Each   school   year,   the   Louisiana   Department   of   Education   conducts  two   student   enrollment   counts:   on   October   1st   and   February   1st.  These  counts  also  document  the  race,  gender,  grade  level,  and  free  or  reduced-­‐price  lunch  (FRL)  eligibility  status  of  students  in  grades  pre-­‐K   to   12.   The   public   school   enrollment   counts   are   particularly  important   because   they   are   used   to   determine   how   schools   and  districts  receive  funding  from  the  state.  The  data  used  in  this  report  were  released  by  the  Louisiana  Department  of  Education  and  can  be  found  on  our  website  here.  !The   February   enrollment   counts   include   accurate   estimates   of   the  number  of  students  eligible  for  free  and  reduced-­‐price   lunch,  which  is   an   indicator   of   student   poverty.     For   details   on   FRL   eligibility  requirements,  see  Appendix  B.  The  February  2014  data  show  that,  on  average,   the  percentage  of   children  eligible   for  FRL   in  New  Orleans    and  Louisiana  public  schools  has  increased  in  recent  years.

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84% of  New  Orleans  public  school  students  are  eligible  for  free  or  

reduced-­‐price  lunch.  

50% of  public  schools  have  95%  or  

more  of  their  students  eligible  for  free  or  reduced-­‐price  lunch.  

8% of  public  schools  have  fewer  than  half  of  their  students  eligible  for  free  or  reduced-­‐price  lunch.  

The Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives at Tulane University advances the success of New Orleans children and young adults on their educational pathways, through research, policy analysis, and programs that support youth.

!

NOLA BY THE NUMBERS: FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH ELIGIBILITY, FEB. 2014

Smaller circles represent schools with lower

percentages of students receiving free or

reduced-price lunches.

Public School Free & Reduced-Price Lunch Enrollment In  Orleans  Parish,  84  percent  of  public  school  students  enrolled  during  the  2013-­‐14  school  year  are   eligible   for   free   or   reduced-­‐price   lunch.     The   percentage   of   students   in   poverty   in   New  Orleans   has   increased   by   nine   percent   from   the   2004-­‐05   school   year.   The   average   school  performance  score  (SPS)  in  Orleans  Parish  has  increased  by  41  percent  during  that  same  period,  using  the  old  SPS  formula.  In  comparison,  while  Louisiana  has  seen  a  similar  increase  in  the  rate  of  students  eligible  for  FRL,  the  statewide  average  SPS  has  grown  by  only  16  percent.      

At  least  80  percent  of  the  student  body  in  most  New  Orleans  public  schools  are  FRL-­‐eligible  (73  of  89  schools).    In  the  chart  below,  each  bar  represents  the  percent  of  the  student  body  at  a  New  Orleans  public   school   that   is   eligible   for   free  or   reduced-­‐price   lunch.  The  bars   are   color-­‐coded  based   on   the   school’s   2013   school   letter   grade   as   assigned   by   the   Louisiana   Department   of  Education.  Notably,  the  A  schools  are  concentrated  on  the  right-­‐side  of  the  chart,  where  FRL  rates  are  lower.  

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Aver

age

SPS

0

50

100

150

200

%FR

L

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

2005 2014*

LA 100LA 86

LA 68%LA 61%LA 61%

LA 68%

*2013 SPS scores were used since 2014 data are not yet available.!

Public school achievement & Free & Reduced-Price Lunch from 2005 to 2014 in Louisiana and Orleans Parish

100%

!!!!!50%

!!!!

0%

80%

%FR

L

Percentage of Students Eligible for Free & Reduced-Price Lunch in New Orleans Public Schools, Feb. 2014

Source: Louisiana Department of Education

Aver

age

SPS

0

50

100

150

200

%FR

L

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

2005 2014*

NOLA 82NOLA 58

NOLA 84%NOLA 77%NOLA 77%

NOLA 84%LOUISIANA NEW ORLEANS

!!!The  distribution  of  FRL-­‐eligible  students  across  school  types   is   not   consistent.   Type   2   charters   that   are  authorized  by  the  Board  of  Elementary  and  Secondary  Education  (BESE)  have  an  average  of  49  percent  FRL-­‐eligible  students,  which   is  signiYicantly   lower   than   the  city-­‐wide   average   of   84   percent.   Similarly,   those  schools   that   have   charters   with   the   Orleans   Parish  School   Board   (OPSB)   are   also   well   below   the   New  Orleans  average  with  66  percent.  !The   schools   that   are   directly   run   by   the   OPSB,   those  that   are   directly   run   by   the   Recovery   School   District  (RSD),  and  the  schools  with  charters  from  the  RSD,  are  all  above  the  city-­‐wide  average.  Each  group  of  schools  has  between  91-­‐93%  of  their  students  FRL-­‐eligible.  See  our  website  for  a  chart  of  school  governance  structures  in  New  Orleans  public  schools.   !!!!!!

