As we’ve reached the end of another school year, I find myself reflecting on the progress that gives us reasons to be proud, our responsibility to keep it going, and what this moment asks of all of us. First, we must celebrate the Class of 2026. On behalf of NSNO, I want to offer my congratulations to every student graduating this year. You have learned, adapted, and persevered through a school experience unlike any other generation. As you take your next steps, whether into college, career, service, or another path, know that this city is cheering you on and counting on the brilliance you will continue to bring into the world.
In New Orleans, we have never had the luxury of thinking about public education in simple terms. Our schools carry the weight of history, the urgency of the present, and the hopes of families who want what every family wants: excellent schools, strong teachers, and real opportunity for every child. That work has never been easy. But this year, as we look at the data, listen to educators, and consider the broader civic and political climate around us, one thing is clear: New Orleans public schools are continuing to make meaningful progress, and sustaining that progress will require bold, collaborative action.
The newest Education Scorecard results, research done by Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth, offer real reasons to be proud. Louisiana is leading the nation in academic recovery, ranking third in math growth and second in reading recovery among states, and New Orleans is helping lead that progress. The scorecard shows Orleans Parish students learning at an average rate of 1.35 grade levels per year, outpacing both the state average and similar districts. Orleans also ranks higher than 98% of districts nationwide in average learning rates from 2022 to 2025, ranking in the 98th percentile nationally for math trends and the 99th percentile for reading trends. This progress reflects the hard work happening every day in our schools and reminds us of our responsibility to sustain this momentum.
This is also the story we have tried to tell through our latest New Orleans by the Numbers work. The data shows a school system that is improving academically while also navigating real structural challenges. Declining enrollment, school sustainability, funding, and teacher retention are not separate issues from student achievement; they are deeply connected to it.
If we want schools to have the resources they need to serve students well, we have to be honest about what sustainability requires.
And that brings us to one of the most pressing issues before our city and state: teacher compensation. In May, voters statewide rejected Constitutional Amendment 3, which would have funded permanent pay raises for teachers and for support staff, but would have drained other education-related funding sources to do so. At NSNO, we understand both the need for permanent teacher raises and the complexity of the proposed funding mechanism. But the outcome does not change the underlying issue. Louisiana, and New Orleans in particular, still need meaningful action to ensure educators are compensated in a way that reflects their value and allows them to build lasting careers in our classrooms.
We cannot celebrate student growth without also acknowledging the people most responsible for it. Teachers have carried our students through recovery, transition, uncertainty, and the daily work of learning. If we want New Orleans to remain a city where students continue to grow, then we must also make it a city where excellent teachers can stay.
New Orleans has always had to build progress through partnership. That is how our city has moved forward over the last two decades: educators, families, school leaders, advocates, policymakers, funders, and community members each doing their part. The work has never belonged to one organization or entity; it belongs to all of us, and we at NSNO are grateful to be a part of this work.
We are also grateful for the progress our students have made, the educators who made that progress possible, the school and district leaders who continue to make difficult decisions in the service of children, and the families who entrust our public schools with their children’s futures.
The data tells us New Orleans is moving in the right direction. Our responsibility now is to protect that progress and make sure it reaches every child in every school. That means sustaining strong schools, investing in educators, using data honestly, and making hard decisions with students at the center. At the end of this school year, I am proud of where New Orleans stands, but I am even more focused on where we must go next.
With Gratitude,
Dana Peterson
CEO of New Schools for New Orleans
