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The Leah Chase School is being established to provide a high-quality education deeply rooted in the culture and excellence of New Orleans. Named after the late Leah Chase, a culinary icon and community figure, the school aims to be more than an educational institution. It aspires to become a beacon of cultural richness, honoring the history of New Orleans and perpetuating Ms. Leah's legacy as a teacher and advocate for quality education.

Through a series of community meetings, we will be actively engaging prospective families, and community members to share our vision, assist with enrollment options for both existing and potential scholars, gather feedback, and address any questions or concerns the public may have. A community survey will help to gain insights into the community's desires for the school. Businesses, community organizations and nonprofits are encouraged to reach out and collaborate with us, offering ideas, services, in-kind donations, and experiences for our students. Those interested in partnering can contact us via email at communications@nolapublicschools.com. Additionally, our team is hosting a series of partnership meetings to provide further opportunities for collaboration and contribution to the success of The Leah Chase School.

Regular updates will be provided through a "Did you know?" campaign by NOLA-PS’ communications team. A steering committee will be established to capture feedback, and FAQs will be continuously updated to provide the latest information about the new school on the NOLA-PS website (nolapublicschools.com).

The Leah Chase School is committed to culturally responsive teaching and learning, valuing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its scholars. Educational programs will be rooted in this approach, ensuring an inclusive and enriching environment for all students.

The school will initially serve scholars in grades K-5, with plans to expand to 6th grade in the 2025-26 school year and subsequently add a grade each year until reaching 8th grade. The anticipated opening day for grades 1-5 is Tuesday, August 6, 2024, and for Kindergarten, it is Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

Enrollment will be facilitated through the New Orleans Common Application Process (NCAP). Current Lafayette Academy students in grades K-4th and 5th graders repeating fifth grade during the 2024-2025 school year have closing school priority via NCAP’s Main Round and guaranteed enrollment at The Leah Chase School through NCAP’s open enrollment this summer if they wish to attend. Families with K-4th grade scholars and repeating 5th grade students who did not participate during NCAP’s Main Round can select The Leah Chase school during open enrollment and will have a guaranteed seat.

The school will provide a comprehensive approach, including clubs, field trips, and courses in arts and culture, music, physical education, and social and emotional support. Additionally, The Leah Chase School will implement a Tier 1 curriculum and instructional technology, with a dedicated staff supporting counseling, special education, English learners, social work, mentoring, gifted and talented programs, and multi-tiered systems of support for academics and student behavior.

Key details of the proposed academic calendar include:

• Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - First day of school for grades 1-5
• Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - First day of school for Kindergarten
• Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Last day of school

School hours:

• ​7:30 - Arrival/Breakfast
• 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM - Instructional Day
• 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM - Before Care
• 3:15 PM to 6:00 PM – After Care

The cost of childcare is as follows:

 

WEEKLY RATES	DROP -IN RATES
The weekly rates are as follows: ·         $20 weekly for Before Care ·         $30 weekly for After Care ·         $40 weekly to participate in both Before and After Care	Daily "Drop-in" Fees are as follows: ·         $5.00 per child for Before Care Drop in ·         $7.00 per child for After Care Drop in
·         Payments are due every Friday. ·         LATE FEES: $1.00 for each additional minute after 6:00 p.m. Students may no longer participate in the childcare program after 3 late pick-ups. ·         Drop-in fees are due the day of drop in. ·         A $5 per day late fee will be added to all missed payments. Late fee charges will end (not accrue) after 10 calendar days. The student will not be able to return to the program until the balance is satisfied.

All school-based and central office support positions were posted on Tuesday, February 27th, via various job boards: nolapublicschools.com, LinkedIn, The New Orleans Teacher Job Board, etc. The recruitment phase is actively ongoing, with the interview process starting mid-March. The start date for new hires will depend on individual employment terms but is expected between May, June, and possibly into July.

Families can expect full service and SPED transportation, as well as SPED full service only transportation. All buses will be equipped with air conditioning, and provisions for extracurricular activity transportation are also being explored.

The primary goal is to continue Ms. Leah's tradition of excellence, fostering positive self-identity, academic growth, and social-emotional well-being. The Leah Chase School aims to empower scholars to own their learning and see themselves reflected in their education, embodying the spirit of Ms. Leah as a true educator and community leader.