Compared   to   other  urban  districts,  New  Orleans  public   schools   have   a   relatively   high   percentage  of   students   eligible   for   free   or   reduced-­‐priced  lunch.     The   table   to   the   left   illustrates   that   the  city’s   2014   FRL   rate   is   higher   than   recent   FRL  rates  in  other  major  U.S.  cities.      !The  eligibility  guidelines  for  FRL  are  the  same  for  the  48  contiguous  states  and  Washington,  DC.    To  qualify   for   free   meals,   a   family   must   earn   130  percent   or   less   of   the   federal   poverty   guidelines  for   their   household   size.     Reduced-­‐price   lunch  eligibility   is   granted   to   students   from   families  earning   between   131   and   185   percent   of   the  poverty  line.    See  Appendix  B  for  speciYic  details.  !In  2013,  48  percent  of  public   school   students   in  the   United   States   qualiYied   for   free   and   reduced  lunch.     An   annual   income   of   $30,615   or   less   is  required  to  qualify  for  free  lunch  and  $43,568  or  less  is  required  to  qualify  for  reduced-­‐price  lunch.      !

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Percent  of  Students  Eligible  for  Free/Reduced  Lunch

         %FRL                                            %Other School  Type #  Schools

BESE  &  Independents* 5

OPSB  Charter 14

OPSB  Direct 7

RSD  Charter 57

RSD  Direct 5**

*Includes  New  Orleans  Center  for  CreaTve  Arts  **StaTsTcs  also  include  F.W.  Gregory  Pre-­‐K  program  

Source:  Louisiana  Department  of  EducaTon

Percent  of  Public  School  Students  Eligible  for  Free/Reduced  Lunch  

(Year  of  Data  in  Parentheses)*City %FRL

New  Orleans  (2014) 84%Chicago  (2012) 82%Newark  (2012) 82%New  York  City  (2013) 81%Philadelphia  (2014)** 81%Atlanta  (2014) 77%Washington,  DC  (2014) 76%Miami-­‐Dade  (2013) 73%Denver  (2013) 72%Sources:  Kids  Count  Data  Center;  NY  State  Dept.  of  EducaTon;  Georgia  Dept.  of  EducaTon;  Florida  Dept.  of  EducaTon;  DC  Public  Schools;  Pennsylvania  Dept.  of  EducaTon;  Chicago  Tribune.  *Different  years  were  used  in  cases  where  the  most  recent  data  on  a  city-­‐wide  level  (including  all  charters)  were  unavailable.  **Includes  only  some  charter  schools.

Appendix A: Enrollment and Race/Ethnicity by School, February 2014

School  or  Site  Name Student  Enrollment

%  FRL %  African-­‐American

%  White

%  Asian %  Hispanic2012-­‐13  LeJer  Grade*

Independent  State  SchoolNew  Orleans  Center  for  CreaTve  Arts 175 31% 31% 54% 0% 8% A

BESE  Charter  SchoolsInternaTonal  High  School  of  New  Orleans

461 74% 60% 12% 5% 24% D

InternaTonal  School  of  Louisiana 819 56% 47% 26% 0% 22% A

Lycee  Francais  de  la  Nouvelle-­‐Orleans 398 29% 14% 64% 0% 14% New

New  Orleans  Military/MariTme  Academy

357 66% 54% 38% 0% 4% B

OPSB  Charter  SchoolsAlice  M.  Harte  Elementary  Charter  School

696 81% 88% 4% 2% 6% B

Audubon  Charter  School 799 44% 48% 38% 4% 4% A

Benjamin  Franklin  High  School 864 28% 32% 39% 18% 6% A

Bricolage  Academy 75 41% 47% 47% 0% 0% NewEdna  Karr  High  School 1021 83% 95% 1% 1% 1% B

Edward  Hynes  Charter  School 646 47% 48% 44% 2% 4% A

Einstein  Charter  School 908 91% 58% 0% 24% 18% B

ENCORE  Academy 318 89% 76% 11% 0% 8% DHomer  A.  Plessy  Community  School 115 60% 54% 29% 0% 0% New

Lake  Forest  Elementary  Charter  School

513 80% 91% 0% 5% 0% A

Lusher  Charter  School 1,698 19% 30% 53% 4% 8% A

School  or  Site  Name

!!!*New SPS formula and scale. Source: Louisiana Department of Education

New  Orleans  Charter  Science  and  MathemaTcs  HS

384 83% 77% 11% 0% 6% C

Robert  Russa  Moton  Charter  School 361 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% D

