Lowell has always taken great pride in its public schools, particularly the city's single high school. Established In 1831, Lowell High was, from the very beginning open to all regardless of race or gender. In an age before television and the internet, high school sport became prime sources of entertainment and local pride. In recent years, the city's two institutions of higher learning, Middlesex Community College and University of Massachusetts Lowell, have became leaders in innovation and community building. Throughout it all, the people of Lowell have demonstrated a generosity of spirit and a devotion to each other that provides a solid civic foundation for all other activities and enterprises.