Saved Schools

Lowell Elementary

Lowell Elementary, nominated by an anonymous organization, is an elementary school in Missoula, Montana, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban/rural area.

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Location Missoula, Montana

Governance Public District School

Grades Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary

Students 370

Locale Rural, Urban

Principal Rae Cooper

Demographics

Percentage of students*

10%

English Learners

75%

Free/Reduced Lunch

31%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 3%

American Indian/Alaska Native 10%

Asian 6%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino 3%

White 70%

2+ Races —

Why Lowell Elementary was nominated

Lowell Elementary leverages Arts Integration has a dynamic approach to teaching where students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form. This method goes beyond traditional activities by embedding the arts into core academic subjects, allowing students to explore and express concepts in innovative ways. Through arts-based projects, students engage in effective communication, agile thinking, skilled collaboration and confident learning. This model includes a local artist residency at each grade level, where teacher and artist collaborate on a learner-centered unit of study.

Student experience design

At Lowell Elementary, the student experience is shaped by intentional, wraparound support. Every child deserves to feel known, challenged, and cared for, and that belief drives everything we do. When students feel safe and genuinely connected to the adults around them, they are free to take risks, engage deeply, and grow into confident learners. Lowell's arts integration approach reflects this same commitment. By connecting academic content with visual art, music, movement, and theater, students have multiple ways to access and make sense of their learning. This isn't enrichment layered on top of academics; it is how learning happens at Lowell. As a Leader in Me School, Lowell is deeply invested in student agency. Students set goals, reflect on their progress, and take on meaningful leadership roles in their classrooms and school community. Leadership is not reserved for a select few; it is something every student practices and grows into. These commitments work together to create something greater than the sum of their parts. Students at Lowell are supported at every level, encouraged to own their learning, and prepared to contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Student Advisories
3-4 years

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning
3-4 years

Community And Workforce Partnerships
3-4 years

All Practices

Adaptive Learning Software

AI-assisted Tutoring

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Co-leadership

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

No Tracked Classes

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

High Quality Instructional Materials

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

SEL Integration School-wide

Service Learning

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating

Improve school culture

Increase student agency

Some other reason

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.