OPSB Approves Einstein Group Inc.'s Charter Relinquishment and School Consolidation Plan

(New Orleans – November 20, 2025) — During its regular monthly board meeting, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) voted to accept Einstein Group Inc.'s decisions to relinquish the charter for Sarah T. Reed High School and to consolidate Village de l'Est Elementary School and Einstein Middle School into Sherwood Forest Elementary School. This move, effective at the end of the current school year, aims to optimize district resources, enhance educational programming, and ensure sustainable facilities for students across NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS).

The relinquishment of the Sarah T. Reed High School charter will take effect on June 30, 2026, marking the school's closure. Simultaneously, the consolidation will create a unified PreK-8 campus at the Sherwood Forest Elementary building, located at 4801 Maid Marion Drive, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. This Tier 1 facility, a high-quality building requiring minimal repairs, will house all PreK-8 students from Village de l'Est Elementary (PreK-4 through 5th grade) and Einstein Middle School (6th through 8th grade), fostering aligned instruction, shared resources, and stronger student connections.

"NOLA-PS is dedicated to providing high-quality education and safe environments for every child," said Katie Baudouin, President of the Orleans Parish School Board. "By supporting Einstein Charter Schools' strategic decision, we're advancing our system-wide goals for district optimization and improved outcomes, ensuring families have access to high-quality educational opportunities."

"I commend the leadership of Dr. Tara Johnson, her team, Dr. Raymond Delaney, and the Einstein group board for their thoughtful stewardship of Sarah T. Reed and every school under their governance," said NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Fateama Fulmore. "These decisions are never easy, marked by emotional highs and lows. Yet, they have carefully assessed enrollment, the data, and all factors essential to a quality education, prioritizing the best interests of the children. I am committed to seeking other operators who may consider exploring the possibility of honoring the school's namesake through a separate process, while supporting a smooth transition for families, including enrollment opportunities to ensure students can shape their futures."

For families at Sarah T. Reed High School, students will receive closing school priority in the NOLA Public Schools Common Application Process (NCAP). The NCAP window is currently open and will close on Friday, January 23, 2026. Personalized assistance will be available during a support session in the Sarah T. Reed cafeteria on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 PM. For specific enrollment process inquiries, families are encouraged to contact a NOLA-PS Family Resource Center or visit www.enrollnolaps.com. General inquiries can be directed to NOLA-PS at 504-304-3520.

Families at Village de l'Est Elementary and Einstein Middle School will experience no changes for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. Starting in 2026-2027, students will automatically transition to the Sherwood Forest campus with guaranteed spots—no re-registration or NCAP application is required unless families are interested in attending a different school within NOLA-PS. For questions about the consolidation, families can contact NOLA-PS at (504) 304-3520 and ask for Cathy Chase, Director of Parent and Family Engagement.

The OPSB's votes on Einstein's recommendations reflect their ongoing commitment to work with its community of schools to ensure the best possible educational experience for its students. 

### 

About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 66 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Fateama S. Fulmore.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.