Summary:
Zip code 70119 in New Orleans, Louisiana, is home to two high schools—Warren Easton Charter High School and New Harmony High Institute—serving a combined 1,466 students in grades 9 through 12, offering families a stark contrast in school size, academic performance, and student outcomes.
Warren Easton Charter High School, part of the Warren Easton Charter Foundation Inc., stands out as the larger and more established option with 1,138 students and a strong 92.5% graduation rate, well above the state average of 85%. However, it faces a notable challenge with a 50.8% chronic absenteeism rate—more than double the state average—and recent test scores have declined, with proficiency in Algebra I dropping to 35% and U.S. History to 26% in 2025-2026. In contrast, New Harmony High Institute is a smaller school with 328 students and a lower student-teacher ratio of 11.3:1, offering more personalized attention. Yet it struggles with a 59.8% graduation rate and a 4.6% dropout rate, both significantly worse than Warren Easton. Despite these challenges, New Harmony has shown recent improvement, with its state percentile rank rising from the 15th to the 26th percentile and test scores increasing across subjects, such as Algebra I climbing from 29% to 46%.
An interesting paradox emerges: Warren Easton’s higher chronic absenteeism does not prevent its high graduation rate, suggesting strong support systems, while New Harmony’s lower absenteeism (29%) fails to translate into better outcomes, pointing to deeper instructional or structural issues. Additionally, socioeconomic status is not a simple predictor—New Harmony has a lower percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (53.66%) than Warren Easton (74.78%), yet its academic results are weaker. For families in 70119, the choice is clear: Warren Easton offers a proven path to graduation with larger classes, while New Harmony provides a smaller setting with recent upward momentum but significant risks.
Thank you for your feedback!