The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Success @ Thurgood Marshall
Success @ Thurgood Marshall is a public charter school in New Orleans serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of Success Preparatory Academy, a single-site charter organization. The school operates on Canal Street in the city’s dense urban fabric, within a neighborhood shaped by New Orleans’ cross-cultural heritage, port economy, and tourism industry. As a regular school rather than a magnet or alternative program, it enrolls a student body that is predominantly Black and Hispanic, and a substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is a charter, meaning it operates with its own governance structure under its authorizer, though the data available does not specify which entity holds that role.
On the Louisiana LEAP 2025 assessments for grades three through eight, the school’s proficiency rates place it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Orleans Parish. Across tested subjects, the share of students scoring proficient or above is lowest in science, followed by math and social studies, with English language arts showing a higher rate than the other subjects but still below the midpoint of the parish comparison set. Participation rates in testing were complete, so the results reflect the full tested population. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and the data did not include information on chronic absenteeism or discipline.
The peer environment is shaped by the school’s demographics: the student body is predominantly Black, with a large Hispanic population, and very small shares of white, Asian, or multiracial students. The absence of reported counts for students receiving special education services or English learner support is a gap in the available data; a parent may want to confirm these numbers directly with the school to understand the scope of specialized instruction and language services. Similarly, no data was provided on staffing ratios, teacher qualifications, or class sizes, so those dimensions of the school experience are not part of this account.
Housing in the surrounding area is near the state benchmark for home values, though prices have seen a modest decline over the past year. Rents have been stable. Nationwide economic context shows a 30-year fixed mortgage rate above six percent and unemployment near four percent, which are factors any family would weigh when evaluating the cost of living in New Orleans. The city itself continues to recover and redevelop after Hurricane Katrina, with population shifts and gentrification concerns that vary by neighborhood. The school’s location on Canal Street places it near the city’s commercial and cultural core, with access to streetcar lines and the broader urban infrastructure.
The district brief for Success Preparatory Academy turned up no recent changes in leadership, facilities, or curriculum with a lasting impact within the past several years. A previous building move and some program additions have occurred, but they fall outside the window typically used to gauge current momentum. That leaves the school’s academic trajectory largely defined by the state test results available.
For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is that it serves an elementary and middle school population in a charter setting, with test results that lag behind most other Orleans Parish schools. The student body is diverse in race and ethnicity but predominantly from low-income households. The school is part of New Orleans’ dense urban environment, with the advantages and challenges that come with city living. Anyone looking for more detail on academic supports, enrichment programs, or the school’s approach to instruction would need to go beyond the available data and contact the school directly.
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