jackiedoherty.org

I was thrilled to see Lowell mentioned in Sunday’s Boston Globe Magazine on March 25 as one of “The Hot Five” places for affordable real estate. However, a quick scan of the piece brought immediate disappointment when I realized the reporter, Kimberly Blanton, although complimentary about Lowell “becoming a cultural mecca” with a “beautiful old downtown area” also wrote: “Lowell’s school system is considered troubled by some, but its special education program excels, and St. Michael Parish School is a good private alternative. New parents might consider moving across the Merrimack River to Dracut for better schools and single-family homes under $300,000.”

Nothing against Dracut, but I can’t help wondering where Ms. Blanton got the information for her indictment against the Lowell Public Schools? Did she consider our high school graduation rate, which according to a recent state report, was about 10 percent higher than other urban school systems? Was she thinking of the fact, which was headlined in her own paper last fall, that Lowell was one of only three urban school districts that had 50% or more of its tenth graders score proficient or advanced on MCAS? Or could Ms. Blanton have been thinking about our Latin Lyceum Academy where our kids out perform most public high schools in the state? I know Ms. Blanton was not thinking of our athletics, band, and chess programs, just to name a few, where Lowell students have consistently achieved divisional, state, and even national recognition.

Ms. Blanton’s disregard for the many positive aspects of this district does a disservice to the people educating our youth and those whose children attend our schools. Facing the challenges any urban system must, Lowell schools are not perfect, but we make progress everyday in the quality of education our children receive. I, for one, am proud to have my children in the Lowell schools and to be part of an ongoing effort to be the best urban school system in the state.