The state has released the 2016 School Performance Scores.
Highlights
- Performance has improved. The District Performance Score for New Orleans (OPSB+RSD) increased 1.5 points after three years of no change.
- New Orleans is only one-tenth of a point away from receiving a B letter grade.
- While performance has improved, New Orleans did not keep pace with other districts. Our ranking went down two spots from last year – from 41st to 43rd.
- Our schools were challenged to improve with the new, higher standards; 8 schools went up a letter grade, and 16 schools went down a letter grade.
District Performance
The District Performance Score (DPS) is the most comprehensive measurement of school and student performance. The DPS for New Orleans includes all students, all tests, and all grade levels for OPSB and RSD (including students that attended schools now closed).
- New Orleans’ DPS went up 1.5 points, from 83.4 to 84.9, the first change in three years.
- New Orleans received a C letter grade again this year, but we are now just one tenth of a point away from a B.
- New Orleans is ranked 43rd out of 69 districts, down two spots from last year.
Download the 2016 District Performance Scores for New Orleans Schools (xlsx).
School Performance
Seventy-seven New Orleans schools received a School Performance Score (SPS) in 2016, including OPSB, RSD, and Type 2 schools.
- 8 schools (10%) improved by one letter grade.
- 49 schools (64%) stayed the same.
- 16 schools (21%) declined by one letter grade.
- 4 schools (5%) didn’t have a letter grade in both years to compare.
x
Letter Grade Distribution for Schools with an SPS
| Grade | 2016 | 2015 | ||
| # | % | # | % | |
| A | 11 | 14% | 10 | 13% |
| B | 10 | 13% | 15 | 19% |
| C | 26 | 34% | 24 | 30% |
| D | 21 | 27% | 20 | 25% |
| F | 8 | 10% | 9 | 11% |
| T | 1 | 1% | 2 | 3% |
| TOTAL | 77 | 80 | ||
x
Download 2016 School Performance Scores (xlsx).
Too Many Failing Schools
While both RSD and OPSB have provisions that flag when a school is declining academically, these policies need more teeth. Four of the K-8 schools that received an F have operated the school for years and have fallen two letter grades since their charters were renewed.
x
| School | 1st Year of Operation |
2013 Grade |
2014 Grade |
2015 Grade |
2016 Grade |
| Arise Academy | 2009 | C | D | D | F |
| McDonogh #32 Literacy Charter | 2006 | C | D | D | F |
| Nelson Elementary | 2006 | C | D | F | F |
| William J. Fischer Accelerated | 2006 | C | D | F | F |
x
The policy of closing low performing schools or replacing them with better operators has helped improve student academic achievement in New Orleans, according to a recent study from the Education Research Alliance.
If we are going to grant 5- or 10-year charter renewals based on performance, we need stronger contract provisions that revoke a charter when a school falls two letter grades or receives an F.
And Now for Some Good News
x
Congratulations to these eight schools that went up a letter grade!
| School | 2016 Grade |
2015 Grade |
| KIPP Renaissance High School | A | B |
| Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans | A | B |
| Esperanza Charter School | B | C |
| Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence | B | C |
| James M. Singleton Charter School | C | D |
| KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy | C | D |
| Success Preparatory Academy | C | D |
| Paul Habans Charter School | D | F |
x
Three New Orleans schools are among the top twenty in the state.
| School | Ranking |
| Benjamin Franklin High School | # 1 |
| Lusher Charter School | # 4 |
| Lake Forest Elementary Charter School | # 18 |
x
Four New Orleans high schools are among the top ranked high poverty (75% or more economically disadvantaged students) schools in the state.
| School | Ranking |
| Edna Karr High School | # 1 |
| Warren Easton | # 5 |
| KIPP Renaissance | # 6 |
| N.O. Charter Science and Math High School | # 9 |
x
Fourteen high poverty schools in New Orleans outperformed the state.
| School | 2016 Grade |
2016 SPS |
| Edna Karr High School | A | 106.9 |
| Alice M. Harte Elementary Charter School | A | 104.3 |
| Warren Easton Senior High School | A | 100.7 |
| KIPP Renaissance High School | A | 100 |
| Benjamin Franklin Elem. Math and Science | B | 95.4 |
| N.O. Charter Science and Mathematics HS | B | 94.4 |
| KIPP Central City Academy | B | 93.2 |
| Mary Bethune Elementary Literature/Technology | B | 89.5 |
| Eleanor McMain Secondary School | B | 89.2 |
| Esperanza Charter School | B | 89 |
| Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence | B | 87.1 |
| Robert Russa Moton Charter School | B | 85.9 |
| Sci Academy | B | 85.3 |
| KIPP Believe College Prep | C | 84.4 |
| State of Louisiana | C | 83 |
x
These schools improved the most, achieving at least a 10 point gain.
| School | Increase in SPS |
| Wilson Charter School | 29.2 pts * |
| Success Preparatory Academy | 22 pts |
| James M. Singleton Charter School | 21.6 pts |
| Esperanza Charter School | 16.8 pts |
| Paul Habans Charter School | 13.8 pts |
| Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans | 10.6 pts |
| Mahalia Jackson Elementary School | 10.2 pts |
x
* Gain was in the first year under a new operator.
