The 2011-12 school year was, in many ways, the beginning of a new era in New Orleans’ public education landscape. The year was marked by momentous changes in leadership and strategy at both the state and local levels. Nonetheless, state and district leaders remain committed to a school reform model that espouses the central principles of school autonomy, choice, and accountability. At the same time, school and district leadership, particularly the RSD, have intensified efforts to address some of the unintended consequences of reform, to increase transparency and community engagement, and to improve academic performance. While the current system of public schools still faces many challenges, it is moving in a positive direction to improve public education opportunities in New Orleans.

Reflecting on the past school year, the 2012 State of Public Education in New Orleans provides information about the current system of schools based on available quantitative data, newspaper stories and interviews, and a comprehensive survey of New Orleans public school parents. The report also offers a number of successes as well as key challenges that still face public education in New Orleans. We hope this year’s report will continue to serve as a definitive source of information about New Orleans public education for policy makers, educators, parents, nonprofits, the media, and the community at large.

Click here to download the 2012 State of Public Education in New Orleans.

To request hard copies of the report, please email coweninfo@tulane.edu.

The Cowen Institute has published an annual State of Public Education in New Orleans report since opening its doors at Tulane University in 2007. Click here to access previous reports.