If we look at the high school data from 2005 to 2010, we can come to certain conclusions:

1. Significantly fewer students are forced to attend a failing high school. We are giving students better high school options.
2. Our high school students are performing better on the GEE.
3. We are doing a much better job getting our seniors to graduate.
4. There is not sufficient data to accurately assess how well we are doing at keeping students in school. Since the data system to track students across all schools does not exist at the local level, the state needs to provide timely information so New Orleans can ensure that this important outcome is evaluated and any related issues addressed. It is a critical issue that is not getting the attention it deserves.

Historically, New Orleans did a dismal job helping their seniors cross the finish line. In fact, in spring, 2005, the last year all the schools were under the Orleans Parish School Board, only 79% of New Orleans seniors graduated, tying Madison Parish for the worst record in the state. Thus, for every 100 seniors, 21 did not get to walk across the stage and receive diplomas.

The percent of seniors graduating has risen dramatically since 2005.

This year, 90% of seniors graduated, allowing 270 additional seniors to proudly participate in graduation ceremonies.

In 2005, 79% of seniors graduated.

In 2010, 90% of seniors graduated – an 11 point increase.

For a list of post-Katrina (2007-2010) graduation rates by school, click here.

The GEE

The Graduation Exit Exam (GEE) tests 10th and 11th graders in English, Math, Science and Social Studies.

Since 2005, New Orleans test results have grown more than the state in all subjects.

• In English, New Orleans grew 12 percentage points; the state grew 3.
• In Math, New Orleans grew 21 percentage points; the state grew 11.
• In Science, New Orleans grew 13 points. The state grew 4.
• In Social Studies, New Orleans grew 18 points. The state grew 7.

2005 Pre-Katrina

Pre-Katrina, high schools in New Orleans were sharply divided between high performing, selective admissions schools and low performing (many the lowest in the state) open admissions high schools.

In 2005, 67% of high schoolers (grades 9-12) attended a failing school.

While a failing school has a School Performance Score (SPS) of less than 60, the majority of New Orleans’ failing high schools were the worst schools in the state, with scores below 30.

Post-Katrina to Today

The high schools governed by the Orleans Parish School Board were the first to reopen after the storm. Some of their highly selective schools reduced or eliminated their admissions criteria to help get students back in school and to bring their student enrollment closer to pre-Katrina levels. This change in student make-up contributed to a drop in their SPS scores.

As a result, today we have fewer 3, 4, and 5 star schools and more 1 and 2 star schools.

The good news:  Significantly fewer students are attending failing schools.

Using either the 2009 SPS scores or the spring 2010 test

scores, Educate Now! estimates that in 2010 only 36% of students in grades 9-12 attended failing schools. This is marked improvement!

View 2005 high schools with student population and performance rankings.
View 2010 high schools with student population and performance rankings.

In addition to the schools that were one star or higher in 2009, Educate Now! calculated three additional high schools should have a 2010 Growth Performance Score* of 60 or higher:

O. Perry Walker, Algiers Technical Academy and Thurgood Marshall Early College High School. Congrats to all three!

Unfortunately, while the percent of students attending a failing high school has dropped, so has the percent of students attending a high performing high school – from 21% in 2005 to 10% in 2010.

We can and should be able to have non selective high schools that are high performing. Educate Now! wants to shine the spotlight on Sci Academy. Their 10^th grade GEE scores were excellent -the third highest in the city behind Ben Franklin and Lusher. Sci Academy proves that open admission high schools can excel; our challenge is for more of them to do so.

* Growth performance scores use only the most recent year of data. A school performance score averages two years of data.

The high school landscape in New Orleans is very different now than it was pre-Katrina, but it is still possible to make valid comparisons between 2005 and 2010 to determine how education reform is affecting our high school students.

There are critics who claim that New Orleans high school students are no better off, and may be even worse off, than they were before Katrina. This is not correct.

Without a doubt:

1.  High Schools Are Better
In 2005, 67% of high school students (grades 9-12) attended a failing high school. In 2010, this percentage dropped to 36%* – a huge improvement!

2.  More Students Are Performing Basic or Above:
In 2005, only 40% of students scored Basic or above on the English section of the Graduation Exit Exam (GEE), compared to 52% this year. Math gains are even more impressive, with a 21 point gain: 39% in 2005 to 60% in 2010.

3.  Senior Graduation Rates Are Up:
In 2005, only 79% of seniors graduated. This year, 90% of seniors graduated – an 11 point jump.

Our high schools are far from perfect, but the improvements in school and student performance provide a basis for optimism.

* This is an estimate based on 2010 test scores. See below for more details.