Kindergarten in New Orleans :: Finding a School Shouldn’t Be This Hard

This piece was written in 2017. A lot has changed since then, as outlined in this post regarding the NCAP process. Obviously finding a good school in New Orleans is still a challenging and anxiety-producing process, but the logistics of submitting an application for a school are much more streamlined (and most schools have gotten rid of readiness tests for Kindergarten, with the exception of Willow and Lake Forest in Orleans Parish). School enrollment has changed a lot since 2017, but it remains a pain point for many of us (like this mom’s Pre-K experience in 2023). And to be fair, not everyone hates the school application process in New Orleans. That said, is this mom’s experience similar to your own?

Kindergarten in New Orleans :: Finding a School Shouldn’t Be This Hard

It was a Saturday morning, and my four year-old son and I sat in a crowded cafeteria waiting for his name to be called for his readiness assessment to the International School of Louisiana in Metairie. While we were waiting, he was stacking coins we dumped out of my wallet and I was scrolling through Facebook on my phone when a news article caught my attention. The school we ranked number one on our OneApp application – the school where we were currently sitting and waiting for his name to be called – would not be open next year. The International School of Louisiana’s Metairie campus would not exist after this year.

It was a Tuesday evening, and my husband and I arrived separately and both tardy to an information session at Bricolage Academy. As my husband and I sat and listened to the school founder and executive director, we got excited. This seemed like the type of school environment we envisioned for our son. We appreciated the diverse student population and the focus on the future and technology. After the presentation, we went up to speak to the principal and asked him about the fact that OneApp let us rank the school as one of our top choices, but the material that was handed out tonight showed only an acceptance geographical area of Orleans Parish and we live in Jefferson Parish. He explained that yes we could apply and even be offered a spot, but if accepted we couldn’t actually enroll unless we moved to Orleans Parish.

It was a Wednesday evening in a gymnasium full of eager parents at the Jefferson Parish Magnet School Showcase. The 13 Jefferson Parish magnet schools were each represented by a table and various members of each of their respective staffs. I didn’t know much about many of the schools, so I was eager to learn. A few of the schools seemed really promising, but some of them have varying application processes. For most of them, my husband or I will have to take a day off of work to drive to the school board office on the Westbank and turn in our applications in person … a different application for each school we wish to apply to. A lady attending the event told me that sometimes people camp out the night before the opening day of the application window to be the first ones to get the spots that they want. Someone else from the school board office told me that was nonsense and that I could turn in the application any time during the month long window. But everyone did confirm the spots were first come, first serve.

I am a South Louisiana native, but spent most of my elementary school career in Baton Rouge. My husband grew up and attended school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. So while I grew up enjoying and partaking in all of the things that make South Louisiana so special and unique, when we actually moved to Metairie almost four years ago, it was our first exposure to the workings of the public school system here. I strongly believe in public schools. I want my children to attend a public school for many reasons. I want them to interact with lots of different types of people, to have friends that may look or even think totally different than we do. I value the fact that public schools are places for every type of child. Public schools are governed by a specific set of academic standards and have been educating the children of America for generations. Public schools create a sense of community.

Sadly, a lot of this isn’t true of New Orleans and the surrounding areas public system. It has left me sad and frustrated. School choice has turned into more of throw a lot of things against the wall, hope and wait and see what sticks. Tulane University’s Cowen Institute, which studies and performs research on K-12 public education, published a brief history of New Orleans public schools and summarized the current state by saying:

“The current public education landscape seems complex and disconnected, and inequity in funding and resources is exacerbated by this complexity. Many schools still face enormous challenges with respect to funding, facilities, inexperienced leadership, and inadequate support from an insufficient number of district staff.”

I have been with my husband as he applied to medical school and now currently residency. I can say with confidence that both of those processes were easier than finding a kindergarten for my son in New Orleans. Myself and my family have spent countless hours doing research on our options, trying to figure out exactly how the process works, which schools we can and cannot apply to, which schools we would even want to apply to, attending readiness and placement testings, going on school tours and attending information sessions, talking to various friends and NOLA area educators about what they know of this school and that school. This process has been extremely arduous to say the least. I feel lucky to have these advantages to find a school for my son and know these are things not all families have.

