NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES SHOW IMPROVEMENT

The District's School Performance Score improved more than 3 points, and 81% of NOLA Public Schools received a progress index score of "A" or "B".

(NEW ORLEANS – November 13, 2023) – Today, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released the School Performance Scores (SPS) for the 2022-2023 school year, revealing our first look at the work ahead for NOLA Public School's (NOLA-PS). 81% of NOLA Public Schools continued to receive a high letter grade for academic progress, of either "A" or "B", for the 2022-2023 school year. These accomplishments result in the school system maintaining a "C" letter grade for performance overall.

"We maintain our commitment to progress, just as we did last year. We recognize the importance of the work ahead, and we are immensely proud of our educators' unwavering dedication to equipping our scholars with the knowledge and tools they need to excel academically and beyond," stated Dr. Avis Williams, Superintendent of NOLA Public Schools. "It's worth emphasizing that our schools are more than just a letter grade. They represent a rich culture of learning that enhances our students' educational journeys through art, music, sports, and culinary programs. Our schools also offer dual-enrollment classes with local universities, career and technical education opportunities, and outstanding elementary literacy programs. These elements collectively lay a strong foundation for our scholars' social, emotional, and academic success."

● Showing strong recovery from the challenges of the pandemic, the District's overall score increased. NOLA Public Schools saw an increase in its District Performance Score (DPS) of more than 3 points from 2022 and maintained its overall letter grade of "C". Looking at the pre-pandemic baseline, the overall District Performance Score has improved by 2 points since 2019 showing an improvement over pre-pandemic student success for the first time.

● Several district schools demonstrated growth. From 2022 to 2023, 50 schools showed an overall improvement in their SPS of at least 1 point, including all four alternative schools.

● Students in NOLA Public Schools continue to make meaningful progress year over year. 81% of NOLA Public Schools received progress letter grades of "A" or "B".

● Several schools have been recognized for their outstanding impact with student growth and helping historically disadvantaged students excel. 16 NOLA Public Schools received Top Gains Honoree recognition and seven schools were named Opportunity Honorees.

From 2022 to 2023, two schools dropped down to an F letter grade and another school received an "F" grade after receiving a transitional grade in 2022. At the same time, seven schools received a higher letter grade in 2023 after receiving an "F" in 2022.

"As a district, we find inspiration in the accomplishments and progress achieved by the majority of our schools. We extend heartfelt congratulations to them for their unwavering commitment and hard work in guiding our scholars through their academic journeys," said Dr. Williams. "Nevertheless, we acknowledge that there is still considerable work ahead of us. The data serves as a catalyst for growth, and our commitment remains steadfast in retaining exceptional teachers. We will support them in delivering high-quality instruction tailored to help scholars meet the challenges of the state assessments and beyond. Additionally, we will continue to emphasize the importance of arts, sports, and extracurricular activities, aiming to foster the holistic development of every child. Collaboratively, with our CMO leaders, we will persist to strive for excellence in education. That's what our scholars, families and the New Orleans community deserve. Our shared objective is to be steadfast in ensuring our educators have the necessary resources and support to empower our scholars to thrive."

Every year, with the exception of the past two years due to COVID-19, schools and school systems in Louisiana receive report cards with school performance scores and corresponding A-F letter grades. The report cards, which can be viewed via the online Louisiana School Finder, communicate how well schools are preparing scholars for the next grade level by examining student performance measures and providing insight into what academic and non-academic offerings schools provide.
 

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). NOLA-PS currently oversees 67 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, the first woman in the District's 181 years to serve as its permanent superintendent.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.