New Orleans by the Numbers
20 Years After Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans by the Numbers
This page was created in partnership between NOLA Public Schools and New Schools for New Orleans, in collaboration with Tulane University’s Cowen Institute, to provide data, information, and context on the past twenty years of public education in New Orleans, the changes that occurred, and the outcomes these changes helped produce.
This year, we commemorate the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, celebrate the recovery of the last twenty years, and commit to renewed investment in the future of our students and educators.
More to Come!
Please check back in June for additional content in preparation for the public K20 commemoration later this summer. Sign up below to receive an email notification when this page has been updated.
New Orleans public schools have made significant progress over the past 20 years.
Over the past two decades, educators, legislators, and education advocates have led many shifts and reforms to fundamentally change public education in New Orleans. This interactive site compares student performance before and after 2005 in order to better understand how these systemic changes have impacted student performance. We make comparisons between New Orleans and the State of Louisiana to put the progress of New Orleans’ schools into wider context.
Note: All data included in New Orleans by the Numbers represents public schools in New Orleans that are governed by the Orleans Parish School Board (NOLA-PS) in recent years, as well as the Recovery School District schools in past years. These data are based on Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) published data.
Graduation Rates
Since 2004-05, New Orleans students increased graduation rates by 25 percentage points, closing the gap with the state by 11 points.
More New Orleans public school students are graduating on-time.
College Enrollment
Since 2004-05, New Orleans students improved college entry rates by 28 percentage points, surpassing the state average for college enrollment.
New Orleans public school graduates are also more likely today to enroll in college directly after graduating high school compared to graduates across the state.
Percent of Failing Schools
Since 2004-05, New Orleans decreased the percentage of failing schools by 61 percentage points, compared to the state’s improvement of 8 percentage points over the same time.
In 2024–25, there are no failing schools in New Orleans.
In March 2020, schools in Louisiana and across the country shut down due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In New Orleans, charter school leaders quickly transitioned to ensure students were healthy and connected by distributing laptops, internet hotspots, and meals, and pivoting to virtual learning. There were no LEAP tests administered in spring 2020, and New Orleans public schools reopened safely in the 2020–21 school year.
In August 2021, Hurricane Ida struck New Orleans, causing the closure of all New Orleans schools for a minimum of two weeks while the city's infrastructure and utilities were repaired. Although the 2021–22 school year started with tragedy, New Orleans students have since demonstrated significant academic recovery.
Growth in LEAP
LEAP (Louisiana Educational Assessment Program) tests are given annually to students in grades 3 through high school in all public schools. They measure subject knowledge, skills, and readiness for the next level.
New Orleans has improved at double the rate of the state since the first post-Covid LEAP tests in 2021.
Subgroup Top Growth
The LDOE calculates "Top Growth" — the percentage of students who are progressing rapidly, as well as those outperforming similar peers. This data offers insight into future growth trajectories.
New Orleans schools demonstrated strong Top Growth last school year, surpassing the statewide average for all students and major subgroups, and earning the highest Top Growth for Economically Disadvantaged students among all districts statewide.
The Annual Data section offers a detailed, chronological view of New Orleans public education metrics over the past two decades. In this section, you’ll find comprehensive charts and data breakdowns on academic outcomes, state assessments, and enrollment demographics.
Unlike the Key Insights section, which highlights the most critical trends and standout achievements, the Annual Data section lets you explore the year-by-year evolution of these figures and identify subtle patterns that inform long-term policy and strategic planning. This in-depth perspective provides a robust context for understanding both historical performance and future projections.
Graduation Rates
Since 2004-05, New Orleans students increased graduation rates by 25 percentage points, closing the gap with the state by 11 points.
More New Orleans public school students are graduating on-time.
College Enrollment
Since 2004-05, New Orleans students improved college entry rates by 28 percentage points, surpassing the state average for college enrollment.
New Orleans public school graduates are also more likely today to enroll in college directly after graduating high school compared to graduates across the state.
