New Orleans public schools are projected to spend about $750 million, and instructional services take roughly 58% of the total budget. With COVID relief reaching $300 million already received, spending priorities are closely tied to staffing and student services. The outcome picture shows mixed performance, including 76% ELA proficiency in grade 3 on 2023 LEAP and a top ACT score average of 24.5.
Key Takeaways
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
New Orleans schools spent heavily per pupil in 2021 to 2022, and 2023 proficiency gains show resilience.
Related reading
01 · Category
Budget and Funding21 stats
01
Total per pupil expenditure: $14,256in New Orleans public schools 2021-22.
02
Federal funding share: 22% of New Orleans school budget 2022-23.
03
Local revenue per pupil: $8,450in New Orleans 2021-22.
04
State funding per pupil: $5,600for New Orleans schools 2021-22.
05
Instructional spending percentage: 58% of total budget New Orleans 2022-23.
06
Capital outlay per pupil: $1,200in New Orleans 2021-22.
07
Title I funding allocation: $45 million for New Orleans schools 2023.
08
ESSER III funds spent: 95% utilized by New Orleans schools by 2023.
09
Facilities maintenance budget: $50 million annually New Orleans 2023.
10
Transportation costs: 8% of budget or $35 million New Orleans 2022-23.
11
Technology spending per pupil: $450in New Orleans 2022-23.
12
Special education funding: 15% of budget New Orleans 2022-23.
13
Millage tax revenue: $250 million for Orleans Parish schools 2023.
14
Bond issuance for facilities: $175 million in 2022 for New Orleans schools.
15
Food services budget: $25 million New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
16
Athletics and extracurricular funding: 2% of budget New Orleans.
17
Administrative costs percentage: 10% in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
18
Salary and benefits for staff: 75% of operating budget New Orleans.
19
Per pupil spending rank: Top 20% in Louisiana for New Orleans 2021-22.
20
COVID relief funds total: $300 million received by New Orleans schools.
21
Projected 2023-24 budget: $750 million for New Orleans public schools.
Interpretation
Budget 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.
02 · Category
Enrollment and Demographics25 stats
01
In 2022-23, New Orleans public schools had a total enrollment of 46,857 students.
02
82% of students in New Orleans public schools identify as Black or African American in 2022-23.
03
Hispanic students make up 9.2% of enrollment in New Orleans schools for 2022-23.
04
10.5% of New Orleans public school students are White in 2022-23.
05
Economically disadvantaged students comprise 82.3% of New Orleans public school enrollment in 2022-23.
06
English language learners represent 4.8% of students in New Orleans public schools in 2022-23.
07
Students with disabilities account for 13.2% of enrollment in 2022-23 New Orleans schools.
08
Kindergarten enrollment in New Orleans public schools was 4,512 students in 2022-23.
09
High school enrollment reached 11,234 students in New Orleans for 2022-23.
10
Pre-K enrollment in New Orleans was 2,189 students during 2022-23 school year.
11
Average daily membership in Orleans Parish schools was 45,923 in 2021-22.
12
1.4% of New Orleans students are Asian in 2022-23 enrollment data.
13
Multi-racial students are 2.1% of total enrollment in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
14
Female students make up 49.8% of New Orleans public school enrollment in 2022-23.
15
Male students constitute 50.2% of enrollment in 2022-23 New Orleans schools.
16
Homeless students numbered 1,256 in New Orleans public schools for 2022-23.
17
Foster care students are 0.3% of New Orleans enrollment in 2022-23.
18
Military-connected students represent 0.1% in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
19
Enrollment in charter schools in New Orleans was 84% of total public school students in 2022-23.
20
Traditional public school enrollment was 16% in New Orleans for 2022-23.
21
Elementary school enrollment totaled 21,456 students in 2022-23 New Orleans.
22
Middle school enrollment was 7,466 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
23
Total schools in New Orleans public system: 87 in 2022-23.
24
Student-teacher ratio in New Orleans was 17.1:1 in 2021-22.
25
Enrollment growth from 2021-22 to 2022-23 was 1.2% in New Orleans schools.
Interpretation
Enrollment 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.
03 · Category
Graduation and Postsecondary20 stats
01
4-year cohort graduation rate for New Orleans public schools: 84% in 2022.
02
5-year extended graduation rate: 88% in New Orleans 2022 cohort.
03
College enrollment rate post-graduation: 62% for New Orleans class of 2022.
04
On-time graduation for Black students: 83% New Orleans 2022.
05
Hispanic graduates on-time rate: 87% in New Orleans 2022 cohort.
06
Students with disabilities graduation rate: 65% New Orleans 2022.
