Beneath the vibrant surface of jazz and gumbo lies an education system sculpting the future of nearly 47,000 students, where 82% identify as Black or African American and over 82% face economic disadvantages, yet proficiency rates and a growing graduation trajectory reveal a story of resilience and complex challenges in America's most unique school district.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022-23, New Orleans public schools had a total enrollment of 46,857 students.
- 82% of students in New Orleans public schools identify as Black or African American in 2022-23.
- Hispanic students make up 9.2% of enrollment in New Orleans schools for 2022-23.
- 76% proficiency in ELA for grade 3 in New Orleans LEAP tests 2023.
- Grade 8 math proficiency rate was 68% in New Orleans schools on 2023 LEAP.
- Overall LEAP ELA proficiency across grades in New Orleans: 65% in 2023.
- 4-year cohort graduation rate for New Orleans public schools: 84% in 2022.
- 5-year extended graduation rate: 88% in New Orleans 2022 cohort.
- College enrollment rate post-graduation: 62% for New Orleans class of 2022.
- Average teacher salary in New Orleans public schools: $56,200 in 2022-23.
- Total number of teachers: 2,734 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
- Teacher retention rate: 85% in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
- Total per pupil expenditure: $14,256 in New Orleans public schools 2021-22.
- Federal funding share: 22% of New Orleans school budget 2022-23.
- Local revenue per pupil: $8,450 in New Orleans 2021-22.
New Orleans public schools show improving graduation and proficiency rates despite economic challenges.
Budget and Funding
1Total per pupil expenditure: $14,256 in New Orleans public schools 2021-22.
Verified2Federal funding share: 22% of New Orleans school budget 2022-23.
Verified3Local revenue per pupil: $8,450 in New Orleans 2021-22.
Verified4State funding per pupil: $5,600 for New Orleans schools 2021-22.
Directional5Instructional spending percentage: 58% of total budget New Orleans 2022-23.
Single source6Capital outlay per pupil: $1,200 in New Orleans 2021-22.
Verified7Title I funding allocation: $45 million for New Orleans schools 2023.
Verified8ESSER III funds spent: 95% utilized by New Orleans schools by 2023.
Verified9Facilities maintenance budget: $50 million annually New Orleans 2023.
Directional10Transportation costs: 8% of budget or $35 million New Orleans 2022-23.
Single source11Technology spending per pupil: $450 in New Orleans 2022-23.
Verified12Special education funding: 15% of budget New Orleans 2022-23.
Verified13Millage tax revenue: $250 million for Orleans Parish schools 2023.
Verified14Bond issuance for facilities: $175 million in 2022 for New Orleans schools.
Directional15Food services budget: $25 million New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
Single source16Athletics and extracurricular funding: 2% of budget New Orleans.
Verified17Administrative costs percentage: 10% in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
Verified18Salary and benefits for staff: 75% of operating budget New Orleans.
Verified19Per pupil spending rank: Top 20% in Louisiana for New Orleans 2021-22.
Directional20COVID relief funds total: $300 million received by New Orleans schools.
Single source21Projected 2023-24 budget: $750 million for New Orleans public schools.
VerifiedBudget and Funding Interpretation
For a city that spends over $14,000 per student, it seems New Orleans schools have mastered the art of the expensive juggling act, where three-quarters of the money goes to staff, a hefty slice to crumbling facilities, and the rest is stretched so thin that even the football team is funded by loose change.
Enrollment and Demographics
1In 2022-23, New Orleans public schools had a total enrollment of 46,857 students.
Verified282% of students in New Orleans public schools identify as Black or African American in 2022-23.
Verified3Hispanic students make up 9.2% of enrollment in New Orleans schools for 2022-23.
Verified410.5% of New Orleans public school students are White in 2022-23.
Directional5Economically disadvantaged students comprise 82.3% of New Orleans public school enrollment in 2022-23.
Single source6English language learners represent 4.8% of students in New Orleans public schools in 2022-23.
Verified7Students with disabilities account for 13.2% of enrollment in 2022-23 New Orleans schools.
Verified8Kindergarten enrollment in New Orleans public schools was 4,512 students in 2022-23.
Verified9High school enrollment reached 11,234 students in New Orleans for 2022-23.
Directional10Pre-K enrollment in New Orleans was 2,189 students during 2022-23 school year.
Single source11Average daily membership in Orleans Parish schools was 45,923 in 2021-22.
Verified121.4% of New Orleans students are Asian in 2022-23 enrollment data.
Verified13Multi-racial students are 2.1% of total enrollment in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
Verified14Female students make up 49.8% of New Orleans public school enrollment in 2022-23.
Directional15Male students constitute 50.2% of enrollment in 2022-23 New Orleans schools.
Single source16Homeless students numbered 1,256 in New Orleans public schools for 2022-23.
Verified17Foster care students are 0.3% of New Orleans enrollment in 2022-23.
Verified18Military-connected students represent 0.1% in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
Verified19Enrollment in charter schools in New Orleans was 84% of total public school students in 2022-23.
Directional20Traditional public school enrollment was 16% in New Orleans for 2022-23.
Single source21Elementary school enrollment totaled 21,456 students in 2022-23 New Orleans.
Verified22Middle school enrollment was 7,466 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
Verified23Total schools in New Orleans public system: 87 in 2022-23.
Verified24Student-teacher ratio in New Orleans was 17.1:1 in 2021-22.
Directional25Enrollment growth from 2021-22 to 2022-23 was 1.2% in New Orleans schools.
Single sourceEnrollment and Demographics Interpretation
The portrait of New Orleans public schools is one where a student is statistically likely to be a young, Black child facing economic hardship, almost certainly in a charter school, a system that embodies both the city's profound challenges and its distinct educational experiment.
