The brief
The top-rated high schools in New Orleans for 2026 are New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (8.9/10), Benjamin Franklin High School (7.6/10), and Frederick A. Douglass High School (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 25 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
New Orleans has 26 ranked high schools, with scores ranging from well below average to some of the strongest in the state. Frederick A. Douglass High School leads the metro with an 8.6 out of 10, followed closely by Benjamin Franklin High School at 8.4 and John F. Kennedy High School at 8.3. Only 7 schools — about 27% of the ranked list — clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold, which means choice matters significantly here. The metro's average composite score of 5.9 reflects real variation across the district. A handful of schools punch well above that mark, while others trail it considerably. The table below lets you sort by academic performance, school size, and other key metrics so you can identify which schools align with what your student needs. Start with the score column to see where each school stands relative to the local field.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.9
- 27.6
- 37.5
- 47.4
- 57.2
- 67.0
- 76.8
- 86.6
- 96.6
- 106.5
All 25 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.All 25
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1New Orleans Center for Creative ArtsNew Orleans Center For Creative Artsstudents 227student-teacher ratio 3.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 2Benjamin Franklin High SchoolcharterBenjamin Franklin High Schoolstudents 1,056student-teacher ratio 17.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 3Frederick A. Douglass High SchoolcharterFrederick A. Douglass High Schoolstudents 673student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 4Edna Karr High SchoolcharterEdna Karr High Schoolstudents 1,131student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Abramson Sci AcademycharterSci Academystudents 665student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Mcdonogh 35 Senior High SchoolcharterMcdonogh 35 Senior High Schoolstudents 862student-teacher ratio 13.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Eleanor Mcmain Secondary SchoolcharterEleanor Mcmain Secondary Schoolstudents 731student-teacher ratio 12.8:1grades 8th–12th
- 8New Harmony High InstitutecharterNew Harmony High Institutestudents 355student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 9Walter L. Cohen High SchoolcharterWalter L. Cohen High Schoolstudents 406student-teacher ratio 11.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 10New Orleans Military & Maritime AcademycharterNew Orleans Military & Maritime Academystudents 943student-teacher ratio 12.6:1grades 8th–12th
- 11G W Carver High SchoolcharterG W Carver Collegiate Academystudents 778student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 12Livingston Collegiate AcademycharterLivingston Collegiate Academystudents 630student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Living SchoolcharterLiving School Inc.students 193student-teacher ratio 13.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 14John F. Kennedy High SchoolcharterJohn F. Kennedy High Schoolstudents 625student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 15Rooted SchoolcharterRooted Schoolstudents 153student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades 9th–UG
- 16New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics HScharterNew Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics HSstudents 623student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Booker T. Washington High SchoolcharterKipp Booker T. Washingtonstudents 637student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 18Sarah Towles Reed High SchoolcharterSarah Towles Reed High Schoolstudents 413student-teacher ratio 15.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 19Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic ExcellencecharterSophie B Wright Institute of Academic Excellencestudents 553student-teacher ratio 19.8:1grades 6th–12th
- 20L.b. Landry High SchoolcharterLord Beaconsfield Landry-Oliver Perry Walker Highstudents 609student-teacher ratio 18.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 21International High School of New OrleanscharterVoices For International Business & Educationstudents 439student-teacher ratio 16.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Warren Easton Charter High SchoolcharterWarren Easton Charter Foundation Inc.students 1,152student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 23The Net 2 Charter High SchoolcharterThe Net2 High Schoolstudents 189student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 8th–12th
- 24The Net Charter High SchoolcharterThe Net Charter High Schoolstudents 274student-teacher ratio 30.4:1grades 8th–12th
- 25New Orleans Accelerated High SchoolcharterNew Orleans Accelerated High Schoolstudents 273student-teacher ratio 22.8:1grades 8th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Louisiana education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Louisiana. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts
227 students · 3.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 3% in Louisiana
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 10.0
- 2
Benjamin Franklin High School
Benjamin Franklin High School
1,056 students · 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 21% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 5.2
- Environment
- 5.3
- 3
Frederick A. Douglass High School
Frederick A. Douglass High School
673 students · 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 23% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 4.2
- 4
Edna Karr High School
Edna Karr High School
1,131 students · 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 25% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 5.5
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 5.5
- 5
Abramson Sci Academy
Sci Academy
665 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 29% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 7.3
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 4.9
- 6
Mcdonogh 35 Senior High School
Mcdonogh 35 Senior High School
862 students · 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 34% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 5.5
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 5.6
- 7
Eleanor Mcmain Secondary School
Eleanor Mcmain Secondary School
731 students · 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 8th–12th
Top 38% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 6.7
- Growth
- 9.1
- Environment
- 5.0
- 8
New Harmony High Institute
New Harmony High Institute
355 students · 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 44% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 2.9
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 9.3
- 9
Walter L. Cohen High School
Walter L. Cohen High School
406 students · 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 44% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 4.4
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 8.6
- 10
New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy
New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy
943 students · 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 8th–12th
Top 46% in Louisiana · charter
- Academics
- 5.4
- Growth
- 6.8
- Environment
- 9.3
Questions
What is the best high school in New Orleans, Louisiana?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts is the top-rated high school in New Orleans with a composite score of 8.9/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many high schools are in New Orleans, Louisiana?
New Orleans has 33 high schools, including 25 charter schools. Of these, 33 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in New Orleans?
Among 33 New Orleans high schools with a composite score, the average is 6.0/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Louisiana).
How does MySchoolScout rate high schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Louisiana, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Louisiana, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the New Orleans high school rankings?
New Orleans has 25 charter high schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best elementary schools in New Orleans2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in New Orleans2026 rankings and ratings
- All 118 schools in New OrleansElementary, middle and high
- Louisiana schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings