Original Research by School Decision on Sci Academy
Sci Academy is an independent charter district in New Orleans that consists of a single high school, Abramson Sci Academy, serving grades nine through twelve. With an enrollment that is substantial for a high school focused on a single campus, the student body is predominantly Black, at a high share of the total, with a meaningful Hispanic presence and small shares of Asian and white students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not available, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the support structures in place for these populations.
The school’s academic profile is limited in the available evidence. State testing results and a four-year graduation rate were not provided, which is notable for a high school and something a family would want to follow up on with the school or the state’s public reporting. The lack of this data makes it difficult to assess academic performance against other high schools. On chronic absenteeism, the rate sits above the midpoint among Orleans Parish’s districts, meaning that a noticeable share of students miss a significant number of school days. This is a common challenge in many urban high schools, but a parent may want to ask how the school addresses attendance and re-engages students who fall into this pattern.
Per-pupil current spending places the district in the middle range, upper half compared to other districts in the parish. That suggests the school has a resource level typical of the area, though whether those resources translate into particular programs or staffing is not detailed in the data. No information about course access, staffing ratios, or disciplinary practices was available, so families would need to visit the school or its website to learn about advanced coursework, career pathways, or student support services.
The district operates as a single-school charter, which gives it a lean administrative structure. The surrounding context is Orleans Parish, a county with a high number of local districts—71 in total—which reflects New Orleans’ extensive charter school landscape. The district brief found no evidence of recent parent-relevant changes such as referendums, property tax shifts, or district-wide curriculum changes that would have a lasting impact. That suggests the school has been operating without major visible shake-ups in the near term.
For a family evaluating Sci Academy, the key consideration is that the school serves high school grades only and is a standalone charter. The missing academic outcome data is a gap that makes it hard to gauge achievement levels. The student body is predominantly Black and Hispanic, and the chronic absenteeism rate is above average for the parish, which is important context for how the school day functions. A parent would be well served by contacting the school directly to ask about test scores, graduation rates, discipline, and the specific academic and postsecondary supports available to students.
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