Topics GeographyHeadlinesInfrastructureKatrinaNeighborhoodsPeopleRecreation
|
Primary education in the public schools is a problem for New Orleans.
Post-K all but 7 of the 118 New Orleans Public Schools were taken over by
the state and placed in a special recovery district. Even with numerous charter schools now in place and a new RSD superintendent, LEAP testing results continue to show New Orleans public schools are not performing.
Other education in the New Orleans area is world class. Many fine
private and parochial schools provide excellent primary and secondary education. Area
universities are among the best in the nation. Graduate education
includes much sought after business, law, and medical schools.
Governor Jindal seems willing to consider additional alternatives including a low key effort to introduce some vouchers into the mix. Area parochial schools seem willing to accept up to 500 public "scholarship" students into their mix. In July, 2008 1,200 New Orleans families applied for vouchers to send their children to private schools. Theoretically they will qualify if their income does not exceed 2.5 times the poverty level ($53,000). A lottery will be used to select the lucky scholarship winners in the event there are more qualified individuals than can be served.
|