The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Martin Behrman Charter Acad of Creative Arts & Sci
Martin Behrman Charter Academy of Creative Arts & Sciences serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade on the West Bank of New Orleans, in the Algiers neighborhood. As a single-school charter entity, it operates independently of the larger Orleans Parish school system. The school’s name signals a focus on creative arts and sciences, though no specific program details beyond the name appeared in the available data.
The student body is almost entirely Black, and a very large share of students come from low-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. In this respect, the school reflects the demographics of its immediate neighborhood, which is one of the more economically distressed parts of a city with wide income disparities. Enrollment skews slightly lower in the middle grades than in the early elementary years, but the school maintains a consistent presence across grades K through eight, with a pre-kindergarten program.
The school participates in Louisiana’s LEAP 2025 state testing program for grades three through eight. Proficiency rates across all tested subjects—English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies—were low. About a third of students scored at the proficient level or above in English, a higher share than in the other subjects, where proficiency rates were under a fifth. These results placed Martin Behrman Charter Academy in the bottom quarter of schools within Orleans Parish when an overall proficiency index across tested subjects was calculated. Because the data examined only one year, it is not possible to say whether this represents a trend or a single-year snapshot. Parents considering the school may want to ask school leaders about the specific strategies in place to raise academic performance and how progress is tracked year over year.
The school reports no data on special education identification rates or English learner enrollment, and no information on chronic absenteeism or discipline outcomes was available. Without these figures, it is hard to gauge the full picture of student support and school climate. A family with a child who has an individualized education plan or who needs language support would want to ask the school directly about those services and staffing ratios.
The school is located on General Meyer Avenue in Algiers, a neighborhood on the west bank of the Mississippi River across from downtown New Orleans. The housing market in the surrounding zip code shows home values below the national and state medians, and rents are moderate. Home values in the area declined somewhat over the past year, while rents held roughly steady. The neighborhood is dense and urban, with a built environment that includes historic houses and commercial corridors, but it is a less visited part of the city than the French Quarter or Uptown.
Because Martin Behrman operates as its own charter district, there is no parent district beyond itself to report on. A search for recent changes or district-level initiatives turned up little of lasting impact for this single-school entity. That means families looking for a picture of where the school is headed should rely on direct communication with school leadership.
This school fits a family looking for a neighborhood-based charter option that keeps children in a single building from pre-kindergarten through the end of middle school, eliminating the need for a transition between elementary and middle grades. The focus on creative arts and sciences could appeal to a family that values arts integration in the core curriculum. But the academic proficiency results are a clear soft spot, and a parent considering this school should investigate what academic interventions and enrichment programs are in place, particularly in math and science, and how the school defines and measures progress for students who enter below grade level.
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