Educate Now! has reviewed the most recent enrollment data from the state. As of October 1:
- 91% of New Orleans students are in charter schools.
- Enrollment keeps increasing by around 1,500 students per year.
- New Orleans schools have grown more diverse since Katrina.
New Orleans Enrollment Over Time
| October 1 Count (all students)* |
2004-05 | 2009-10 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
| TOTAL | 66372 | 38051 | 42030 | 43540 | 44950 |
| Charter | 1.5% | 61.4% | 77.5% | 83.9% | 91.0% |
| Direct-Run | 98.5% | 38.6% | 22.5% | 16.1% | 9.0% |
| White | 3.6% | 5.4% | 7.9% | 6.7% | 6.9% |
| Black | 93.2% | 90.0% | 86.3% | 87.3% | 86.1% |
| Other | 3.2% | 4.6% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 7.0% |
*2013-14 does not include 0-3 enrollment or NOCCA (which dropped below 50% N.O. enrollment) but does include Milestone SABIS (with over 50% N.O. enrollment).
According to a recent market share report, New Orleans has the nation’s highest percentage of public school students in charters. In 2012-13, Detroit was second with 51% percent in charters, and Washington, D.C. was third with 43%.
Also, when the Recovery School District closes its last four direct-run schools at the end of this school year, it will become the nation’s first all-charter district.
UPDATE: This post has been updated to reflect corrected state data that increased charter enrollment from 90.2% to to 91%.