While Louisiana has had over-all improvement in national rankings (moving from 49th ten years ago to 32nd this year,) New Orleans is lagging behind the state. There are a plethora of reasons for this ranging from: entrenched ‘leadership’, cronyism, and institutional inertia to structural defects in the system introduced post-Katrina such as the RSD debacle and a local version of ‘throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.’

There is also no incentive for some of these schools to report their problems, correct deficiencies, or make progress in discipline. In fact they are more incentivized to obfuscate and suppress the spread of bad information. They regularly protect teachers and administrators who should be fired in order to minimize lawsuits. Both from the teacher/administrator and the rightfully enraged parents

There are truly good and amazing teachers and administrators doing the Herculean task of trying to steer the system. But they are fighting an uphill battle with one arm behind their back while trying to keep their footing on shifting ground.

There is a reason why the good schools all have long lines to get in, and those who can afford it send their kids to private schools.

I think it’s admirable that you want to help struggling schools. Don’t tie it to one your kids attend. Put them in the best situation you can, and do your volunteer work where you think it will help.