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In August 2024, over 300 students embarked on a new academic journey at the Leah Chase School, marking the New Orleans school district’s first traditional school operated directly by the district since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina nearly 20 years ago.
This pre-K-8 institution, honoring the cultural and civil rights figure Leah Chase, was established within a few months, representing a pivotal shift for a city that had been characterized as the only all-charter school district in the United States for the past five years. Charter schools, funded by public money yet managed independently, have been the predominant model in New Orleans’ education system.
The inception of the Leah Chase School signals a potential return to stability in a landscape previously dominated by charter schools. NOLA Public Schools, the official name of the district, serves around 41,600 students, with 75 percent identifying as Black. The creation of this traditional school amidst a charter-heavy environment reflects a significant evolution in attitudes from both the community and the Orleans Parish School Board, which had previously restricted the district to charter-only schools.
“The opening of the Leah Chase School signifies a fresh chapter for public education in New Orleans,” noted J. Celeste Lay, a political science professor at Tulane University specializing in educational policy. “The district appears more open to the idea of directly managing schools as it has not done in the years since Katrina.”
The discourse regarding school governance in Orleans Parish transcends the general national discussion on school choice. It raises questions about the recovery of a beleaguered educational system in a city that has grappled with its unique challenges since being ravaged by a hurricane.
The decision to launch Leah Chase emerged from deliberations that began in January during a fraught board meeting about the future of Lafayette Academy, a charter school that was struggling significantly and received an F rating on the state’s performance report. Superintendent Avis Williams suggested closing Lafayette and was prepared to recommend revoking its charter as the deadline for a replacement operator lapsed without any viable candidates stepping forward.
Faced with this predicament, Williams outlined the challenges associated with initiating a district-run school, encompassing staffing, curriculum adoption, and declining enrollment rates in the district.
Ultimately, the board agreed with the superintendent’s suggestion, stipulating that if a school were to close, a credible plan should be in place for its replacement.
The very next day, Williams announced a shift in direction; the district would take the reins of the school in the very building that had been Lafayette Academy.
She emphasized that this approach aligned with community desires and the board’s unanimous support for the transition to district management. “This was primarily what our community had expressed to board members, leading to the decision to implement direct management of the Leah Chase School and potentially more schools in the future,” Williams articulated.
Both the Recovery School District (a specialized state district that addresses underperforming schools) and NOLA Public Schools invested in renovations and improvements to the former Lafayette Academy site, further motivating the decision to retain that location for the new school. This development reflects a growing belief within the community that establishing traditional schools again is essential. Carlos Zervigon, a member of the Orleans Parish School Board, highlighted this sentiment: “If we aspire to be a system of choice and innovation, having district-run traditional schools should be one of the options available to families, particularly focused on neighborhood needs.”
As Leah Chase School opened its doors, it achieved the operational benchmarks set by district leaders; there was a complete staff in place, including a principal, a functioning transportation system, and over 300 enrolled students, many of whom transitioned from Lafayette Academy.
“I anticipated some challenges, but overall, it was remarkably smooth,” noted Williams regarding the school’s first week.
Nonetheless, the district faces ongoing logistical challenges. Enrollment in New Orleans schools has decreased by approximately 5 percent, equating to 2,400 students lost over five years. This trend poses the risk of further school closures unless adequately addressed in a five-year plan, which Williams is scheduled to present to the board this fall.
“We are investigating aspects like school sizes and seat availability as part of our optimization strategy,” stated Leila Jacobs Eames, vice president of the Orleans Parish School Board and a proponent of traditional school models.
Financial sustainability will also be a concern for the district if more traditional schools are established, as this will help balance the costs associated with district operational staff needed for school management. Currently, the district uses its reserve funds to cover the Leah Chase School’s start-up expenses.
Douglas N. Harris, a Tulane University professor, raised a critical question regarding the district’s future capabilities: “Given their limited resources, can they successfully rebuild the internal capacity needed to run schools effectively — and can they execute this well?”
Related: PROOF POINTS: New study shows controversial post-Katrina school reforms paid off for New Orleans.
While Hurricane Katrina was a major force shaping the current charter system in New Orleans, challenges in the educational landscape predated the disaster. In 2004, high school graduation rates were alarmingly low, with only half of students graduating and fewer than a quarter continuing to college. Corruption scandals involving school board members added to the turmoil, contributing to the district’s systemic failures prior to the storm.
Post-Katrina, the Recovery School District took control of numerous public schools, pushing the Orleans Parish School Board into a limited supervisory role. The immediate aftermath involved significant instability, with schools opening and closing abruptly—often leading to children relocating from one school to another with little notice. Lay recounted that “it was a tumultuous era when students experienced profound instability in their education.”
Over time, the district transitioned former non-charter schools to charter formats. Advocates for charter schools pointed to benefits such as improved autonomy and management away from a tainted district history. Yet, this shift also spurred concerns over power dynamics, especially regarding a predominantly Black electorate losing control to what many perceive as a disconnected, majority-white state board.
Zervigon voiced these concerns, noting that the changes resulted in feelings of disenfranchisement among Black families in New Orleans who sensed a loss of control over their educational systems.
The Recovery School District established regulations that created differentiation for charter schools, regulating enrollment, transportation, and expulsion processes, all of which were codified through state legislation like Act 91. By 2019, every public school in Orleans Parish was converted to a charter, with many of these schools being Black-led, according to Zervigon.
Related: New Orleans finally has control of its own schools, but will all parents really have a say?
Today, while academic performance has generally improved, manifesting in higher graduation rates and test scores, there remain critical discussions around the efficacy of the charter model and how “better” is defined in educational contexts. In 2021, high school graduation rates reached 78 percent, a significant rise from just 54 percent in 2004, with college-going rates reflecting similar positive trends.
However, there is ongoing debate over the systemic reliance on closures of underperforming schools as a primary means of addressing educational deficiencies. Zervigon articulated a widespread frustration with a reactive approach of closing schools rather than fostering stability and ensuring quality education for all students. “The relentless cycle of school closures is untenable,” he stated.
Amidst this complex landscape, the Leah Chase School’s opening represents a fresh possibility for students and families in New Orleans as the district considers expanding traditional educational options alongside its charter model moving forward.
This story about New Orleans schools was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education.
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