The annual drop out rate1 for New Orleans public schools (OPSB + RSD) has plummeted 60% since Katrina, falling from 11.4% in 2004-05 to 4.1% in 2010-11.
At current enrollment, this translates into 900 fewer dropouts per year.
We Continue to Close the Gap!
New Orleans’ drop out rate is now down to the state average. In 2004-05, we had the state’s third highest drop out rate.
Percent of Students Dropping Out of School
Grades 9-12
Drop Outs by Type of School
Within the RSD, charter schools are succeeding in keeping kids in school, with a drop out rate that is less than the state average.
| School Year | District | Grades 9-12 Number of Students |
Grades 9-12 Number of Drop Outs |
Grades 9-12 Percent of Drop Outs |
| 2010-11 | RSD-NO Direct-Run Schools | 3999 | 362 | 9.1% |
| 2010-11 | RSD-NO Charter Schools | 3312 | 99 | 3.0% |
| 2010-11 | All OPSB Schools (Direct-run and Charter) | 5141 | 55 | 1.1% |
| 2010-11 | All New Orleans | 12452 | 516 | 4.1% |
| 2010-11 | State of Louisiana | 194283 | 7997 | 4.1% |
View New Orleans’ drop out data over time 2004-05 to 2010-11.
Read more about the falling drop out rate in the Times-Picayune.
1The annual drop out rate compares all students who were enrolled in school as of October 1 in one year and are NOT enrolled as of October 1 the following year. Any student no longer enrolled who does not have a valid exit code (graduated, transferred schools, etc.) is considered a drop out. Some of these students might re-enroll at a later date, so the annual drop out rate may overstate the drop out problem.