CEEB/ACT Code Number: 192-041
Main Office: 504-304-3960 – Office of College Counseling: 504-304-3965
www.lusherschool.org
Kathy Riedlinger, CEO; Wiley Ates, High School Principal
Tiffany Cherrie, High School Curriculum Coordinator
Brenda Fitzpatrick, Academic Guidance Counselor
Cynthia Lejeune, Registrar
Charles H. Prosser, Director of College Counseling
Margaret Foley, Assistant to the Counselors
The School
Lusher Charter School opened in January 2006 after the vast majority of students and faculty returned to New Orleans from the evacuation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Located in Uptown, the school is part of the New Orleans Public School system and draws students from all parts of the city. In its uniqueness, Lusher is the only K-12 public school in the area. Following in the footsteps of the highly successful and near century old “Little Lusher”, the high school works tirelessly to instill its core values of Kindness, Respect, Responsibility and Hard Work.
Mission Statement
The mission at Lusher Charter School is to provide a developmentally appropriate learning environment in which high academics, comprehensive arts education, and the celebration of individuality and diversity enable each student to achieve as a learner, a person and a valuable member of our society.
The Class of 2010
The Class of 2010 is Lusher Charter’s third graduating class. Following the mass evacuation caused by Hurricane Katrina, they are the first class to begin high school as ninth graders and spend all four years at Lusher. A high percentage of students in the class are affectionally called, “Lusher Lifers”, students who’ve attended the school since kindergarten or early elementary school. This group of highly motivated, artistically talented and interestingly different students has demonstrated great leadership and risk-taking skills. Founding clubs, setting traditions, and working to adapt Lusher’s student-centered culture to a high school setting, this class has truly made the very best of an incredibly challenging set of circumstances, including the loss of homes, loved ones, and personal possessions. The Class of 2010 includes two National Merit Commended Scholars, two National Achievement Semifinalists, and two LEDA Scholars.
Student Body
The Class of 2010 is made up of 102 students who represent the socioeconomic, religious and racial diversity upon which the school and city are built.
Class of 2011: 102 students, Class of 2012: 92 students, Class of 2013: 118 students
Anticipated full enrollment figures will level off at 125 students per grade.
The male – female ratio is 45% - 55%.
The ethnic breakdown includes 49% African American, 44% Caucasian, 4% Hispanic and 3% Asian students.
The Academic Program
Lusher Charter School operates on an A/B block schedule for each of two semesters with examinations at the end of each semester. Four 100-minute class periods meet each day. Students are enrolled in eight courses all year.
Graduation Requirements
English, 4 credits, Math, 4 credits, Science, 4 credits, Social Studies, 3 credits
Foreign Language, 3 credits, Physical Education/Health, 2 credits
Computer Studies, 1 credit, Fine Arts Survey, 1 credit, Electives, 10 credits
Total: 32 credits
Advanced Placement Program
Students may take Advanced Placement courses with faculty recommendations.
Courses offered include, English Language, English Literature, US Government and Politics, US History, European History, Psychology, Calculus AB, French, Spanish, Physics C, Biology and Chemistry.
Distinguishing Programs
In addition to its Honor’s and Advanced Placement academic curriculum, students at Lusher must earn either a Certificate of Artistry, a prescribed series of leveled courses in a single art form, or an Area of Concentration, 4 + electives in a single subject area.
The Certificate of Artistry (C.A.) in dance, music, theatre, creative writing, media arts, musical theatre and visual arts is a three year plus program of study. Students acquire concentrated in-depth knowledge and experience in an arts discipline. Curriculum content and course studies are determined for each student based on a placement audition and/or portfolio assessment. Year-end evaluations of a student’s work, discipline, skill, creativity and faculty recommendations determine promotion to the next level of course study. Assessment criteria are based on the National Standards for Arts Education.
Alternatively, students may choose an Area of Concentration program which includes 4+ electives in a single subject area. Choices include Humanities/Communications, Math/Science/Technology, or the Arts.
Senior Project
The Senior Project is a sustained, interdisciplinary, and independent body of work bridging academic study and civic engagement. Even though it is technically an English elective course, open to all seniors, it is considered multidisciplinary in nature, touching on more than one academic area. Students complete three major objectives: 1. An extended writing component, 2. Academic “deliverables” or products that relate specifically to individual projects to be determined by the student and faculty advisors, and 3. A civic component in which the student completes an uncompensated service to either the school or city community. The civic activity must relate to the project’s academic focus. Successful completion of a Senior Project places students in rare and distinguished company. It signifies a level of maturity, intellectual capacity, intrinsic motivation, ambition, and academic character that goes well beyond the norm.
Lusher Scholars
The Lusher Scholars Program enables students to maximize the academic rigor and opportunity for multidisciplinary learning experiences available to them. Beginning in the eighth grade, potential Lusher Scholars complete prerequisite Carnegie unit courses that lay the foundation for more rigorous high school work. Potential scholars continue this foundational work by completing a requisite cluster of Advanced Placement courses in multiple disciplines while maintaining a prescribed cumulative grade point average. Students formally apply for acceptance into the Lusher Scholars Program in the fall of the junior year. Once accepted preparatory work for the program’s capstone course, the Senior Project, begins. Like the Senior Project, the Lusher Scholars Program distinction is a sustained, interdisciplinary, and independent body of work bridging academic study and civic engagement. The select group of Lusher Scholar participants spend the summer between the junior and senior years engaged in a mandatory academic or professional program related to their project. In Scholar’s senior year, the Senior Project demands high levels of commitment and effort as students complete a portfolio of academic products, an extended writing component, and a civic requirement relating directly to their academic work. Upon successful completion of this portfolio and its public presentation to the school community, students are recognized as Lusher Scholars and receive the school’s highest honor, a Diploma with Distinction.
Early College Credit Program
In cooperation with Tulane University, second semester juniors and seniors with qualifying grade point averages and PSAT/SAT/ACT scores may enroll in free college level courses and earn a Tulane transcript. In the class of 2010, 14 students are taking advantage of this educational opportunity. For seniors, Tulane courses are scheduled as part of their regular Lusher school day, while second semester juniors enroll in courses after regular school hours.
Grading System
GPA is computed on an unweighted 4.0 scale with quality points as follows:
A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0
Courses on the transcript may be designated as follows:
G=Gifted, H=Honors, T=Talented, AP=Advanced Placement
Grading Scale:
100-93 = A 92-85 = B 84-75 = C 74-70 = D 69 and below = F
Class Rank:
School policy precludes Rank of any kind.
Grade Distribution for the Class of 2010:
4.00 – 3.75 13 students
3.74 – 3.50 13 students
3.49 – 3.00 31 students
2.99 – 2.50 28 students
2.49 – 2.00 13 students