New Orleans Guide to High School and Beyond 2018

COST
The most significant difference between public and nonpublic schools
is the cost. Public schools must be free and open to the public, while
private schools can charge tuition. However, keep in mind that there
may be cost associated with both types of schools. While public schools
do not charge tuition, there may be a fee for transportation or you
may be responsible for arranging transportation for yourself. The
average cost of receiving a private or Catholic education at some
of the more modest priced schools can run $5500 to $10,000 per
year. There are several schools in the city where tuition runs well
over $15,000 per year. However, do not let the cost of attending a
nonpublic school stop you from including it as an option, as many
schools offer a variety of financial assistance opportunities.
DEMOGRAPHICS
You may want to consider the racial and ethnic makeup of the student
body at the high schools you are considering. This information will
tell you the percentage of students of each race or ethnicity who are
currently enrolled at the school. The gender and socio-economic
status of students attending the school may also be considered when
evaluating diversity demographics. While this data does not mean
a school is good or bad, it helps in determining whether or not a
student is able to adapt or thrive in a different setting.
DISCIPLINE MODEL
Every school has a different approach to discipline and classroom
management. These differences make a significant impact on a
school’s culture. Some rules, consequences, and procedures may be
more or less effective depending on the student’s personality. A school
with weak or ineffective rules and discipline policies may make it
difficult to be as productive a student as possible. However, policies
that appear too rigid or strict may also impact a student's ability to
be successful. Ask about the school’s rules and policies on suspension,
detention, etc. Some schools are implementing restorative justice
approaches and creative alternatives like meditation. When you
visit, notice how other students are behaving. Ask yourself, “Is it an
atmosphere conducive to my learning?”
EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETIC
PROGRAMS
While academics are critical when choosing a high school,
extracurricular activities and athletic programs are important as
well. If you have a particular interest, such as band, drama, student
government, etc., try to find a school where these activities are
available. Likewise, if you really want to participate in baseball,
football, track, or swimming, try to find a school that supports these
programs. It is important that you become involved in activities during
your time in high school because many colleges and universities take
this into consideration when reviewing a student's application for
admittance. Also, colleges and universities often award scholarships
for specific extracurricular or athletic abilities.
FACILITIES (AGE, LAB, LIBRARY,
AND OTHER AMENITIES)
Both the environmental and educational conditions of a facility say
a lot about a school. School facility factors such as building age,
condition, quality of maintenance, temperature, lighting, noise,
color, and air quality can affect student health, safety, psychological
state, sense of pride in the school, and education received. You
want to make sure the facility is adequately equipped to meet your
educational needs. For example, if you are interested in a rigorous
science curriculum, consider whether or not the school has high quality
Biology and Chemistry labs. If you are interested in sports, consider
the quality of the baseball gym, football field, etc.
If you want to attend a technology rich school, consider whether the
school has a media or computer center with wireless Internet access,
and if you want to attend an Arts-focused school, consider the quality
of the theater room, music room, musical instruments, etc. Other
factors to consider include physical classroom attributes (i.e. size
and lighting), if there is a comfortable study area, and if there is a
library, as well as the number of books in the library.
GPA
Schools may report the average GPA (Grade Point Average) of their
student body. Likewise, every student has their individual GPA based
on their grades in class. Students are awarded points on a scale (i.e.
A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0). Points are given for each grade they
receive; all the points are added together, and the total is divided by
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