Education and Schools in New Orleans

Education and schooling options in New Orleans will be a top priority for parents moving to the city. There are plenty of options available, but settling on the best path forward can be tricky.

As is the case throughout the US, the schooling system in New Orleans is divided into three levels:

• Elementary school (Kindergarten to Grade 5)
• Middle school (Grades 6 to 8)
• High school (Grades 9 to 12)

NOLA Public Schools is the authority in charge of education in the city.

Factors to consider when deciding on a school in New Orleans include the type of school, the standard of teaching, the cost, extracurricular activities and proximity to the family home and the parent’s place of work.

Public schools in New Orleans

The destruction caused by Katrina allowed the authorities to rethink public schooling in the city, and, as a result, New Orleans saw the emergence of a larger number of charter schools with greater financial investment. Almost all public schools in New Orleans are charter schools.

Charter schools

Charter schools are a subset of public schools overseen by external boards. Although they do have more freedom in terms of teaching methodology and admissions, these schools remain accountable to NOLA Public Schools.

These institutions have charters that detail the school’s operations, programme, goals and assessment methods. This independence allows charter schools to adjust their teaching methods and largely set their own objectives.

Magnet schools

New Orleans is also home to a handful of magnet schools. Like charter schools, these are state-funded to an extent, but because they receive external funding as well, magnet schools have more autonomy when it comes to shaping their curriculum. These schools allow students to pursue a more vocational path in line with individual capabilities.

Magnet schools generally focus on a particular subject area, such as the performing arts, languages, sports or STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Useful links

• NOLA Public Schools

Private schools in New Orleans

Besides the variety of public schools in New Orleans, the city also has over 50 private schools. Many private schools in New Orleans have a religious affiliation, most commonly with the Christian faith.

Generally, private schools offer a higher standard of teaching and more modern facilities than the average public school. Also, there are more options in terms of various honour programmes for academically gifted students as well as those who demonstrate an aptitude for arts, sports and music.

Naturally, the downside of private education is the hefty price tag. Although the average cost of private schools in New Orleans is slightly less than the national average for the US, they still don’t come cheap. Extra tuition fees, uniforms, books, stationery, extracurricular expenses and field trips can all weigh heavily on the wallet.

International schools in New Orleans

Foreign residents moving to New Orleans may wish to have their children educated at an international school to be taught in their home language and allow them to maintain a degree of continuity despite starting at a new school.

While there are no schools in New Orleans that follow the curricula of foreign countries, there are a few private international schools that offer the International Baccalaureate. Like private schools, international schools are very expensive. That said, a number of charter schools offer students the opportunity to study for the IB at a fraction of the cost of a private institution.

Special-needs education in New Orleans

Students with learning difficulties and disabilities are well-catered for in New Orleans. The state of Louisiana endeavours to support all students with special needs up to the age of 21 at no extra cost to the parents. The support structures in place are extensive and multi-faceted, and they cater to a range of disabilities, ranging from autism and ADHD to physical mobility problems.

Students with special needs are accommodated in public schools as far as possible, but specialist facilities are available if a child’s disability is too severe for mainstream schools.

Useful links

• NOLA Public Schools – Special Education

Tutors in New Orleans

New arrivals in New Orleans will find themselves with plenty of options when it comes to tutors. Whether you’re looking to prepare your child for upcoming exams, maintain fluency in your family’s home language, or simply aid them in adjusting to the local curriculum, there’s sure to be a tutor to meet your needs.

Schools can often provide a list of recommended tutors in the local area. In addition, there are many reputable tutoring companies in New Orleans. Some of the recommended companies include Learning Smiles Tutoring and NOLA Master Tutoring Service. These companies offer a range of services, including one-to-one tutoring and small group sessions.

Useful links

• Learning Smiles Tutoring
• NOLA Master Tutoring Service