by George J Elbaum
Lowell High School is a public magnet school which opened in 1856 and is the oldest public high school west of the Mississippi. With enrollment of approximately 2,600 students (50% Asian, 18% White, 14% Hispanic, 8% Filipino, and 10% all other), the Lowell admission process is competitive and based on a combination of standardized test scores, GPA, a writing sample, and extracurricular activities. As a result, its students’ test scores have historically ranked among the Top 10 Public Schools in California, making it the 2nd highest ranking school in California with over 2,000 students, and #85 in National Rankings.
In addition to its stellar academic performance, Lowell has one of the most active student bodies in San Francisco, with over 84 academic organizations, athletic teams and student interest clubs. In athletics, Lowell has competitive teams in 17 sports plus cheerleading, and these teams claim more city championships than any other public high school in San Francisco.
My talk to 500 9th and 10th grade students was my 2nd time speaking at Lowell, and it was again organized by Modern World History teacher Erin Hanlon-Young. It was arranged by JFCS Holocaust Center’s Director Morgan Blum Schneider and Office Manager Patrick Dunne.
Neither Yesterdays Nor Tomorrows 