07
English learners graduation rate: 78% in New Orleans public schools 2022.
08
Top 25% postsecondary success index score for New Orleans schools.
09
70% of New Orleans graduates enroll in Louisiana postsecondary institutions.
10
Career diploma recipients: 12% of New Orleans graduates 2022.
11
Jump Start credential attainment: 25% among New Orleans grads 2022.
12
Topper graduates (GPA 3.0+ and honors): 35% New Orleans 2022.
13
Postsecondary persistence rate year 1: 75% for New Orleans 2021 grads.
14
2021 cohort 4-year grad rate: 82% New Orleans public schools.
15
Industry-based credential rate: 28% New Orleans graduates 2022.
16
Scholar’s diploma percentage: 45% of New Orleans grads 2022.
17
GED attainment post-dropout: 5% recovery for New Orleans cohort.
18
Dropout rate: 2.5% for New Orleans high schools 2022.
19
Postsecondary enrollment in 4-year colleges: 40% New Orleans grads.
20
2-year college enrollment: 22% for New Orleans class of 2022.
Interpretation
Graduation 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Teachers and Staffing20 stats
01
Average teacher salary in New Orleans public schools: $56,200in 2022-23.
02
Total number of teachers: 2,734 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
03
Teacher retention rate: 85% in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
04
Principals number: 87 in New Orleans public school system 2022-23.
05
Percentage of teachers with advanced degrees: 48% in New Orleans 2022-23.
06
New teacher hires: 450 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
07
Teachers with 10+ years experience: 35% in New Orleans 2022-23.
08
Special education teachers: 412 in New Orleans schools 2022-23.
09
Teacher vacancy rate: 4.2% at start of 2022-23 in New Orleans.
10
Average principal salary: $92,500in New Orleans 2022-23.
11
Counselors per student ratio: 1:350 in New Orleans 2022-23.
12
Social workers number: 120 across New Orleans schools 2022-23.
13
Teachers certified: 92% in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
14
Out-of-field teaching percentage: 8% New Orleans 2022-23.
15
Teacher turnover rate: 15% annual in New Orleans charters 2022.
16
Support staff total: 1,200 in New Orleans public schools 2022-23.
17
High school teacher average salary: $58,900New Orleans 2022-23.
18
Elementary teacher salary average: $55,100in 2022-23 New Orleans.
19
Professional development hours per teacher: 50 annually New Orleans.
20
Substitute teacher daily rate: $120in New Orleans schools.
Interpretation
Teachers 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.
05 · Category
Test Scores and Performance24 stats
01
76% proficiency in ELA for grade 3 in New Orleans LEAP tests 2023.
02
Grade 8 math proficiency rate was 68% in New Orleans schools on 2023 LEAP.
03
Overall LEAP ELA proficiency across grades in New Orleans: 65% in 2023.
04
Math proficiency average for New Orleans public schools: 62% in 2023 LEAP.
05
Grade 4 science proficiency: 72% in New Orleans 2023 LEAP tests.
06
High school LEAP ELA passage rate: 78% in New Orleans 2023.
07
Grade 11 math LEAP passage: 75% for New Orleans students 2023.
08
Black students ELA proficiency: 64% in New Orleans 2023 LEAP.
09
Hispanic students math proficiency: 70% New Orleans 2023.
10
Students with disabilities ELA proficiency: 45% in 2023 New Orleans LEAP.
11
English learners math proficiency: 52% New Orleans 2023 LEAP.
12
Top-performing school ACT score average: 24.5 in New Orleans 2023.
13
Average ACT score for New Orleans public high schools: 20.1 in 2023.
14
Grade 3 math proficiency: 70% in New Orleans 2023 LEAP.
15
Grade 5 ELA proficiency: 67% New Orleans public schools 2023.
16
Grade 7 science proficiency: 71% in 2023 LEAP for New Orleans.
17
Grade 8 ELA proficiency: 69% New Orleans 2023.
18
Advanced placement participation rate: 45% in New Orleans high schools 2023.
19
AP exam pass rate: 62% for New Orleans students 2023.
20
iLEAP math grade 6 proficiency: 65% New Orleans pre-LEAP era.
21
2022 LEAP ELA overall: 63% proficiency New Orleans.
22
2022 math proficiency: 60% New Orleans schools.
23
Grade 4 math: 68% proficiency 2023 New Orleans.
24
Grade 11 science LEAP: 74% passage New Orleans 2023.
Interpretation
Test 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). New Orleans Education Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-orleans-education-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "New Orleans Education Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/new-orleans-education-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "New Orleans Education Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-orleans-education-statistics.
Sources & references
4 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level