Travis Hill School Among Highest Performing Alternative Schools in the State

NEW ORLEANS – (November 12, 2019) – The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) recently released the 2018-2019 School Performance Scores (SPS), including scores for alternative schools under the state’s new alternative formula. The Travis Hill School, which operates inside both the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) and Orleans Justice Center (OJC), is the fourth ranked alternative school in the state. The school earned a “C” letter grade overall and was one of only six alternative schools state-wide to receive a “B” Progress letter grade. Additionally, the Travis Hill School was the only alternative school in the state to be recognized as a 2019 Equity Honoree, which highlights the progress the school makes with historically disadvantaged students.

“I am extremely proud of the success of our local alternative schools, especially the tremendous work being accomplished at the Travis Hill School,” said NOLA Public Schools Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. “Our students at the Travis Hill School are setting an example for Louisiana students as they make incredible and meaningful progress towards graduation despite the barrier of incarceration. These remarkable results are a testament to their determination, along with the tireless dedication of the Travis Hill schools’ educators, and the invaluable partnerships we hold with the City of New Orleans and the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office which help make such progress possible.”

The City of New Orleans Office of Youth and Families, manages the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC), the city’s detention facility for youth, while the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office manages the Orleans Justice Center. Both entities support the work of the Travis Hill School on a daily basis, ensuring everything from adequate school space to daily attendance of students.

“One of my top priorities as Mayor is that all of our children receive and have access to quality education,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Through the Travis Hill School, we are not only providing our children with a solid education, we are ensuring that they will have a successful transition back to their communities. The improvement of the school’s ranking and letter grade reaffirms the changes and progress we are making at the school and Juvenile Justice Intervention Center. I want to thank NOLA Public Schools and the Office of Youth & Families for supporting the work of the Travis Hill School and its students. I’m not only a Mayor, I am a mother, and the education and wellbeing of ALL our children matters.”

“The Travis Hill School at the Orleans Justice Center is delivering a quality education to the youth in our custody,” said Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman. “Our students walk away from daily lessons with a more positive outlook and a sense that their goals are achievable, including receiving their high school diploma. The school performance score is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our educators and the Sheriff’s Office. We are committed to improving the lives of people in our custody and we are pleased to have the Travis Hill School as our partner in this endeavor.”

The Travis Hill School is operated by contract by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings (CEEAS). The Travis Hill School in JJIC opened in the fall of 2016, while its counterpart in the OJC opened in the fall of 2017. Students attend the Travis Hill School during their pre-trial incarceration, preventing the disruption of their education during detention. In fact, over twenty (20) students have graduated from Travis Hill School since its inception, with some graduates going on to seek job training and post-secondary education upon release. There are currently over ninety (90) students enrolled in the Travis Hill School.

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ABOUT NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish, which includes the district’s elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board and the district’s administration led by NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 78 public schools. For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.