The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Science. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on The Delores Taylor Arthur School for Young Men
The Delores Taylor Arthur School for Young Men is an all-boys public charter school in New Orleans, currently serving only ninth grade. It is a very new school, and a parent should understand that what exists today is a single freshman class of about four dozen students. The full picture of this school will only emerge as it adds grades and develops a track record.
The school is located on Gentilly Boulevard in New Orleans, a dense, historic city that is a major Gulf Coast port and commercial hub. New Orleans is known for its distinctive music, Creole cuisine, and annual festivals like Mardi Gras. The city’s economy is driven by the port, tourism, hospitality, and a growing film industry. The city’s population has been shaped by Hurricane Katrina, which caused a major displacement, followed by a significant but incomplete rebound. Gentrification and displacement remain live concerns in redeveloping neighborhoods. The housing market in the school’s zip code shows home values below the national median, and rents are at a level that makes renting more affordable than buying at current mortgage rates, a dynamic common in many urban markets. A 2022 property tax millage renewal approved by voters continues dedicated funding for early childhood education in the city, but no other district-level changes of lasting note were found.
The student body is almost entirely Black, with a small Hispanic share. Every single enrolled student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which means this school serves a population of uniformly low income. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
State testing results are available, and they paint a clear picture of where the school’s academic starting point stands. In math, a small share of students scored at the proficient level or above. In English language arts, the share was slightly higher but still low. In science, about one in five students reached proficiency. Social studies results from the prior year showed a similarly low rate. When compared with other school districts in Orleans Parish on an overall proficiency index, this school falls in the bottom quarter of the comparison set. The tested cohort is small, which means individual student results have an outsized effect on the overall rate, and a parent may want to ask the school directly about its academic benchmarks and growth targets.
Because the school only serves ninth graders, there is no graduation rate to report. There is also no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline. The school's charter status means it operates with some autonomy from the Orleans Parish school district, but it is a public school and does not charge tuition.
For a family considering this school, the central fact is that it is a brand-new, single-grade institution with academic outcomes that are very early and very low by conventional measures. The all-boys setting and the school's stated mission would be the primary draws for a family looking for that kind of environment. The school fits a family that values a small, single-sex, charter school environment in the city and is willing to engage closely with the school as it builds its program and track record from the ground up. A family focused on demonstrated academic performance or looking for a full high school pathway with known outcomes would want to look into the school's plans for expansion and its approach to academic acceleration very carefully.
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