School Performance Scores – All New Orleans Schools
Download 2016 SPS Alphabetical by School.
x
| School | 2016 Grade |
2016 SPS |
2015 Grade |
2015 SPS |
| Benjamin Franklin High School | A | 140.3 | A | 138.9 |
| Lusher Charter School | A | 137 | A | 130.3 |
| Lake Forest Elementary Charter School | A | 127.5 | A | 123.8 |
| Edward Hynes Charter School | A | 113.7 | A | 107.1 |
| Audubon Charter School | A | 112.2 | A | 116.9 |
| Edna Karr High School | A | 106.9 | A | 111.1 |
| Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans | A | 105.6 | B | 95 |
| Alice M. Harte Elementary Charter School | A | 104.3 | A | 100 |
| Warren Easton Senior High School | A | 100.7 | A | 109.4 |
| International School of Louisiana | A | 100.6 | A | 102.5 |
| KIPP Renaissance High School | A | 100 | B | 96.8 |
| New Orleans Military/Maritime Academy | B | 98.8 | A | 103.2 |
| Benjamin Franklin Elem. Math and Science | B | 95.4 | B | 91.4 |
| New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics HS | B | 94.4 | B | 98.6 |
| KIPP Central City Academy | B | 93.2 | B | 85.4 |
| Mary Bethune Elementary Literature/Technology | B | 89.5 | B | 95 |
| Eleanor McMain Secondary School | B | 89.2 | B | 88.9 |
| Esperanza Charter School | B | 89 | C | 72.2 |
| Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence | B | 87.1 | C | 81 |
| Robert Russa Moton Charter School | B | 85.9 | B | 88.4 |
| Sci Academy | B | 85.3 | B | 96.3 |
| KIPP Believe College Prep | C | 84.4 | C | 84.4 |
| Morris Jeff Community School | C | 84.4 | B | 84.6 |
| KIPP Central City Primary | C | 81.6 | C | 75.1 |
| International High School of New Orleans | C | 81 | B | 85.6 |
| Lafayette Academy | C | 80.8 | B | 89.6 |
| Mahalia Jackson Elementary School | C | 79.9 | C | 69.7 |
| Harriet Tubman Charter School | C | 79.9 | C | 81.4 |
| Cohen College Prep | C | 79 | B | 88 |
| Samuel J. Green Charter School | C | 79 | C | 73.6 |
| Success Preparatory Academy | C | 78.9 | D | 56.9 |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School for Sci/Tech | C | 78.6 | B | 91.6 |
| ENCORE Academy | C | 77.7 | C | 70.9 |
| Arthur Ashe Charter School | C | 77.7 | C | 73.2 |
| KIPP McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts | C | 76.7 | C | 79 |
| McDonogh #35 College Preparatory School | C | 76.5 | C | 70.3 |
| Martin Behrman Acad of Creative Arts & Sciences | C | 76.4 | C | 75.8 |
| Einstein Charter School | C | 75.1 | C | 83.5 |
| Lake Area New Tech Early College High School | C | 75.1 | C | 79.4 |
| Mary D. Coghill Charter School | C | 75.1 | C | 80.4 |
| ReNEW SciTech Academy at Laurel | C | 74.7 | B | 94.2 |
| ReNEW Dolores T. Aaron Elementary | C | 74.1 | C | 77.3 |
| Pierre A. Capdau Learning Academy | C | 73.7 | C | 71.4 |
| KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy | C | 73.2 | D | 64.5 |
| ReNEW Schaumburg Elementary | C | 73.1 | T | 73.6 |
| ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy at Live Oak Elem | C | 72.2 | C | 74 |
| James M. Singleton Charter School | C | 69 | D | 47.4 |
| Wilson Charter School | T | 68.9 | ||
| G. W. Carver Collegiate Academy | D | 67.1 | C | 73.6 |
| Phillis Wheatley Community School | D | 66.9 | D | 64.8 |
| Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy | D | 64.2 | C | 76.2 |
| Langston Hughes Charter Academy | D | 63.3 | D | 59 |
| Akili Academy of New Orleans | D | 62.2 | C | 67 |
| McDonogh #35 Academy | D | 61.5 | D | 56.3 |
| Milestone Academy | D | 61 | C | 69.3 |
| Algiers Technology Academy | D | 59.7 | D | 54.5 |
| Gentilly Terrace Elementary School | D | 58.7 | D | 52 |
| Lord Beaconsfield Landry-Oliver Perry Walker High | D | 58.7 | D | 61.5 |
| Lawrence D. Crocker College Prep | D | 58.6 | T | 69.2 |
| Fannie C. Williams Charter School | D | 57.2 | C | 66.3 |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy of Global Studies | D | 57 | C | 71.3 |
| Mildred Osborne Charter School | D | 54.7 | D | 50.8 |
| Sylvanie Williams College Prep | D | 54.7 | D | 52.4 |
| Paul Habans Charter School | D | 53.6 | F | 39.8 |
| G. W. Carver Preparatory Academy | D | 53.1 | D | 59.1 |
| Homer A. Plessy Community School | D | 52.4 | D | 49.1 |
| Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School | D | 51.3 | D | 62.4 |
| ReNew McDonogh City Park Academy | D | 49.9 | ||
| Joseph A. Craig Charter School | D | 49.1 | D | 53.2 |
| Nelson Elementary School | F | 45.9 | F | 41.2 |
| McDonogh 42 Charter School | F | 45.8 | D | 62.6 |
| McDonogh #32 Literacy Charter School | F | 44.7 | D | 54.5 |
| Arise Academy | F | 43.4 | D | 47.8 |
| William J. Fischer Accelerated Academy | F | 36.2 | F | 39.6 |
| The NET Charter High School | F | 29.8 | F | 25.7 |
| ReNEW Accelerated High School West Bank | F | 23 | F | 18.9 |
| Crescent Leadership Academy | F | 17 | F | 20.2 |