The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Renew Laurel Elementary
ReNEW Laurel Elementary is a public charter school in New Orleans that serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It has recently restored its traditional name, bringing back the Eagles mascot and burgundy-and-gray school colors, a move that the school describes as a reconnection to the neighborhood’s history. The school sits on Jackson Avenue in a dense urban corridor of the city, within a community shaped by New Orleans’ role as a major Gulf Coast port, its tourism and hospitality economy, and its distinctive cultural identity.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of white students or students of two or more races. A very high proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker that the school serves a community with substantial economic need. Information on the share of students with disabilities or designated as English learners was not available in the data reviewed, so a family interested in those programs would want to ask the school directly.
On the state’s LEAP assessments for grades three through eight, the school’s proficiency rates across subjects fall in a range that is lower than many other schools in Orleans Parish. In English language arts, a little over a third of students met the state’s proficiency standard; in math, about one in five did so. Proficiency rates in science and social studies were lower still. When compared against the other districts in Orleans Parish on an overall proficiency index, ReNEW Laurel Elementary sits in the bottom quartile. These are the most recent results available, and a parent considering the school would want to understand how the school is working to raise those numbers.
At the same time, the school earned an A letter grade from the Louisiana Department of Education on its Progress Index for the 2021-2022 school year, a measure that tracks year-over-year academic growth. That growth score suggests that while overall attainment is low, students have been making larger-than-typical gains relative to their starting points—a factor many families weigh when looking at schools serving high-poverty populations. Because the school does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to consider.
The neighborhood housing market in the zip code that includes the school shows home values and rents that are above the national median, reflecting the broader city’s desirability and the premium attached to living in central, historic areas. A family moving into the area would face a relatively expensive market, though the city’s wide range of neighborhoods means options exist at different price points.
ReNEW Laurel Elementary is a charter school, which means it operates independently of the traditional Orleans Parish school district but is publicly funded and accountable to its authorizer. That autonomy can bring flexibility in programming and staffing, and the recent name change signals an effort to strengthen community identity. For a family seeking a neighborhood-based elementary and middle school in a dense urban setting, with a clear emphasis on academic growth even if current proficiency levels are a concern, this school fits that profile. The gaps in publicly reported data on special education and English learner services are worth following up on directly with the school to see how it supports those populations.
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