Rod D. Martin@RodDMartin · Jun 1, 2026

🧵New Orleans just proved failing schools can be fixed at scale. It became America’s first all-charter school…

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Summary

New Orleans transformed from having 60% failing schools to zero failing schools by converting to an all-charter system with school autonomy, accountability, and family choice, achieving 99th percentile reading growth and 98th percentile math growth nationally. The district's success demonstrates that school reform at scale is possible through policy changes focused on results over bureaucracy.

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#1
🧵New Orleans just proved failing schools can be fixed at scale. It became America’s first all-charter school district. The results are staggering: • 99th percentile nationally in reading growth • 98th percentile in math growth • The only state in America beating pre-pandemic levels in both subjects This is what real reform looks like. THREAD 🧵
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2/ Before Hurricane Katrina, the system was a disaster. Over 60% of New Orleans public schools were rated failing. Kids attended chaotic, dangerous schools where constant disruptions made real learning almost impossible. A generation was being failed by design. Then the storm hit — and everything changed.
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3/ New Orleans didn’t tinker. It transformed. The state took over the worst schools, converted the entire district to charters, eliminated neighborhood attendance zones, and gave families real school choice. Thousands of underperforming teachers and staff were fired. Corruption and low standards were confronted directly. It was radical. It worked.
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4/ The numbers don’t lie. Zero failing schools today (down from 60%+). 92% of schools now rated A or B. The district earned its highest-ever grade: a B. These gains survived the pandemic and kept climbing.
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5/ Real students are living the difference. Oscar Brown’s son earned an associate’s degree at the rebuilt neighborhood high school before receiving his high school diploma. His daughter is on track to graduate with a nursing certification that leads straight to a good job and college credit. Brown says it plainly: “It’s a clear night and day difference. Schools here really dive deep into education now.”
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6/ What actually drove the turnaround? 1. Autonomy for schools to innovate. 2. Accountability — bad charters can be closed quickly. 3. Family choice instead of forced neighborhood attendance. 4. More instructional time: 16 extra days of reading and 6 extra days of math per year. Leaders credit sustained focus on results over bureaucracy and excuses.
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7/ New Orleans shows that catastrophic school failure is a policy choice — not destiny. When a city demands autonomy, accountability, and results over protecting the old system, children win. The question for the rest of America: Why aren’t we following what worked here? Read my full breakdown on this remarkable turnaround. Link in bio. RT if this gives you hope. Our kids deserve results, not excuses.