2012 K-8 Test Scores Released

The K-8 student test scores for Louisiana were released today, and New Orleans continues to improve.

Test Score Highlights 

  • For the 6th year in a row, student performance is up.
  • Growth was less robust this year. While the RSD outperformed the state, for the first time since Katrina, OPSB did not.
  • New Orleans Combined (OPSB +RSD) tied the state with a 2 point gain in the percentage of students Basic or above.
  • New Orleans students performed better than last year in all four subjects (English, Math, Science and Social Studies).
  • We reduced the percentage of students performing in the lowest category (Unsatisfactory).
  • We increased the percentage of students performing above grade level (Mastery and Advanced). Continue reading

More New Orleans Graduates College and Career Ready

One of the key goals of K-12 education is to give our students the educational foundation they need to be college or career ready. In Louisiana, we have a good benchmark to measure this preparedness – what percent of our students qualify for TOPS, a program that provides two- and four-year merit-based scholarships to Louisiana public colleges and universities.

Educate Now! recently reviewed the TOPS data, and New Orleans continues to close the gap.

  • The percent of Orleans Parish public school students eligible for TOPS scholarships (two- or four-year) has grown from 24.9% in 2005 to 37.2% for last year’s graduates – a gain of 12.3 percentage points.
  • During this same time, the state average grew only 5.2 percentage points, from 37.3% in 2005 to 42.5% in 2011. Continue reading

In the News: A Clipping Service – May 16, 2012

In this Edition of In the News:

  • OPSB Updates
  • RSD Headlines
  • Others Have Their Say
  • Louisiana Headlines
  • National Education Stories
  • Local News 

OPSB Updates

Orleans Parish School Board Approves Property Tax Increase
Times-Picayune – May 15, 2012
After a long and sometimes heated meeting, the OPSB voted to:

  • Roll forward the millage for 2013. The increase in property tax rates will bring in an estimated $5.1 million for all Orleans Parish public schools (OPSB and RSD). The move received significant community support, including a personal appeal from RSD Superintendent Patrick Dobard.
  • Install Stan Smith, the district’s chief financial officer, as Interim Superintendent. Mr. Smith will take over for Darryl Kilbert, who is leaving the position at the end of June.
  • Promote Kathleen Padian, the district’s Executive Director of Charter Schools, to the level of Deputy Superintendent. Continue reading

In the News: A Clipping Service – May 3, 2012

In this edition of In the News:

  • School Revolution
  • National Spotlight on Louisiana
  • Don’t Shortchange Our Children
  • Superintendents in the News
  • National Education Stories
  • Louisiana Updates
  • Local News
  • More Good News

School Revolution

The Big Easy’s School Revolution
Washington Post – April 27, 2012
After examining the impressive progress made by New Orleans schools since Katrina, the Washington Post asks the question: In districts where schools are horribly failing, why should it take a natural disaster to return power to parents and educators? Continue reading

A Cause for Hope

As we struggle to build a better future for our youth, it is important that we take time to recognize the large and small successes that transpire in our schools every day.

Just this past week, two of our open-admissions high schools have given us reason to celebrate. Sci Academy held a Senior Signing Day to honor the accomplishments of its first graduating senior class. Over 94% of their 55 graduates were accepted to a 4-year college. And Lake Area New Tech Early College High School reported that 100% of their 125 graduates were accepted to either a 2 or 4-year college. Continue reading