Warren  Easton  Senior  High  School 944 84% 96% 0% 0% 3% B

OPSB  Direct  Run  SchoolsBenjamin  Franklin  Elem.  Math  and  Science

753 83% 96% 2% 0% 2% B

Eleanor  McMain  Secondary  School 815 87% 89% 0% 10% 2% B

Mahalia  Jackson  Elementary  School 141 ≥95% 90% 0% 0% 11% B

Mary  Bethune  Elementary  Literature/Technology

395 ≥95% 95% 0% 0% 4% B

McDonogh  #35  Academy 187 ≥95% 95% 0% 0% 0% D

McDonogh  #35  College  Preparatory  School

674 90% 97% 0% 0% 2% C

Youth  Study  Center 30 ≥95% 100% 0% 0% 0% NA

RSD  Charter  SchoolsAkili  Academy  of  New  Orleans 482 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% C

Algiers  Technology  Academy 234 92% 96% 0% 0% 0% D

Andrew  H.  Wilson  Charter  School 652 ≥95% 90% 0% 0% 7% D

Arise  Academy 484 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% CArthur  Ashe  Charter  School 583 ≥95% 95% 0% 0% 4% B

Cohen  College  Prep 493 ≥95% 97% 0% 0% 0% DCrescent  Leadership  Academy 234 63% 99% 0% 0% 0% T

Dr.  MarTn  Luther  King  Charter  School  for  Sci/Tech

813 86% 99% 0% 0% 0% C

Student  Enrollment

%  FRL %  African-­‐American

%  White

%  Asian %  Hispanic2012-­‐13  LeJer  Grade*

School  or  Site  Name

!!!

Dwight  D.  Eisenhower  Elementary  School

796 93% 87% 3% 3% 6% C

Edgar  P.  Harney  Spirit  of  Excellence  Academy

371 ≥95% 97% 0% 0% 0% D

Esperanza  Charter  School 484 ≥95% 37% 3% 0% 58% C

Fannie  C.  Williams  Charter  School 576 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% T

G.  W.  Carver  Collegiate  Academy 202 91% 96% 0% 0% 0% New

G.  W.  Carver  Preparatory  Academy

186 91% 94% 0% 0% 8% New

GenTlly  Terrace  Elementary  School 467 91% 96% 0% 0% 0% C

Harriet  Tubman  Charter  School 521 ≥95% 95% 0% 0% 3% T

James  M.  Singleton  Charter  School 549 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 3% D

John  Dibert  Community  School 516 ≥95% 87% 3% 0% 9% B

John  McDonogh  High  School 302 ≥95% 95% 0% 0% 5% T

Joseph  A.  Craig  Charter  School 406 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% T

Joseph  S.  Clark  Preparatory  High  School

379 93% 97% 0% 0% 0% T

KIPP  Believe  College  Prep  (Phillips) 714 94% 96% 2% 0% 0% C

KIPP  Central  City  Academy 430 ≥95% 100% 0% 0% 0% B

KIPP  Central  City  Primary 524 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% C

KIPP  McDonogh  15  School  for  the  CreaTve  Arts

878 94% 96% 2% 0% 2% B

KIPP  New  Orleans  Leadership  Academy 770 ≥95% 97% 0% 0% 2% C

KIPP  Renaissance  High  School 418 94% 98% 0% 0% 0% D

Lafayeie  Academy 920 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% C

Student  Enrollment

%  FRL %  African-­‐American

%  White

%  Asian %  Hispanic2012-­‐13  LeJer  Grade*

School  or  Site  Name

!!!

Lagniappe  Academy  of  New  Orleans 164 ≥95% 96% 0% 0% 0% B

Lake  Area  New  Tech  Early  College  High  School

660 82% 98% 0% 0% 0% C

Langston  Hughes  Charter  Academy 817 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% C

Lawrence  D.  Crocker  College  Prep 314 ≥95% 97% 0% 0% 0% New

Lord  Beaconsfield  Landry-­‐Oliver  Perry  Walker  High

1172 92% 99% 0% 0% 0% New

MarTn  Behrman  Elementary  School 707 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% B

Mary  D.  Coghill  Charter  School 607 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% New

McDonogh  #32  Elementary  School 603 ≥95% 96% 0% 0% 0% C

McDonogh  42  Charter  School 475 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% T

McDonogh  City  Park  Academy 449 ≥95% 97% 0% 0% 0% C

Mildred  Osborne  Charter  School 410 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% New

