Overview
Crescent City Schools (CCS) is a non-profit that runs open-enrollment public charter schools in New Orleans, focusing on turning around failing schools to raise student achievement. It provides a shared support system for its campuses, including curriculum development, data and technology services, special education support, and teacher coaching. Its approach is hands-on, whole-school turnaround, taking over underperforming schools and improving state performance grades, as seen with Harriet Tubman Charter School and the Paul Habans/Dorothy Height transition, plus the Akili Academy–Mildred Osborne merger. The goal is to prepare all students for college by delivering life-changing educational experiences and expanding access to higher-performing schools in New Orleans.
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Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- CCS reported all schools posted positive mastery growth in 2025-2026.
- Staff retention reached 90% for 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, supporting execution.
- Constellations opened in August 2025 and enrolled 60-plus students by January 2026.
What critics are saying
- Louisiana’s 2026 Grow.Achieve.Thrive scores release in late 2026, exposing weaker campuses.
- All CCS schools earned only C grades in spring 2025 state accountability.
- Orleans Parish charter enrollment and authorizer politics can squeeze CCS campuses into consolidation again.
What makes Crescent City Schools unique
- CCS specializes in turning around New Orleans charter schools, not opening generic new campuses.
- It runs both mainstream K-8 campuses and specialized Constellations for low-incidence disabilities.
- Its model combines central curriculum, coaching, special education, and data support across campuses.
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