Education in New Orleans has undergone a radical transformation over the past decade, resulting in incredible progress for a school system that’s unlike any other, according to a new report from the Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives at Tulane University.
After Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans in August 2005, the state-run Recovery School District took over most of New Orleans’ schools, largely due to poor academic performance. The new system was meant to stress choice in education, allowing families to have a say in which school their children attend rather than having their children assigned to a school based on geography. Today, more than 90 percent of New Orleans students attend charter schools.
“The academic performance of New Orleans’ schools has improved remarkably over the past ten years,” the report’s authors, Patrick Sims and Vincent Rossmeier, wrote. “With increasing test scores and graduation rates, everyone involved in education should feel proud of the progress made thus far.”
The reforms were wildly successful. In 2005, 62 percent of New Orleans students attended a failing school. Amazingly, that number has fallen to just seven percent today. Ten years ago, the graduation rate was nine percentage points lower in New Orleans compared to the state overall. Today, the graduation rates are virtually equal.
Compared to other public school districts, the New Orleans system is more decentralized, giving schools more autonomy and families more choice. Charter school administrators are accountable to their students, but don’t report to the local school board. This gives each school more freedom and control to do what’s best for its students. Importantly, students can apply to any school in the city under the open enrollment system.
Still, there’s more work to do. In terms of academic performance, the progress has been significant but not sufficient. Ten years ago, New Orleans outperformed only one other parish in the state. It now beats 25, leaving 38 other parishes ahead of the New Orleans system.
“The challenge now is for all those involved in the city’s public education system, from policymakers to parents to teachers, to build on these gains and help to make the future of New Orleans a model of excellence for the nation,” Sims and Rossmeier wrote.
