AP Government Students Visit the Capitol

Advance Placement Government classes from Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School, Sci High, and KIPP Renaissance travelled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to hear testimony on two education bills (HB 381 and HB 558) which pertain to Common Core Standards and the PARCC assessment.

As individuals directly affected by the decisions made around both of these education bills, we are excited to see our students participating in the democratic process, voicing their concerns to our elected officials. While in Baton Rouge, students met with several representatives, including Representative Wesley Bishop from New Orleans and Senator Karen Carter Peterson from New Orleans.

Students also had the opportunity to sit in committee chambers and watch live testimony from State Superintendent John White. Students toured the Capitol, met with lobbyists of several education interest groups and ate lunch provided by Stand for Children.

This was an incredible opportunity for our students to witness first hand how our government works at a local level, and the power of democracy.


The Louisiana House Education Committee voted down both bills. To read more about it - click here.

Clark Prep's AP Government will also have the opportunity to travel to our Nation's capital later this month. To read more about the trip or make a donation to support our students, please click here.

Look what our parents have to say about FirstLine's schools!

Why LHA?

Why Green?

Why Ashe?

Why Dibert?

We love our schools, but we wanted to hear from our parents on why they chose our schools. So with the help from New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC), we put together some videos.

Watch our videos and find out for yourself - Why FirstLine?

All of our schools accept the RSD OneApp. The next application window opens January 13, 2014. For more information about how to apply click here. 

Our very own Cassie Thomas is published in the Times-Picayune!

Cassie Thomas, a Junior at Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School, had an editorial published in the Times Picayune today, November 22, 2014. 

Cassie's essay is in response to student protest at Clark Prep last week.  At FirstLine Schools we are committed to the academic success of each of our students. Having a voice is a part of that success. To take a few words from Cassie - we hope the students at Clark Prep continue to feel empowered in their own education, as we continue to work to close the achievement gap. 

We want to wish Cassie the best of luck in the coming year, and that she may continue to inspire us and others in the community. 

We are closing the Achievement Gap!

Today the Louisiana Department of Education released Letter Grades for schools across the state. This year marked the eighth straight year of growth for FirstLine Schools.

Two of our schools earned a "B":

• Arthur Ashe Charter School (Ashe), was rated a "D" last year
• John Dibert Community School (Dibert), was rated a "D" last year

Two of our schools earned a "C":

• Samuel J. Green Charter School (Green), was rated a "D" last year
• Langston Hughes Academy (LHA), did not receive a letter grade last year

One of our schools remains a "T", which indicates a transition school:

• Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School (Clark Prep), in its second year of transition, showed a second straight year of significant growth in terms of its school performance score. 

The scores released, October 24, 2013, show a steady increase of student achievement in the 2012-13 school year at all of FirstLine's schools. Additionally, Ashe, Dibert, and Green are also all 2013 "Top Gains Schools."

"The hard work of our scholars and teachers in partnership with our parents has resulted in marked increase in student achievement, which is only one indicator of the continued improvement of our schools," said Jay Altman, CEO of FirstLine Schools. "While we still have a long way to go, these letter grades reflect the progress we are making towards a shared vision with schools across the city -- that New Orleans can be the first city in America where every child goes to a great school."

FirstLine's schools are accepting students for the 2014-15 school year, as part of the RSD OneApp, beginning on November 4, 2013. For more information about enrolling your child visit www.firstlineschools.org or www.enrollnola.org

Samuel J. Green Charter School celebrates Science Night

Science Night at Green Charter is a time for the elementary scholars to get excited and for Middle School scholars to show what they know.

 This year all grade levels were represented, along with a special guest from Loyola, US wildlife and fisheries, and Birds of Prey!

Students and parents circulated tables to learn about air pressure,  systems of the body through frog dissection, chemical changes, making slime and butter, physical changes by making ice cream and a host of other activities! Green's art program and the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans put together a special presentation for students and the 5th grade ELA's literature table was an amazing addition,  making the event cross curricular! 

Kathleen: Wes Moore, Xavier & Clark Prep

On the evening of Tuesday, November 27 Clark Prep sent a total of five 9^th and 10^th grade students to Xavier University.  Xavier was hosting a special event: Wes Moore, celebrated author of “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates” spoke to the entire freshman class of Xavier, as they are required to read it as first-years and it is incorporated into their studies, and the Xavier chapter of the Alpha-Phi-Alpha fraternity as their selected shared reading for the 2012/2013 academic year. 

The trip was exciting for students and adults as well, as the book tells a story about two African American men with the same name who came from similar backgrounds in urban Baltimore but ultimately make defining and vastly different life choices, propelling one Moore into academic and professional success and plummeting the other into crime and a life sentence in jail. Clark Prep faculty members Ms. Vernessa Gipson, Mr. Will Chesson, Mrs. Dawn Goodwin and Principal Hochron accompanied the students.  

Clark Prep was also represented by Dr. Monique Cola, alumni and President of the Clark Alumni Association.  All enjoyed discussion of the themes covered in Wes Moore’s book, those themes described by Xavier as part of their mission, being “personal responsibility, social justice, the transformative power of education” and the judicial system in the U.S. All five Clark Prep students can be seen in the bottom row of the picture  – Clark Prep sweaters and the JROTC uniform help to distinguish them from the rest!



Kathleen Duffy is the AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Coordinator for Clark Prep High School.