The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Langston Hughes Charter Academy
Langston Hughes Charter Academy is a regular public charter school in New Orleans serving prekindergarten through eighth grade. The school sits in the Mid-City area of the city, a dense urban neighborhood that is part of a consolidated city-parish with a nationally recognized cultural and economic profile. As a single-school independent charter district, Langston Hughes operates as its own local education agency, which means school-level decisions and district-level oversight are one and the same.
The student body is large for a PK-08 school, and the demographic picture is distinct. A substantial majority of students are Black, with a much smaller share identifying as Hispanic, and a very small share as white or two or more races. A large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a high-poverty context. The school does not report counts for students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent seeking clarity on special education services or language supports would need to ask the school directly. State testing participation was strong, with all tested students taking the LEAP 2025 assessments in the most recent year.
On academic performance, the state assessment results show that the school is working from a low baseline. In math, about a quarter of students in grades three through eight scored at the proficient or above level, and in English language arts the figure was roughly similar. Science and social studies proficiency rates were much lower, each around one in ten students. When placed against other districts in Orleans Parish, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile. The average scale scores are well below what would indicate strong grade-level mastery. There is no multi-year trend data available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent a shift or a continuing pattern. Parents considering the school may want to look into what academic interventions and supports are in place, and how the school tracks student growth from year to year.
Because the school ends at eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline is available. The school’s charter status means it has autonomy over curriculum, staffing, and budget, and families who choose Langston Hughes are opting into a single-site charter environment rather than a traditional neighborhood attendance zone. The school does not report being a magnet or having a special admissions process.
New Orleans itself is a dense urban city-parish that functions as a major port and commercial hub, with a tourism-heavy economy, a growing film sector, and a notable institutional presence around Tulane University. The housing market in the immediate area reflects typical urban patterns: home values are near the national median, rents are comparable, and both have seen small year-over-year declines. The city’s post-Katrina redevelopment has brought a partial population rebound, but also ongoing concerns about gentrification. For a family considering Langston Hughes Charter Academy, the key factors are a large, predominantly high-poverty elementary and middle school with state test scores that are low relative to other Orleans Parish districts, operating as an independent charter with full local control. The school’s size and grade span mean there is no high school pathway to evaluate, so families will need to plan for a transition after eighth grade. The academic results are a clear soft spot, and any parent should investigate the school’s approach to curriculum, intervention, and student growth before enrolling.
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