Superman In NOLA Schools

As you are well aware, there is plenty of discussion surrounding the film Waiting for Superman. As many of know the film levels plenty of criticism at the public schools, particularly in the inner cities, in this country.

I have some great news for those donors and volunteers of Schools Count Corp as well as for the skeptics of public education. Great things are happening in public schools without privatizing. Within the past few days I've gotten my hands on the spring 2010 State of Louisiana LEAP test scores. The results are most encouraging and should send a signal to those who often malign the efforts of teachers, unions, and students, in the public schools pf New Orleans.

I want to share the improvement in these test scores to underline the great work of the students, staff and leaders in the schools we have served for the past five years. Take a look for yourself and you can see the wonderful results.

School/2008-09 score/2009-10 score/ % change

Tureaud Elementary, 72.4, 77.1, + 6.5%
Coghill Elementary, 53.3, 70.4, + 32%
Schaumburg Elementary, 61.7, 68.4, + 11%
J. W. Johnson Elem., 51.8, 64.7, + 25%
Fannie Williams Elem., 60.6, 63.3, + 4.5%
Habans Elementary, 59.2, 62.9, + 6.3%
Henderson Elementary, 62.3, 62.4, + less than .1%
Banneker Elementary, 58.9, 60.1, + 2%
Reed Elementary, 47.2, 50.0, + 6%
Gregory Elementary, 37.6, 49.3, +31.1 %
Carver Elementary, 36.1, 47.6, + 31.9%
Drew Elementary, 40.7, 47.1, + 15.7 %
Craig Elementary, 48.7, 44.0, - 9.7%
Arthur Ashe Charter, 67.2, 82.9, + 23.3%
McDonogh H. S. ,21.6, 42.2, +95.4%
Greater Gentilly H. S., not open, 47.3, no comparison

As you can see from the above LEAP scores, every school we delivered to this past August, with just one exception, had better test scores than the previous year. Though a school's total and real worth can't be measured in standardized test scores, it is obvious that great progress in being made in New Orleans.

No, 'Superman' has not made an apprearance at the above schools, rather, the people in these schools have fashioned their march forward! Great work...keep it up. Don't let people tell you otherwise.

Dick Flesher