As of now we still have no idea where exactly our son will attend kindergarten or even when we will know that information. What I do know is that it shouldn’t be this hard.

If you are still looking for a Kindergarten spot for your child in 2023-2024 (or any grade for that matter), here are some resources:

Orleans Parish Public Schools

Enroll NOLA: Open enrollment is currently open. To see which schools have openings, click here. Many public schools across the city have openings, including schools that are typically considered difficult to match with during the common enrollment process. Although the process can be complicated, we have great public options in New Orleans.

Jefferson Parish Public Schools

JPPS: Enrollment for Jefferson Parish Public Schools is now completely online. You can find your zoned school here or learn more about specialty options by scrolling to the bottom of the JPPS site here.

Private Schools in or near New Orleans

Find an alphabetical listing of schools here. We also recommend asking in our New Orleans Mom neighborhood groups, as moms often know of late openings at their kids’ current schools.

About Tara

Tara grew up all over south Louisiana and currently lives in Metairie with her husband Josh, and their two boys. Tara is a buyer for a local food-service distribution company. She has gone all in on being a boy mom and can frequently be seen playing superheroes, cleaning mud off something or someone, and constantly making snacks. She loves trying new food and she and her family love all things New Orleans, but especially Mardi Gras.

7 COMMENTS

  1. Hi all — to the author and everyone reading this — please know that for *most* public and charter schools, you can *only* apply if you live in the parish.

    In the New Orleans area, the exceptions are:

    – Belle Chasse Academy
    – International High
    – International School of Louisiana’s New Orleans campuses (not its Jefferson campuses)
    – JCFA-East (not ordinary JCFA)
    – Lycée Français
    – NOCCA
    – New Orleans Military/Maritime Academy

    In the state’s terminology, all but NOCCA are “Type 2” charters, meaning they’re overseen directly by the state and have to take students from any parish.

    The Jefferson Parish School Board has separately authorized extension campuses of JCFA and the International School that are for Jefferson residents only.

    OneApp is for New Orleans residents only.

    If you have questions, contact
    – EnrollNOLA (OneApp) — 877/343-4773, [email protected], https://www.enrollnola.org
    – Jefferson Parish public schools — 504/349-7600, https://jpschools.org/departments/
    – the school
    – me — [email protected]

    Best,
    Danielle Dreilinger
    Education reporter, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

  2. Think kinder is hard? Have a child with autism or another special need and you’re forced into inadequate public schools or homeschool. Y’all don’t know the meaning of hard.

  3. To the author,

    I feel your pain. I was recently in the same situation seeking early to enter my son into pre-k, it’s horrible. JP schools most of them are failing schools and you are restricted to only attending the school in your district. The school in our district is Lionel Collins a “F” school, oh no!! (not my child), so thanks to some friends and family who suggested that I let my 3 year old take the test for ASA and he passed with flying colors and was accepted to Marrero Advanced Academy!! JP school system really needs improving, it’s horrible.

    • Congrats on getting your son into Marrero Advanced Acadmey! That is quiet an accomplishment and a great school from what I hear. Best of luck to you guys!

  4. I am the proud parent of two children who attend KIPP Believe Primary on Burdette St. in New Orleans. It is an excellent school with a fantastic art and music program and differentiated instruction for all learners. There are K spots open and OneApp is still open until Friday. Make an EASY choice for Kindergarten!

  5. I appreciate this article, as this has been my feelings for years now. I have a 7th grader and a PK2, and the process has been so much work for quality education (esp being a JP resident). We currently have both kids at St. Andrew the Apostle. The school is awesome, a blue ribbon school, and their love for children is clear as day, however we didn’t expect to have to pay tuition for our 2 year old, just to ensure she would be educated. Now while submitting application for high school this fall, we also have to do the same for PK3, in hopes we can be one of the lucky ones.

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