New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA, is the regional, pre-professional arts training center for high school students in Louisiana. NOCCA opened in 1973 as a professional arts training center for secondary school-age children.
Serving 223 students in grades 9-13, New Orleans Center For Creative Arts ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Louisiana for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 50-59% (which is higher than the Louisiana state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 70-79% (which is higher than the Louisiana state average of 42%).
The student-teacher ratio of 3:1 is lower than the Louisiana state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Louisiana state average of 59% (majority Black).
Quick Facts (2026)
- School Type: Special education school
- Grades: 9-13
- Enrollment: 223 students
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 3:1
- Minority Enrollment: 63%
- Graduation Rate: ≥90% (Top 30% in LA)
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 10%
- Math Proficiency: 50-59% (Top 20%)
- Reading Proficiency: 70-79% (Top 5%)
- Science Proficiency: 40-49% (Top 20%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), LA Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Louisiana for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Science Proficiency
School Overview
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts's student population of 223 students has declined by 7% over five school years.
The teacher population of 66 teachers has grown by 3200% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 9-13
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
223 students
Total Classroom Teachers
66 teachers
Year Founded
1973
School Calendar
School Rankings
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts ranks within the top 10% of all 1,244 schools in Louisiana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of New Orleans Center For Creative Arts is 0.67, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.65. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#93 out of 1244 schools
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50-59%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
70-79%
42%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-49%
27%
Student-Teacher Ratio
3:1
13:1
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
2%
2%
Hispanic
17%
11%
Black
41%
42%
White
37%
41%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
3%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
≥90%
83%
Chronically Absent Students
(22-23)4%
21%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
36%
61%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
6%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), LA Dept. of Education
Frequently Asked Questions
What is New Orleans Center For Creative Arts's ranking?
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts is ranked #93 out of 1,244 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Louisiana.
What schools are New Orleans Center For Creative Arts often compared to?
New Orleans Center For Creative Artsis often viewed alongside schools like The Willow School, Benjamin Franklin High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
50-59% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% LA state average), while 70-79% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 42% LA state average).
What is the graduation rate of New Orleans Center For Creative Arts?
The graduation rate of New Orleans Center For Creative Arts is 90%, which is higher than the Louisiana state average of 83%.
How many students attend New Orleans Center For Creative Arts?
223 students attend New Orleans Center For Creative Arts.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
41% of New Orleans Center For Creative Arts students are Black, 37% of students are White, 17% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Asian.
What is the student-teacher ratio of New Orleans Center For Creative Arts?
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts has a student ration of 3:1, which is lower than the Louisiana state average of 13:1.
What grades does New Orleans Center For Creative Arts offer ?
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts offers enrollment in grades 9-13 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is New Orleans Center For Creative Arts part of?
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts is part of New Orleans Center For Creative Arts School District.
In what neighborhood is New Orleans Center For Creative Arts located?
New Orleans Center For Creative Arts is located in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, LA.
School Reviews
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![[Wikipedia] New Orleans Center for Creative Arts](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7PvC572iLQ8/0.jpg "New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA, is the public performing and visual arts high school for the State of Louisiana. Opened in 1973 as a professional arts training center for secondary school-age children. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, NOCCA provides intensive instruction in culinary arts, creative writing, dance, media arts, music (classical, jazz, vocal), theatre arts (drama, musical theatre, theatre design) and visual arts, while demanding simultaneous academic excellence.
NOCCA was founded by a diverse coalition of artists, educators, business leaders, and community activists who saw the need for an institution devoted to our region’s burgeoning young talent. The program is tuition-free to all Louisiana students who meet audition requirements. Students from over 100 public, private, parochial and home schools attend in the afternoon or late-day as well as Academic Studio students, who attend NOCCA for the full day.
In 2000, NOCCA moved to a newly built campus located in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. Prior to that, NOCCA was housed for many years in an old elementary school building located on Perrier Street in Uptown New Orleans.
NOCCA’s track record over the past 40 years speaks for itself: every year a remarkable 95-98% of NOCCA graduates go on to college and conservatory programs across the country. Furthermore, approximately 80% of NOCCA students receive scholarships to pursue such higher education. The key to NOCCA’s success is the ethic of discipline and responsibility it instills in students, which prepares them for productive adult lives.
Academic Studio students, accepted by a successful arts audition, learn through problem-solving and project-based learning. Students graduate from NOCCA receiving a TOPS University Diploma.
Many world-class artists have graduated from NOCCA, including Harry Connick, Jr., Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, the Marsalis brothers, Trombone Shorty, Jonathan Batiste, Gustave Blache III, Anthony Mackie, Wendell Pierce, Nicole Cooley")