Miller-­‐McCoy  Academy  for  MathemaTcs  and  Business

326 89% 100% 0% 0% 0% D

Morris  Jeff  Community  School 401 59% 51% 39% 0% 6% C

Nelson  Elementary  School 532 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% C

Paul  Habans  Charter  School 428 ≥95% 90% 4% 0% 6% New

Pierre  A.  Capdau  Learning  Academy 376 92% 95% 0% 0% 0% F

ReNEW  Accelerated  High  School  #1 175 79% 100% 0% 0% 0% F

ReNEW  Accelerated  High  School  #2 177 79% 97% 0% 0% 0% F

ReNew  Cultural  Arts  Academy  at  Live  Oak 617 ≥95% 97% 0% 0% 2% New

ReNew  Dolores  T.  Aaron  Elementary 776 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% T

Student  Enrollment

%  FRL %  African-­‐American

%  White

%  Asian %  Hispanic2012-­‐13  LeJer  Grade*

School  or  Site  Name

!!!

Source:  Louisiana  Department  of  Education

ReNew  Schaumburg  Elementary 825 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% New

ReNew  SciTech  Academy  at  Laurel 750 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 2% C

Samuel  J.  Green  Charter  School 482 ≥95% 93% 0% 0% 3% C

Sci  Academy 433 91% 89% 0% 8% 3% BSophie  B.  Wright  Learning  Academy 447 ≥95% 97% 0% 0% 0% B

Success  Preparatory  Academy 467 93% 95% 0% 0% 3% C

Sylvanie  Williams  College  Prep 344 ≥95% 99% 0% 0% 0% C

The  NET  Charter  High  School 145 92% 97% 0% 0% 0% F

William  J.  Fischer  Elementary  School 647 ≥95% 98% 0% 0% 0% C

RSD  Direct  Run  SchoolsA.P.  Tureaud  Elementary  School 202 ≥95% 96% 0% 0% 0% D

Benjamin  Banneker  Elementary  School 400 ≥95% 95% 0% 0% 4% D

F.W.  Gregory  Elementary  School 112 ≥95% 90% 0% 0% 0% NA

G.W.  Carver  High  School 83 88% 100% 0% 0% 0% D

Sarah  Towles  Reed  Senior  High  School 148 90% 88% 0% 10% 0% D

Walter  L.  Cohen  High  School 43 ≥95% 100% 0% 0% 0% F

Student  Enrollment

%  FRL %  African-­‐American

%  White

%  Asian %  Hispanic2012-­‐13  LeJer  Grade*

School  or  Site  Name

!!!

Appendix B: Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility The  eligibility  guidelines  for  FRL  are  the  same  for  the  48  contiguous  states  and  Washington,  DC.    To  qualify  for  free  meals,  a  family  must  earn  130  percent  or  less  of  the  federal  poverty  guidelines  (FPG)   for   their   household   size.     Reduced-­‐price   lunch   eligibility   is   granted   to   students   from  families   earning   between   131   and   185   percent   of   the   poverty   line.     Families   who   receive  Transitional   Aid   to   Families   with   Dependent   Children   (TAFDC)   or   Supplemental   Nutrition  Assistance  Program  (SNAP)  are  automatically  qualiYied.  While  researchers  generally  believe  that  FRL  counts  are  accurate  for  elementary  school,  there  is  some  concern  that  high  school  rates  may  be  under-­‐representative  since   they  need   to  opt-­‐in.    See   the   following  website   for  more  details:  http://febp.newamerica.net/background-­‐analysis/federal-­‐school-­‐nutrition-­‐programs/  !

Source:  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  (http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-­‐meals/income-­‐eligibility-­‐guidelines)  !!!!

People  in  Household

Free  School  Meals  130%  Federal  Poverty  Guidelines

Reduced-­‐Price  Meals  185%  Federal  Poverty  Guidelines

Annual  Monthly  Annual  Monthly

1 $14,937 $1,245 $21,257 $1,772

2 $20,163 $1,681 $28,694 $2,392

3 $25,389 $2,116 $36,131 $3,011

4 $30,615 $2,552 $43,568 $3,631

5 $35,841 $2,987 $51,005 $4,251

6 $41,067 $3,423 $58,442 $4,871

7 $46,293 $3,858 $65,879 $5,490

8 $51,519 $4,294 $73,316 $6,110

Each  addiTonal  person

 +$5,226  +$436  +$7,437  +$620

!!!

Researched and Written by: !Patrick Sims, Senior Research Analyst psims1@tulane.edu 504-274-3634 Debra Vaughan, Director of Research dvaughan@tulane.edu 504-274-3690

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