After a summer of shuffling, Capitol Hill’s Lowell Elementary is now looking for a new principal. In a statement emailed to parents Wednesday morning, principal Gregory King announced he is leaving Seattle Schools to take a job in Tacoma:

I am writing today to inform you that I will be leaving my role as principal at Lowell Elementary to take the position as principal at Bryant, a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school in Tacoma, Washington. I will remain at Lowell until the Seattle Public Schools announces my successor.

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 This has been a difficult decision for me, as I have enjoyed working with the Lowell families for the past three years. We have amazing teachers, instructional assistants, support staff, students and families here at Lowell.  I will miss seeing your students as they come through the door, ready to learn, every day.

 I know our dedicated staff at Lowell will continue their good work through the end of the school year.

 Thank you for your continued support of Lowell and for your dedication to your students’ education. I wish you all the best.

A Seattle Schools rep said the search for a new principal will include meetings in coming weeks with executive director of central Seattle schools Nancy Koogan and Lowell parents.

The summer of 2011 was marked by debate over how to handle overcrowding in the “accelerated progress program” at the school. The solution — for this year, at least — was to split the program across the city.

King also dealt with criticism of the school after a December SWAT manhunt locked down the E Mercer campus after a parent chaperoning a Lowell field trip was recognized as a member of Washington’s Most Wanted.

According to King’s statement, he will remain in the Lowell job until a new principal is found.