Graduation and Postsecondary
14-year cohort graduation rate for New Orleans public schools: 84% in 2022.
Verified25-year extended graduation rate: 88% in New Orleans 2022 cohort.
Verified3College enrollment rate post-graduation: 62% for New Orleans class of 2022.
Verified4On-time graduation for Black students: 83% New Orleans 2022.
Directional5Hispanic graduates on-time rate: 87% in New Orleans 2022 cohort.
Single source6Students with disabilities graduation rate: 65% New Orleans 2022.
Verified7English learners graduation rate: 78% in New Orleans public schools 2022.
Verified8Top 25% postsecondary success index score for New Orleans schools.
Verified970% of New Orleans graduates enroll in Louisiana postsecondary institutions.
Directional10Career diploma recipients: 12% of New Orleans graduates 2022.
Single source11Jump Start credential attainment: 25% among New Orleans grads 2022.
Verified12Topper graduates (GPA 3.0+ and honors): 35% New Orleans 2022.
Verified13Postsecondary persistence rate year 1: 75% for New Orleans 2021 grads.
Verified142021 cohort 4-year grad rate: 82% New Orleans public schools.
Directional15Industry-based credential rate: 28% New Orleans graduates 2022.
Single source16Scholar’s diploma percentage: 45% of New Orleans grads 2022.
Verified17GED attainment post-dropout: 5% recovery for New Orleans cohort.
Verified18Dropout rate: 2.5% for New Orleans high schools 2022.
Verified19Postsecondary enrollment in 4-year colleges: 40% New Orleans grads.
Directional202-year college enrollment: 22% for New Orleans class of 2022.
Single sourceGraduation and Postsecondary Interpretation
New Orleans schools are graduating more students than ever and sending them confidently to college, but the system still stumbles when asked to catch every single student who falls, especially those with disabilities or who learn English.
Teachers and Staffing
1Average teacher salary in New Orleans public schools: $56,200 in 2022-23.
Verified2Total number of teachers: 2,734 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
Verified3Teacher retention rate: 85% in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
Verified4Principals number: 87 in New Orleans public school system 2022-23.
Directional5Percentage of teachers with advanced degrees: 48% in New Orleans 2022-23.
Single source6New teacher hires: 450 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
Verified7Teachers with 10+ years experience: 35% in New Orleans 2022-23.
Verified8Special education teachers: 412 in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
Verified9Teacher vacancy rate: 4.2% at start of 2022-23 in New Orleans.
Directional10Average principal salary: $92,500 in New Orleans 2022-23.
Single source11Counselors per student ratio: 1:350 in New Orleans 2022-23.
Verified12Social workers number: 120 across New Orleans schools 2022-23.
Verified13Teachers certified: 92% in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
Verified14Out-of-field teaching percentage: 8% New Orleans 2022-23.
Directional15Teacher turnover rate: 15% annual in New Orleans charters 2022.
Single source16Support staff total: 1,200 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
Verified17High school teacher average salary: $58,900 New Orleans 2022-23.
Verified18Elementary teacher salary average: $55,100 in 2022-23 New Orleans.
Verified19Professional development hours per teacher: 50 annually New Orleans.
Directional20Substitute teacher daily rate: $120 in New Orleans schools.
Single sourceTeachers and Staffing Interpretation
New Orleans is paying its teachers a surprisingly average wage for an above-average job, keeping most of them in the classroom but leaving them to wonder if that loyalty is being banked or just taken for granted.
Test Scores and Performance
176% proficiency in ELA for grade 3 in New Orleans LEAP tests 2023.
Verified2Grade 8 math proficiency rate was 68% in New Orleans schools on 2023 LEAP.
Verified3Overall LEAP ELA proficiency across grades in New Orleans: 65% in 2023.
Verified4Math proficiency average for New Orleans public schools: 62% in 2023 LEAP.
Directional5Grade 4 science proficiency: 72% in New Orleans 2023 LEAP tests.
Single source6High school LEAP ELA passage rate: 78% in New Orleans 2023.
Verified7Grade 11 math LEAP passage: 75% for New Orleans students 2023.
Verified8Black students ELA proficiency: 64% in New Orleans 2023 LEAP.
Verified9Hispanic students math proficiency: 70% New Orleans 2023.
Directional10Students with disabilities ELA proficiency: 45% in 2023 New Orleans LEAP.
Single source11English learners math proficiency: 52% New Orleans 2023 LEAP.
Verified12Top-performing school ACT score average: 24.5 in New Orleans 2023.
Verified13Average ACT score for New Orleans public high schools: 20.1 in 2023.
Verified14Grade 3 math proficiency: 70% in New Orleans 2023 LEAP.
Directional15Grade 5 ELA proficiency: 67% New Orleans public schools 2023.
Single source16Grade 7 science proficiency: 71% in 2023 LEAP for New Orleans.
Verified17Grade 8 ELA proficiency: 69% New Orleans 2023.
Verified18Advanced placement participation rate: 45% in New Orleans high schools 2023.
Verified19AP exam pass rate: 62% for New Orleans students 2023.
Directional20iLEAP math grade 6 proficiency: 65% New Orleans pre-LEAP era.
Single source212022 LEAP ELA overall: 63% proficiency New Orleans.
Verified222022 math proficiency: 60% New Orleans schools.
Verified23Grade 4 math: 68% proficiency 2023 New Orleans.
Verified24Grade 11 science LEAP: 74% passage New Orleans 2023.
DirectionalTest Scores and Performance Interpretation
While there are pockets of encouraging progress, particularly in early grades and science, the overall academic portrait of New Orleans reveals a persistent and sobering truth: we are celebrating a majority of students reaching proficiency, which means we are still quietly accepting that a significant minority are being left behind.