerCross CountryFencingFlag Football (girls)FootballGolfSoccerSoftballSwimmingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling (boys)

Arts

Visual ArtMedia ArtsArchitectureCeramicsChoirBandGuitarOrchestraMusic TheoryDramaTechnical TheaterDance

Clubs & activities · 180+

The Lowell (newspaper)Forensic SocietyModel United NationsBlack Student UnionChinese Cultural ClubGirls Who CodeLowell Math SocietyChess ClubSurf ClubGirls Who CodeLowell Math SocietyQuiz BowlInvestment ClubMuslim Student AssociationPhotography ClubKey Club

See all clubs

Life there

Food

Free for all students (SFUSD)

Learning support

Special Education department; Wellness, Peer Resources, and tutoring

Notable alumni

Stephen Breyer (US Supreme Court Justice)
William Hewlett (HP co-founder)
Daniela Amodei (Anthropic co-founder)
Carol Channing (actress)
Dian Fossey (researcher)
Albert Michelson (Nobel physicist)

Applying

Key dates

Applications open: October 23, 2026
Application due: December 11, 2026
Star Reading & Math test (non-SFUSD applicants): Late January
Assignment letters mailed: Week of March 15, 2027
Accept assignment: March 25, 2027
Grades 10–12 transfer application due: June 28, 2027

The application

Unlike the rest of SFUSD, Lowell admits on academic merit rather than the citywide lottery. Applicants file the Lowell Supplemental Application through ParentVUE, SFUSD's family portal, by the early-December deadline and submit Star Reading and Math scores (the district test; non-SFUSD applicants sit it in late January) along with 7th- and 8th-grade transcripts and proof of San Francisco residency. Applicants are ranked into three admission bands by GPA and test score. A separate transfer window for grades 10–12 runs from mid-May to late June.

Application requirements

Lowell Supplemental Application via SFUSD ParentVUE
7th & 8th grade transcripts and proof of SF residency

Testing

Star Reading & Math required

Sources

Applying to Lowell | SFUSD — admissions bands, requirements, deadlines, the Star Reading & Math test (SFUSD's Winter Interim Assessment)
How to get into Lowell | SF Standard — merit/lottery history
Lowell High School | SFUSD — enrollment, clubs, departments, signature programs
Lowell Details | SFUSD — sports teams (no genders or seasons published)
Lowell World Language Dept | SFUSD — world languages
Lowell Visual & Performing Arts | SFUSD — arts disciplines
SFUSD Nutrition Services — free school meals
NCES Common Core of Data — Lowell High — student:teacher ratio, % students of color (2024-25)
Lowell High School | Wikipedia — founding, motto, AP breadth, sports, notable alumni
List of Lowell alumni | Wikipedia — notable alumni
SFUSD Grading Periods — two-semester (Fall/Spring) structure ("18 weeks in a semester")
CIF SF Section standings (2024-25 varsity) and season calendar — teams by sport and gender, sport seasons
Lowell Student Association — Clubs — the full club list; Lowell organizations | SFUSD — The Lowell (newspaper), Shield and Scroll, JROTC

Details checked August 2026

Lowell