Story perspectives

New Orleans Charters Achieve 2nd Best Reading, 3rd Math Gains

6/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

New Orleans achieved the nation’s second-best reading improvement and third-best math growth from 2022-2025 despite being in the lowest-funded state.
Seventy-three of 74 public schools are now charters, with principals controlling budgets, staffing and curricula and graduation and college-enrollment rates exceeding pre-Katrina levels.
Longer school days and years add tutoring time, while the Recovery School District and charter operators eliminated failing schools, leaving none slated to fail in 2025-26.

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Story summary

New Orleans achieved the nation’s second-best reading improvement and third-best math growth from 2022-2025 despite being in the lowest-funded state.
Seventy-three of 74 public schools are now charters, with principals controlling budgets, staffing and curricula and graduation and college-enrollment rates exceeding pre-Katrina levels.
Longer school days and years add tutoring time, while the Recovery School District and charter operators eliminated failing schools, leaving none slated to fail in 2025-26.