IN THE BEGINNING
At the end of the 2004 – 2005 school year, Robert Russa Moton School was lauded for vast academic improvement over a period of 5 previous years. The school’s ACADEMIC rating changed from a low-performing school to a high performing school during that time.
Located in the community of Press Park, Moton was a favorite spot for district in-service training, out-of-town visitors and community meetings. The state of the art building boasted closed-circuit televisions in every room and high security.
Articles like the following excerpt were not uncommon:
Two N.O. schools make improved list
New Orleans City Business, May 16, 2005 by New Orleans City Business Staff
Two New Orleans public elementary schools credited with raising state performance scores were honored Wednesday by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
Robert Moton Elementary School and William Fischer Elementary School were two of the state’s top 10 most-improved schools over the past five years.
School performance scores increased significantly from 1999 to 2004, according to the state School and District Accountability Commission. Scores are based on tests, attendance and dropout rates. No junior high or high schools made the list.
Moton Elementary raised its score from 25 during the 1998-1999 school year to 107.9 last year. Fischer Elementary raised its score from 14.1 during the 1998-99 school year to 71.6 last year.
POST KATRINA HISTORY
Robert Russa Moton Charter School for Performing Arts was created out of necessity following the flooding that accompanied Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005.
Principal Paulette Bruno took quick action after Hurricane Katrina to get approval for the new charter school and officially located the newly created Robert Russa Moton Charter School at the offices of Bruno & Tervalon, CPAs on July 13, 2006.
After an extensive search for a school site working with the OPSB, Robert Russa Moton Charter School opened at St. Leo the Great on August 29, 2006.