Board approves Lowell admissions change to include Willie Brown band-3 qualifiers after heated public debate

The San Francisco Board of Education on Oct. 9 approved a change to student assignment and Lowell High School admissions policy that allows eighth-graders from Willie Brown Middle School who meet the district’s band-3 thresholds to qualify for admission to Lowell.

Supporters argued the policy corrects longstanding inequities at one of the city’s most selective high schools. "For too long, SFUSD has allowed Lowell to operate as an exclusionary island separate and apart from the other schools in our city," civil-rights attorney Annie Lee told the board in public comment. "If the board truly wants to provide equitable access to underserved students, you need to meet them where they are."

Alumni and some community members urged delay and more study, saying the district should ensure retention supports. "This proposal as currently written creates more problems than it solves," said Terry Abad, executive director of the Lowell Alumni Association, who criticized how the policy uses a 64-point threshold and called for mentoring and transition programs to support admitted students.

Superintendent Dr. Matthews and board supporters framed the change as a targeted step toward reversing racial isolation and expanding opportunity, noting the district’s adoption of more holistic admissions approaches elsewhere. Commissioner Norton said the measure is aimed squarely at increasing access for Black students underrepresented at Lowell. Commissioner Haney added: "We have to be able to ensure that all of our students can be successful... It is a public school system."

Speakers at the board meeting included alumni, parents, advocacy organizations (APAC, NAACP, Alliance of Black School Educators), and Supervisor Katie Tang. Several witnesses said transportation, mentoring and retention programs would be necessary complements if the policy were implemented.

After the public comment and board discussion, the board voted to approve both P5101 (student assignment) and P5120.1 (Lowell admissions). The adoption carried on a roll-call vote in open session (6 ayes recorded).

The board and speakers repeatedly emphasized that the change is an enrollment-policy decision; supporters said it is one step in a broader effort to address equity and school culture at Lowell, while opponents pressed for additional planning on supports and clearer metrics to evaluate outcomes. The board did not adopt the additional implementation details or a named mentoring program at the meeting; proponents said follow-up work and consultations were expected.