New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School

New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School
New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School
Address
	2011 Bienville Street; New Orleans, Louisiana 70112; United States
Information
School type	Open enrollment public charter
Motto	Catalyst to Your Future
Founded	1993
School board	Orleans Parish School District (charter school).
Principal	Monique Cola
Teaching staff	39.94 (FTE)
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	579 (2022–2023)
Student to teacher ratio	14.50
Color(s)	Royal blue and white;
Team name	Nautilus
Website	www.noscihigh.org

New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School is an open enrollment charter school in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Students commonly refer to the school as "SciHigh", "Science & Math", or vice versa, "Math and Science".

The organization, Advocates for Science and Mathematics Education, governs the school, which is located in Uptown, in the former Allen Elementary School campus.^[2] The school is supported in part by the Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for "an open-admissions, rigorous, hands-on educational model paired with the belief that any student can succeed when provided with a safe and supportive environment."^[3]

History

The school was founded in 1993 by Barbara MacPhee as a half day school focused on the rigorous instruction of mathematics and science. Students from any New Orleans Public School were able to enroll part-time at NOCSMHS and part-time at their "home" school. From its inception until Hurricane Katrina, the school was housed on the campus of Delgado Community College.

Students view solar powered car at the high school campus at the time on Nashville Avenue, Uptown New Orleans, in 2009

After Katrina, the school was chartered under the auspices of the Orleans Parish School Board as a full-day, grades 9-12 high school, offering instruction in all subjects, including English, social studies, and foreign language. Due to the damage Delgado received from Katrina, NOCSMHS moved to the building which housed the former Henry W. Allen Elementary School in the uptown New Orleans neighborhood.

In October 2010, the school met its performance growth goal by attaining a School Performance Score over 80.0, giving it a two-star rating.

The following year, in October 2011, the school far surpassed its growth goal and earned a "B+" grade—the highest grade given to any open-enrollment school in the New Orleans area.

In April 2018 the board for Sci High selected former Delgado Community College employee Monique Cola as the school's headmaster; she has a PhD from Tulane University.^[4]

The groundbreaking for the Mid-City campus was scheduled for fall 2018. The school relocated there in 2020. It has a 400-seat gymnasium on the second floor.^[5] Katherine Hart of the Mid-City Messenger described it as "the only New Orleans public school built specifically for STEM education."^[6]

Faculty

In 2018 the school retained 68% of its faculty members, with 13 members starting work and 28 continuing to work from the previous year.^[4]

School building format

The first floor is primarily science classes. It also holds the cafeteria, Phys. Ed. room, Art class, and counselors office
The second floor is primarily language arts and social studies classes. It also holds the Computer Lab, Auditorium, and Main Office
The third floor is primarily the math and English classes. It also holds the Library and Special Education classes

Athletics

New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High athletics competes in the LHSAA.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ "The Sci High Story Archived 2012-08-14 at the Wayback Machine." New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School. Retrieved on August 3, 2012.
^ "The Foundation for Science and Mathematics - Get Involved." Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education. Retrieved on January 18, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Morris, Robert (2018-07-23). "Sci High prepares for new school year with new principal". Uptown Messenger. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
^ Morris, Robert (2018-03-16). "Sci High aims for fall groundbreaking on new Mid-City campus". Uptown Messenger. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
^ Hart, Katherine (2021-01-08). "New Sci High building is ready for state-of-the-art instruction in the biomedical corridor. Only its students are missing". Mid-City Messenger. New Orleans. Retrieved 2024-01-09.

External links

[NCES-1] "New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics HS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[About-2] "The Sci High Story Archived 2012-08-14 at the Wayback Machine." New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School. Retrieved on August 3, 2012.

[AboutFSME-3] "The Foundation for Science and Mathematics - Get Involved." Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education. Retrieved on January 18, 2015.

[Morrispreparenewprincipal-4] Morris, Robert (2018-07-23). "Sci High prepares for new school year with new principal". Uptown Messenger. Retrieved 2020-05-25.

[5] Morris, Robert (2018-03-16). "Sci High aims for fall groundbreaking on new Mid-City campus". Uptown Messenger. Retrieved 2020-05-25.

[6] Hart, Katherine (2021-01-08). "New Sci High building is ready for state-of-the-art instruction in the biomedical corridor. Only its students are missing". Mid-City Messenger. New Orleans. Retrieved 2024-01-09.

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