Sustaining Progress in New Orleans Means Investing in Teachers

Over the past 20 years, New Orleans public schools have made remarkable academic progress. Students are achieving at higher levels, schools are improving outcomes, and educators across our city have helped drive that progress forward. But sustaining and building on that success requires confronting an essential question: are we doing enough to support the teachers who make it possible?

 

Great schools depend on great teachers. Research consistently shows that teachers have the greatest impact on student learning of any school-based factor, two to three times the effect of any other aspect of schooling when it comes to student achievement in reading and math. And yet, 22% of teachers leave our schools annually for other opportunities, leading to high turnover and less experienced teachers on average across the system. In our annual survey of more than two-thirds of the city’s teachers, they consistently rate compensation as one of the top three factors in their departure.

That’s why New Schools for New Orleans conducted a Teacher Compensation Study, in partnership with 87% of New Orleans public schools, to better understand the current landscape of teacher pay across the city. The study provides something equally important: a data-driven understanding of where we are today and what challenges lie ahead. It helps illuminate how teacher pay compares locally and regionally, how broader economic pressures affect educators, and what it will take to ensure teaching remains a sustainable career in our city.

 

The findings show that while schools have worked hard to prioritize educators, such as raising the median salary for full-time teachers by about 20% since 2018, the broader financial picture facing teachers has become more challenging. Today, the median base salary for a lead teacher in New Orleans is about $57,500, which trails neighboring parishes and has not kept pace with the rising cost of living. With the estimated living wage for a household with one adult and one child in Orleans Parish now exceeding $72,000, the gap between teacher pay and the cost of living continues to grow.

This challenge is not unique to New Orleans. Communities across the region and state are grappling with how to ensure teaching remains a financially viable career, and how to do so in a way that helps schools remain competitive for talent. That urgency is especially clear in New Orleans, where we have nearly closed the performance gap with our neighbors, to remain competitive for the strong educators that will be essential to sustaining that progress. As New Orleans continues to close long-standing achievement gaps and strengthen outcomes, remaining competitive for strong educators will be essential to sustaining that progress.

 

Jefferson Parish voters recently considered a millage to support teacher pay increases that ultimately fell short by only a little over 300 votes. Even after that narrow loss, the school system’s leaders have continued exploring ways to improve compensation, including proposals for 5–10% pay raises funded through internal budget adjustments, underscoring how urgent this issue has become across the region. New Orleans must consider similar measures in an environment where the best teachers will seek districts and schools that fairly compensate them.

 

At the state level, compensation increases continue to build momentum. On the May 2026 ballot, Louisiana voters will consider Proposed Amendment 3, which state officials say would free up Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL)related savings to support permanent pay raises for teachers and support staff. Stay tuned for a future deep dive into the complexities of this ballot initiative. At the same time, lawmakers have introduced measures such as House Bill 558, which would require districts to move teacher salaries toward the Southern regional average over time if future appropriations are made.

 

But even these state-level efforts are unlikely to meaningfully solve the challenge in New Orleans. Because the proposed amendment relies on savings generated through TRSL, which most New Orleans schools do not participate in, we would likely see limited benefit compared to neighboring districts. In other words, while the broader state debate matters, New Orleans cannot rely on Baton Rouge alone to address this issue.

The conversation about teacher compensation is also closely connected to the work NSNO is spearheading around school sustainability and enrollment trends in New Orleans. As our community works to ensure schools are operating efficiently and resources are used effectively, we must also ensure that educators — the single most important driver of student success — can build lasting careers in our classrooms. Financial sustainability must be to the benefit of schools’ biggest asset.

At NSNO, we believe the moment calls for bold, collaborative action that delivers meaningful results for educators and students alike. Addressing teacher compensation will require partnership across schools, policymakers, advocates, and the broader community. But the goal is clear: if we want strong schools and continued academic progress for students, we must ensure that teaching in our city is not only meaningful work, but work educators can build lasting careers in — and a profession that makes New Orleans a place they want to call home.

 

We believe that supporting teachers is both about long-term solutions and about recognizing and celebrating them as the consummate professionals who show up for our students every day. Through moments like our upcoming 5th Annual NOLA Teacher Fest, we have the opportunity to honor educators for the impact they make and celebrate the dedication they bring to their classrooms and communities.

 

This fall, we plan to convene school and civic leaders to explore solutions for strengthening teacher compensation. We also look forward to sharing more through a new series highlighting the work of our teachers and the impact they have on the continued progress of New Orleans students. Please continue to follow along with our newsletter and social media for updates and more information.

Our mission is to deliver on the promise of excellent public schools for every child in New Orleans.