Our Mission
The mission of Lagniappe Academies is to promote academic excellence, resilience, and self-awareness in New Orleans’ children. By partnering with families, community organizations, and other institutions that share our core beliefs, Lagniappe Academies inspires students to embrace new opportunities and realize their potential.
Lagniappe Academies has a unique method of achieving a strong, comprehensive student and staff culture. Using research from the field of positive education, Lagniappe’s school culture promotes well-being, resilience, strengths, relationships, and good habits.
Lagniappe’s academic program is rich and rigorous and goes beyond the basics. Curriculum is delivered in a structured, caring environment.
Our Promise
Lagniappe staff and its collaborators are committed to:
- Promoting optimal outcomes for Lagniappe children, including their academic achievement, physical and mental health, and social and emotional development — with a special focus on building children’s emotional resiliency.
- Building strong relationships among Lagniappe staff and community members, collaborators, children, and families.
- Enhancing the capacity of each family to support the growth and development of all family members.
- Affirming and strengthening families’ cultural identities and traditions to enhance their ability to thrive in a multicultural society.
- Serving the greater Tremé community and contributing to the community-building process.
- Helping students develop a supportive network of caring adults who will support their growth and development.
- Responding to emerging family and community needs, based on input from the Greater Tremé community — using engagement initiatives such as community meetings, working sessions, and an advisory council.
- Helping families advocate for services and systems that are fair, responsive, and accountable.
Curriculum
Lagniappe Academies implements a standards-based, data-driven curriculum that is consistent with both state and national standards. Block scheduling offers opportunities for more in-depth exploration and mastery of subject matter.
The school’s extended day and extended year scheduling allow extra time for core subjects, including reading, writing and math, while also providing ample time for science, social studies, art and physical education (PE). Enrichment programming at the end of the school day introduces students to a variety of activities in the areas of music, arts, athletics, outdoor activities, cultural programs and additional learning opportunities.
The Design of a Lagniappe Education
Lagniappe Academies’ academic model is adapted from and incorporates best practices from a wide variety of top performing schools across the nation including the highly effective Amistad Academy/Achievement First schools in Connecticut and New York (www.achievementfirst.org). Components include a rigorous college prep curriculum, a school-wide culture of achievement, the use of interim assessments, and positive character, social, and emotional development.