On Monday, February 26, 2024, the Orleans Parish School Board unanimously approved the creation of The Leah Chase School. It will be NOLA Public Schools’ (NOLA-PS) first, permanent direct-run school in 18 years.
On Monday, February 26, 2024, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) unanimously approved the creation of NOLA Public Schools’ (NOLA-PS) first, new direct-run traditional public school in nearly two decades— Introducing The Leah Chase School. The school’s vision is to be a beacon of high-quality education and cultural richness for New Orleans, providing a curriculum rich in arts and local culture. The community school will provide children with a vibrant outlet for self-expression and ultimately allow our scholars to own their learning and see themselves in their education.WHAT WE ENVISION
MEET THE TEAM
Meet Crystal LaFrance, our new Elementary School Principal for The Leah Chase School! With more than 17 years of experience, Crystal is dedicated to shaping a vibrant school culture and ensuring rigorous educational standards. She's committed to upholding the legacy of equity in education and fostering an environment where every scholar can thrive. Join us in welcoming Crystal to the new school’s team!
OUR GOAL
Our goal is to provide a high-quality education that meets the needs of all of our scholars. We want to shape the next generation of young scholars, leaders, and culture bearers in New Orleans, through a Tier 1 curriculum, drawing inspiration from our local community. The school’s culturally responsive educational programs will enable scholars to improve academic growth and achievements, develop a positive self-identity, enhance their social and emotional well- being, and discover their love of arts and New Orleans’ culture.
GRADE LEVEL & CLASS SIZES
The school will support grades K-5, with plans to expand to PreK-8 in the future. Classrooms will accommodate around 15 scholars per class for Kindergarten, 20 scholars per class for grades 1-2, and 25 scholars per class for grades 3-5, with flexibility for growth as required.
ENROLLMENT TARGETS
320 scholars is our target enrollment. We will offer two sections for each grade level in grades K-5. Our proposed classroom sizes consist of 20 scholars in each classroom for grades K-1 with a maximum of 25, and 25 scholars in each classroom for grades 2-5 with a maximum of 30 scholars. Families have the opportunity to select The Leah Chase School during NOLA Public School’s Open Enrollment period, starting Wed., June 5, 2024, via enrollnolaps.com.
CURRICULUM & EDUCATION TARGET
Scholars will have access to a high-quality curriculum and a device for learning. The selected curricula include: These curricula were chosen for their alignment with state and district standards, comprehensive subject coverage, and engagement relevance. NOLA-PS is confident these materials will empower educators and inspire scholars at The Leah Chase School to achieve academic excellence. The Leah Chase School will provide assistance with counseling, special education, English learners, social work, mentoring, gifted and talented, and multi-tiered systems of support for academics and student behavior.
ARTS, CULTURE & SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Scholars will benefit from a curriculum that is inclusive of art and music and explores our local culture and traditions. Physical education, clubs, sports, and field trips will +++++++also be part of the school experience. Scholars will also benefit from local partnerships that will honor the legacy of the school’s namesake and the rich history and traditions of New Orleans. Interested in becoming a partner? Email NOLA-PS Director of Community & Governmental Affairs: jlund@nolapublicschools.com
STUDENT AND TEACHER SUPPORT
The Leah Chase school is committed to supporting its scholars both inside and outside the classroom, ensuring their diverse needs are met. Our dedicated teachers are complemented by specialized counselors who focus on scholars' emotional and mental well-being. We provide tailored services for scholars with unique learning needs and special programs for English language learners. Our social work initiatives will foster a nurturing environment, while mentorship programs will help scholars build positive relationships and thrive academically and personally. We recognize and nurture each scholar's talents offering extra opportunities to help them shine. We want to ensure every scholar feels supported and can reach their full potential. Educators will benefit from mentorship, providing them with experienced guides as they navigate their teaching journeys. Our instructional facilitators and coaching programs aim to empower teachers with effective practices, enhancing the overall quality of student learning experiences. Additionally, a continuous cycle of professional development will be in place, focusing on seamless curriculum implementation. This commitment to ongoing growth ensures that our educators stay abreast of the latest educational trends and techniques, ultimately contributing to a dynamic and thriving educational community. Interested in joining The Leah Chase School family? Click here to see our open positions!
IMPORTANT INFO FOR FAMILIES
Academic Calendar and School Hours: Transportation Services:
UNIFORMS
We're excited to introduce you to our new school uniforms, keeping the age-old fondness of school uniforms alive while adding a modern touch! In the spirit of New Orleans, we've come up with a color scheme featuring white, light blue, and gray polos with navy pants, navy shorts, and navy skirts for the girls. Jumpers will be available for our smaller scholars in K-2nd grade. To ensure safety and easily identify the younger scholars when they're getting on and off the buses, we'll use the light blue colors for K-2 and the white and gray for grades 3-5. When it comes to shoes, we're leaving it up to parents to provide their children with appropriate footwear, such as tennis shoes or any closed-toe shoes. We just ask that you avoid open-toed shoes, sandals, or crocs. For uniform vendors, we've partnered with Poree’s Embroidery and Logo Express to offer ease of access to uniforms for our families. The average cost for shirts is $18 to $20, pants are $18, and jumpers are $18 to $19, depending on the size. The Leah Chase School will provide one uniform shirt voucher to each student upon registration.
Classroom and School Materials, Supplies, Furniture, and Equipment
Creating Dynamic --Learning Environments At NOLA Public Schools, we are committed to fostering innovative and engaging learning spaces that meet the needs of 21st-century scholars. Our priorities for classroom and school materials, supplies, furniture, and equipment are designed to enhance the educational experience and support active learning. Our Learning Environment Priorities: By focusing on these priorities, we aim to create learning environments that are not only functional but also inspire and engage our scholars, helping them to reach their full potential.
TECHNOLOGY
First, we're introducing a one-to-one model for Chromebooks, ensuring that each student has their own device to maximize their learning potential. Our teachers will also receive laptops to enhance their teaching experience. We're working diligently to ensure the network and internet speed are as fast as possible, allowing for seamless online collaboration and research.
In addition, we will have new smart boards in the school with state-of-the-art touchscreen models. These interactive boards will engage scholars and teachers alike, making learning more dynamic and fun. To improve classroom sound quality, we're installing amplifiers in each classroom. This will ensure that all scholars, regardless of their seating location, can hear their teacher clearly. Lastly, we're committed to the safety and security of our scholars. We're working with our security team to install internal and external cameras. This will provide an additional layer of protection for our school community. At The Leah Chase School, we believe in staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, and we're confident these updates will greatly enhance the learning experience for our scholars.
