Total enrollment
47,154
-4,174 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Orleans Parish
Louisiana · Public K-12
Public education in Orleans Parish reaches 48,238 students across 82 schools. Orleans Parish Public Schools is the largest district at 2,322 students. By level, that breaks down as 44 elementary, 1 middle, and 27 high schools.
7-year change in Orleans Parish
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
74
-13 (-15%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
10%
was 11%
% Hispanic
15%
was 8%
% Black
71%
was 78%
% Asian
1%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
371,853
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
82
76 districts
Enrollment
48,238
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,631
Above Louisiana avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.3%
Above Louisiana avg
Elementary
44
28,378 students
Middle
1
267 students
High
27
14,160 students
Combined / other
10
5,433 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Orleans Parish Public Schools
2,322 students · 76 districts in Orleans Parish
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Orleans Parish residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
42.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.5%
civilian labor
Median age
39
19.7% under 18
Test scores in Orleans Parish
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Louisiana state average: 42.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Orleans Parish
About Orleans Parish
In Louisiana, Orleans Parish is a large county of about 371,853 residents. 82 public schools across the county instructs about 48,238 students between them.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $56,631, 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 17%.
On the school-mix side, Orleans Parish is made up of 44 elementary schools (28,378 students), 1 middle school (267), 27 high schools (14,160), and 10 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Orleans Parish is Orleans Parish Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 2,322 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 47,154 students, decreased 8% from the 51,328 reported in SY 2017-18. Orleans Parish now counts 74 public schools, down from 87 in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, Black enrollment moved from 78% to 71% over the same window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Orleans Parish discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Orleans Parish school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data