Empowering Minds: Education and Schools in Our Community
Educational Excellence in America's Most Unique City
New Orleans offers a reimagined educational landscape shaped by $2.8 billion in post-Katrina investments. With high-performing charter schools, elite private institutions, immersive language programs, and vibrant arts and STEM opportunities, the city provides world-class academics in a community-oriented environment that values every child’s potential.
Public Charter Schools: Innovation and Excellence
- Benjamin Franklin High School: Louisiana’s #1 school, 28 AP courses, 100% college acceptance
- Lusher Charter School: Arts-integrated K-12, 98% graduation rate
- Lake Forest Elementary: Environmental science focus, outdoor learning labs
- Audubon Charter: French immersion & Montessori programs
- Warren Easton Charter: Historic high school with IB and AP offerings
- NOCCA: Public conservatory for the arts, audition-based
Selective Admissions and Gifted Programs
Selective schools like Benjamin Franklin and Haynes Academy provide rigorous academic environments for advanced learners, with STEM research, debate, Model UN, and enrichment through Tulane and LSU partnerships.
Language Immersion and International Programs
- Lycée Français: Full French immersion with French Baccalauréat diploma
- International School of Louisiana: French, Spanish, Mandarin immersion
- Audubon Charter: Oldest French immersion in Louisiana
- Esperanza Charter: Spanish immersion and project-based learning
Elite Private Schools: Tradition Meets Innovation
- Newman School: $32K tuition, Ivy League admissions, 14:1 ratio
- Country Day: 25-acre campus, advanced maker labs, Olympian-level athletics
- St. Martin's Episcopal: Classical liberal arts with 40-acre outdoor learning campus
- Metairie Park Country Day, Sacred Heart, Jesuit High School: Renowned traditions, strong academics
Catholic School Excellence
- Jesuit High School: $11K tuition, elite prep, 99% college placement
- Dominican High School: Strong STEM and faith-based leadership
- Holy Cross, Brother Martin: Innovation centers and engineering partnerships
Montessori, Waldorf & Alternative Education
Options like Waldorf School of New Orleans and Montessori-certified programs offer families individualized, holistic approaches to learning, attracting parents seeking creativity and developmentally aligned instruction.
STEM Innovation
- Patrick F. Taylor Academy: Magnet school for engineering, biomedical, and computer science
- Project Lead the Way: Programs at multiple schools for hands-on engineering
- Private school investments: DNA labs, robotics, coding from elementary level
Creative Arts Education
- NOCCA: Pre-professional conservatory (alumni: Wynton Marsalis, Anthony Mackie)
- Lusher & St. Martin's: Integrated arts curriculum and performance spaces
- Young Audiences: Teaching artists in every school sector
Athletics and Facilities
- State championship programs in football, basketball, tennis, swimming, and more
- Year-round athletics thanks to mild climate
- Ochsner partnerships for sports medicine and injury prevention
Special Education & Learning Support
Comprehensive support services in both public and private schools ensure students with learning differences receive high-quality, individualized education.
- Chartwell Center: Dyslexia-specific instruction
- St. Michael Special School: For students with significant disabilities
- Country Day ARC, Stuart Hall: Mainstream integration with targeted support
University Partnerships
- Tulane, Loyola, Xavier, and UNO provide dual enrollment, summer camps, and mentorship
- Research opportunities and early college exposure for high schoolers
Parent Involvement and School Culture
New Orleans schools foster partnership between families and educators without overwhelming professional parents. Public charters offer flexible volunteer options; private schools offer governance roles, fundraisers, and enrichment participation.
The Educational Advantage
New Orleans combines world-class academics with small-community care, offering unmatched educational diversity. Whether you seek classical rigor, language fluency, scientific innovation, or artistic development, your children will thrive in an environment that nurtures both excellence and joy in learning.
