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 Central City
New Orleans College Prep is located in Central City, a neighborhood that is rich with culture and historical traditions that make New Orleans unique. Central City is home to many of the Mardi Gras Indians which play an integral part in the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. The Free Southern Theater, a group using the arts to inspire and support social struggle and fight against racism and exploitation, also originated in this neighborhood in 1963. Many of the jazz musicians who played a role in shaping New Orleans music once called Central City home.
Despite its strong cultural history and potential to be a thriving community, Central City has been historically plagued by poverty, crime, and failing public schools. The 2000 Census reflected a 49.8% poverty level; 26.5% the households were single parents and 43.9% had not completed high school. This neighborhood also includes and borders three New Orleans public housing developments: C.J. Peete (Magnolia), Guste (Melpomene), and B.W. Cooper (Calliope).
Post-Katrina, many of the Central City’s socioeconomic problems have been exacerbated and the community is need of comprehensive redevelopment services more than ever before. New Orleans College Prep is the educational partner in a strong collaborative of numerous local community leaders and non-profit organizations offering Central City public safety initiatives, education, family services, and economic and housing development. New Orleans College Prep contributes to this holistic redevelopment strategy by providing the children of Central City an opportunity to attend college and achieve socioeconomic mobility through education.
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