They Were Doubted as ‘Lottery Kids’—Now They’re Top Graduates

When the freshmen class entered San Francisco’s distinguished Lowell High School in the fall of 2021, they were labeled as “lottery kids,” a term that resonated throughout their four years. Unlike previous cohorts, the 621 students were selected through a random process largely due to a lack of academic data during the pandemic, rather than traditional merit-based criteria.This situation sparked debate within the community. Critics argued that these students did not belong, while proponents sought permanence in admissions changes aimed at increasing Black and Latino representation in an otherwise predominantly Asian American institution.Resuming merit-based admissions in fall 2023, the school scrutinized performance metrics from the lottery classes. Surprisingly, disparities in academic achievement were minimal. Average GPAs were close, and even SAT scores remained significantly above national averages.Though the lottery class faced increased attrition and challenges, the collective resilience displayed by these students, as articulated by salutatorian Benjamin Zhang, transcended the stigma associated with their lottery status, ultimately demonstrating their capacity to succeed against the odds.