Failing Schools
Since 2004-05, New Orleans decreased the percentage of failing schools by 61 percentage points, compared to the state’s decrease of 8 percentage points over the same time.
In 2024–25, there are no failing schools in New Orleans.
Letter Grades
In 2005, only 15% of New Orleans schools that received ratings earned an “A,” “B,” or “C” equivalent score, compared to 80% today.
The percentage of New Orleans schools with ratings equivalent to an “A,” “B,” or “C” Letter Grade has more than tripled over the last twenty years.
LEAP Scores
New Orleans 4th and 8th grade LEAP results in ELA and Math have improved at close to or more than double the rate of the state over the past twenty years.
New Orleans students have outpaced the state in LEAP improvement.
This section explores how the number and makeup of students in New Orleans schools have changed over time. You’ll find data on overall enrollment trends and demographic shifts—such as differences in race, ethnicity, and other student characteristics—offering a clearer picture of who is attending local schools and how that population is changing. By highlighting these patterns, we aim to provide stakeholders with a deeper understanding of the community’s educational landscape.
Enrollment Over Time
Student enrollment plummeted after Hurricane Katrina and increased in the following years, reaching a high point in 2019. Since then, enrollment has slightly declined. Today, there are roughly 20,000 fewer students enrolled than in 2005.
Enrollment in New Orleans public schools reflects declines in overall city population due to Hurricane Katrina and nationwide declines in birth rates.
Racial Subgroups
The percentage of white students has more than doubled, while the percentage of Hispanic students has increased even more, from 1% in 2004 to 13% in 2024.
New Orleans student population has become more racially diverse over the past twenty years.
Economic Disadvantage
The rate of New Orleans students considered to be economically disadvantaged has slightly increased over time–from 77% in 2004 to 82% today. New Orleans continues to serve a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students than the state.
New Orleans students continue to face high rates of poverty.
English Language Learners
The percentage of New Orleans English Language Learners has increased from 1% to 8% in the last two decades, compared to the state’s increase of 1% to 5%.
The percentage of New Orleans students learning the English language has significantly increased in the past twenty years.
Students with Disabilities
The percentage of students identified as having disabilities in New Orleans was 10% in 2004, and is now close to 14%, matching the state’s current percentage.
The percentage of students identified as having disabilities in New Orleans has fluctuated over time but is now is on par with the state average.
School Governance
In the years between Hurricane Katrina and unification in 2018, New Orleans public schools were either directly run or authorized as charter schools by the Orleans Parish School Board and the Recovery School District. Over time, nearly all direct-run schools were closed or converted to charter schools.
The New Orleans public school system has changed and evolved over time. Today, the system is made up almost entirely of charter schools under a single authorizer—the Orleans Parish School Board.
The NOLA-PS Data Dashboard allows users to find and compare important data on NOLA-PS schools. Developed in partnership with New Schools for New Orleans, this interactive platform provides a comprehensive view of key performance data, equipping leaders and planners with actionable insights to drive quality and equity improvements across our district.
The NOLA-PS Data Tools page on the NOLA-PS website serves as a hub for users to find interactive, data-driven tools that empower informed decision-making for various stakeholders, including families, educators, and school leaders.
NSNO School Sustainability Analysis
An analysis of the effects of enrollment changes on the citywide portfolio of schools. This analysis, published annually by New Schools for New Orleans, is meant to support school leaders and education partners in data-driven decision making.
Cowen Institute Governance Charts
This chart, published annually by Tulane University’s Cowen Institute, shows the governance structure of all public schools and charter organizations in New Orleans. It also details changes that have occurred in the system heading into the school year.
La. Dept. of Education Data Library
This data library provides publicly released data files from the Louisiana Department of Education. Much of the data for the NOLA-PS Data dashboard is sourced from these files. Additional data not included in the dashboard for New Orleans schools can be found here, as well as education data for schools and districts across the state.