The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Walter L. Cohen College Prep
Walter L. Cohen College Prep is a closed school that served middle school grades, classified as a regular school and operating as a charter under the Cohen College Prep district. Any description of this school relies on a single academic year of state testing data from 2015-16, the last period for which records are available. The school's lifecycle status is listed as closed.
The only academic performance data available covers one cohort of eighth graders. In English language arts, roughly a quarter of tested students scored at the proficient level or above on the state's LEAP assessment. In math, the proportion of students reaching that threshold was extremely low. In science, it was similarly low. These results describe a single year's snapshot and cannot be placed in a trend, because no multi-year data exists. A parent looking for a clearer picture of academic expectations would want to investigate what model the school offered in its final years of operation, but that information is not contained in the available records.
The school's location is in New Orleans, a dense urban city-parish that functions as a major port and commercial hub for the Gulf Coast region. The city is a mix of commercial, residential, and cultural uses with a distinctive music scene, Creole cuisine, and annual festivals such as Mardi Gras. The historic French Quarter, with its French and Spanish Creole architecture, defines a significant part of the city's identity, while the film industry has added an economic dimension that earned the city the nickname "Hollywood South."
New Orleans was catastrophically affected by Hurricane Katrina, which flooded more than half the city and displaced thousands of residents. Since then, major redevelopment efforts have led to a population rebound, though the 2025 estimate shows a decrease from the 2020 census figure. Concerns about gentrification and displacement have been part of the city's redevelopment conversation. Housing values in the school's ZIP code are above the national benchmark, while rents are near the national benchmark, which positions the area as a relatively expensive part of the city for renters and buyers alike.
No enrollment data, student demographic information, free-or-reduced-price lunch counts, or special population data are available in the record. This absence makes it impossible to characterize the student body the school served or to assess the share of students from low-income households. No information about discipline, course access, staffing, or attendance was recorded.
A parent-relevant change occurred in August 2023, after the school's closure. Walter L. Cohen High School, which is a different entity from this middle school, transferred from New Orleans College Prep to become part of Collegiate Academies, a charter management organization. That governance change brought a new educational model emphasizing college-aligned curriculums, AP courses, arts electives, tutoring, and small group intervention classes. This information applies to the high school, not to Walter L. Cohen College Prep, which is a closed middle school.
Given the thin data available, a family considering the options in this area would need to look at currently operating schools in the Collegiate Academies network or other New Orleans charter organizations to understand current academic programming, student demographics, and performance trends. The available record for Walter L. Cohen College Prep does not support a fuller assessment of the school's academic pathway, peer environment, or student support systems.
See more original research from School Decision →