The Cowen Institute launched the NOLA by the Numbers series in October 2010. This series aims to provide journalists, policymakers, community leaders, and the public with a timely and comprehensive report of state‐released data on public schools in New Orleans.

College Readiness

NOLA by the Numbers: First-Time College Freshmen, Class of 2010 (January 2012)
The Louisiana Department of Education annually releases data on public high school graduates who enrolled as full-time college freshmen at a Louisiana two- or four-year, private or public college in the fall after graduating. Two-thirds of all New Orleans public school in-state first-time college freshmen enrolled in a four-year college or university, compared to three-quarters statewide. [Download the report here.]

NOLA by the Numbers: ACT Scores, Class of 2011 (September 2011)
The Louisiana Department of Education releases annually the average composite, English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning American College Test (ACT) scores at both the district and school levels. The ACT, which students generally take in the 11th or 12th grade, is intended to measure students’ general educational development and their capability to complete college-level work. College entrance exams such as the ACT are required for admissions to most two- and four-year colleges and universities in the state. Scores range from 1-36. The 2011 average ACT composite score for all public school students in New Orleans was 18.0, an increase of 0.5 points from 2010. [Download the report here.]

NOLA by the Numbers: First-Time College Freshmen, Class of 2009 (August 2011)
The Louisiana Department of Education annually releases data on public high school graduates who enrolled as full-time college freshmen at a Louisiana two- or four-year, private or public college in the fall after graduating. Overall, 46 percent of New Orleans public high school graduates in the class of 2009 were first-time college freshmen in the fall of 2009, and 55 percent took one or more remedial course. [Download the report here.]

NOLA by the Numbers: ACT Scores, Class of 2010 (February 2011)
The Louisiana Department of Education releases annually the average composite, English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning American College Test (ACT) scores at both the district and school levels. The ACT, which students generally take in the 11th or 12th grade, is intended to measure students’ general educational development and their capability to complete college-level work. College entrance exams such as the ACT are required for admissions to most two- and four-year colleges and universities in the state. The class of 2010 showed improvement at Recovery School District high schools. [Download the report here.]

Enrollment and Demographics

NOLA by the Numbers: School Enrollment & Demographics, October 2011 (December 2011)
This report focuses on the second public school student enrollment count compiled by the Louisiana Department of Education this school year. According to the October 1, 2011 enrollment and demographic data, 77 percent of public schools students in New Orleans are enrolled in a charter school, up from 71 percent in 2010. [Download the report here.]

NOLA by the Numbers: School Enrollment & Demographics, February 2011 (March 2011)
This report focuses on the second public school student enrollment count compiled by the Louisiana Department of Education this school year. The February 1, 2011 enrollment and demographic data shows little change from  the  October  1,  2010  student   count  with  one  exception:  at  Recovery School  District  direct‐run  schools,  the  proportion  of  low‐income  students increased  by  nearly  15 percentage  points. [Download the report here.]

NOLA by the Numbers: School Enrollment & Demographics, October 2010 (December 2010)
Each school year, the Louisiana Department of Education conducts two student enrollment counts: on October 1st and February 1st. These counts also document the race, sex, grade level, and free and reduced lunch eligibility status of students. The enrollment counts are particularly important because they are used to determine the amount of funding schools and districts receive from the state. The October 2010 enrollment count shows that public schools in New Orleans are generally continuing along in their post-Katrina trajectory. [Download the report here.]

School Performance

NOLA by the Numbers: School Performance Scores, 2011 (October 2011)
The 2011 School Performance Scores revealed that public schools in New Orleans have continued their post-Katrina trajectory, improving steadily each year. On average, schools in New Orleans grew 7.7 points, or 9.7 percent, from 2010 to 2011, more than three times the state average of 2.2 points or 2.4 percent. Additionally, this year marks the first time the state has issued letter grades instead of performance labels as it has done in the past. Twenty-eight percent of public schools in New Orleans that received a 2011 School Performance Score received an F, while 24 percent received an A or B. [Download the report here.]

NOLA by the Numbers: High-Stakes Testing, 2010-2011 (May 2011)
This report focuses on New Orleans public school performance on the LEAP and GEE tests for the 2010-2011 school year. Overall, the rate of first time test-takers scoring Basic or above at all public schools in New Orleans grew from 2010 to 2011 in every subject and every grade, and in all but one instance these gains were greater than gains made by the state as a whole. [Download the report here.]

NOLA by the Numbers: School Performance Scores (October 2010)
The 2010 baseline School Performance Scores (SPS), released by the Louisiana Department of Education in October 2010, are used as a measure of absolute school performance and as a means of calculating academic growth. This year’s scores show that, once again, elementary and secondary public schools in New Orleans are among the fastest improving in the state, with the number of schools rated “academically unacceptable” down to 18 from 31 last year. This briefing presents an analysis of the 2010 SPS scores and how they compare to previous years. [Download the report here.]