The Orleans Parish School Board on Thursday (Dec. 4) once again debated the viability of keeping the Leah Chase School open, amid ongoing financial difficulties, lower-than-expected enrollment and a “D” letter grade from the state Department of Education. But a number of members of the public who attended the Thursday meeting urged against closing the school — the only one in the city run directly by the NOLA Public Schools district rather than by a private nonprofit charter board — which is only in its second year of operations.
The Leah Chase School opened in fall 2024 at the site of the former Lafayette Academy after the district took over failing Lafayette Academy charter school. As of this school year, it has failed to meet its enrollment targets and has been operating in a deficit, which is projected to grow to $3.5 million if the school expands its supplemental programming and continues to be underenrolled. Schools across the city are grappling with similar challenges, losing students and funding as the city’s population declines.
But advocates for the school, including board Members Leila Eames and Gabriela Biro, say there hasn’t been enough outreach and advertising to actually bring parents into the school. They said that the school needs time to grow, but needs to be given a chance to do so. Eames said she wants to see a plan from the superintendent on how to get more children in the school…