Though the charter school movement is occurring across Louisiana, it is a signature legacy of post-Katrina reform in New Orleans. In Orleans Parish, the entire public school system comprises charter schools, which receive government funding but operate independently from the established state school system. Charters grant schools and their directors increased autonomy while empowering families with greater choice on where to send their children (attendance is not determined by geographic districting in Orleans Parish). Since the introduction of this system of charter schools, New Orleans has seen rapid improvements in both test scores and graduation rates, as well as increased accountability and local responsibility.

Private schools are not a luxury reserved for the elite in Greater New Orleans. In fact, across the region, 25% of students attend non-public schools, thanks in large part to the region’s history of strong and affordable Catholic education. Most private schools in Greater New Orleans offer a robust college-prep environment, with the majority of graduates going on to attend four-year colleges and universities. Some private schools base admissions on test results and/or prior academic performance.

The Greater New Orleans region is home to four two-year colleges, which each provide a solid catalog of professional certifications, technical training programs, and Associate Degrees which help their students prepare for the workforce.

Delgado Community College
Louisiana’s oldest and largest community college, Delgado has an open-admission policy and seven locations throughout the Greater New Orleans region. Students can earn a number of Associate degrees and Certificates in advanced technology career education, academic pre-baccalaureate education, and traditional occupational training. 

Northshore Technical Community College
NTCC is a public community college with open admissions, offering students the skills and information they need for a rapidly changing workforce through world-class training, qualified faculty, and successful partnerships with the local business industry.

Nunez Community College
Nunez is a public, comprehensive community college that offers general education and occupational technologies curriculum. Nunez blends the arts, sciences, and humanities to support students’ Associate degree and Certificate attainment, as well as regional workforce development.

River Parishes Community College
An open-admission, post-secondary, public institution, RPCC serves the river parishes of Southeastern Louisiana with transferable courses and curricula. RPCC grants Certificates and Associate degrees, and partners with the communities it serves to provide programs for personal, professional, and academic growth.

From private universities to state schools, there are eight four-year universities which operate in the Greater New Orleans region. No matter the program desired, there is a higher education destination available within a short drive.

Dillard University
A Gentilly-based, four-year liberal arts university, Dillard is one of New Orleans’s nationally renowned, historically black colleges and universities. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked Dillard No.11 among the nation’s HBCUs.

Loyola University of New Orleans
Located in Uptown New Orleans, Loyola is a private, Jesuit, Catholic institution open to students of all faiths. In 2018, it was ranked No. 12 Best Colleges and Best Value Schools in the South.

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
With teaching, research, and healthcare facilities across the state, students at LSU HSC receive unprecedented training through 100+ hospitals and health service centers.

Southeastern Louisiana University
Located in Hammond on the North Shore, Southeastern is a four-year public university. The school offers 45 undergraduate and 19 Masters degree programs, as well as two doctoral programs.

Southern University at New Orleans
A public HBCU with an open-admission policy, SUNO offers a liberal arts education directed towards the achievement of higher literacy and broad intellectual development.

Tulane University
Tulane is a private university and among one of the most highly regarded and selective universities in the United States. The 2020 U.S. News and World Report ranked Tulane an impressive No. 40 among national universities.

University of Holy Cross

Founded in 1916, the University of Holy Cross remains rooted in its mission to prepare educators and uphold the Marianite values. Its faith-based atmosphere, small classes, and supportive faculty foster a collaborative, student-focused environment dedicated to academic excellence and personal growth.

University of New Orleans
Culturally, socially, economically, and intellectually, UNO is one of the city’s and state’s major educational assets. Last year, the public university was named one of “America’s Top Colleges” and one of “America’s Best Value Colleges” by Forbes.

Xavier University of Louisiana
A private, Catholic HBCU, Xavier has garnered an international reputation for excellence and a proven track record of success. It is among the nation’s top three producers of African American pharmacists. Xavier also graduates more African Americans who become medical doctors than any other school in the country.