Claes Nobel Schools of Distinction are selected and awarded through the NSHSS Foundation to secondary schools dedicated to integrating science and mathematics education in innovative and successful ways. To nominate a school for this award, please download the application.
New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School
We are pleased to recognize the New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School as a Claes Nobel School of Distinction for its innovative approach to integrating science and mathematics education through an open admissions process. SciHigh believes that students with a broad range of scholastic aptitudes can master science and mathematics concepts and information at a high level given the proper culture, faculty, and school leadership. NSHSS University Relations Coordinator Veronica Squires, stopped in while visiting colleges in the area in September and came away very impressed with the students and faculty.
The school was created in 1992 by a group if civic, business, and education leaders in New Orleans to provide “an opportunity for the predominantly African-American student population in the traditionally underserved New Orleans Public School system to attain an excellent science, math, and technology education.” Following Hurricane Katrina, the school was reorganized as a public charter high school, and is now one of only two specialty science and math schools in the United Stated with an open admissions policy and with a majority of females and African American students. The school remains committed to its original mission of focusing on rigorous, lab-based education in science, math and technology, as well as instructing students in the humanities. Prior to Katrina, 95% of the school graduates enrolled in college, many of them first-generation college students. A few of the schools achievements include:
- College Acceptances - 95% of 2005 graduates were accepted into college and/or universities. Of those accepted, the class of 2005 received $1,340,000 in scholarship offers.
- 2005 State Exit Exam (GEE) - 97% of students passed the science section on the first sitting, 95% passed the math section on their first try. Of these, 30% (in science) and 50% (in mathematics) scored in the highest two (out of five) categories of achievement. These scores were better than all but one highly-selective local school.
- Robotics - For a second year, the school’s team represented New Orleans at the regional competition in Atlanta and progressed to the semi-finals coming in finally in the top 15% of the teams.
Post-Katrina, the school is on track to reach and excel previous achievements. Congratulations to the New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School and to Principal Bridget Ramsey.