Our Affiliated Site: The Foundation Preparatory Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana

facts about the Foundation Preparatory Academy:

  • Grades Served: Kindergarten – 8th grade
  • Average Enrollment: 900 students
  • School Facility: The school is an older building in need of updates to both its playground and courtyard/garden area
  • Staff: The staff includes six administrators and 35 staff members. The student-to-staff ratio is 7:1.
  • Special Education: Services are provided for students identified with special needs.
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided daily. All the children qualify for the federal free and reduced-price meal program.
  • Medical: A full-time medical professional provides care for students.
  • Partners: The local Second Harvest Food Bank, Communities In Schools, Children Incorporated, Children’s Bureau of New Orleans, and Coalition for Compassionate Schools are partners.
  • Basic Needs: As with all of our affiliated sites, our volunteer coordinator determines the individual needs of each sponsored child, and those basic needs are provided to them on a regular basis. Items include but are not limited to clothing, shoes, food, bedding for the home, hygiene items, medications, eyeglasses, and school supplies — all of which help them overcome the barriers they face coming from impoverished households.

Our affiliated site Foundation Preparatory Academy is a public charter school located in the Medard Nelson Elementary School building at 3121 St. Bernard Avenue in the Fairgrounds neighborhood of New Orleans. It is part of the Community Academies charter (CANO) network, which manages two charter schools across the city. Communities In Schools has partnered with all CANO schools for four years to provide mental health, basic needs, and case management services.

The school is a small, tight-knit community of roughly 200 students. Enrollment is open to all students throughout the city, regardless of where they live. No tuition is required to attend. Bus service is provided for students throughout the city, including New Orleans East. Foundation Preparatory Academy combines academics and social-emotional development in a supportive community of learners that encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and intellectual risk-taking. They prepare students for success in middle school, high school, college, and life by explicitly teaching and living our FIRST values – Focus, Integrity, Respect, Self-Determination, and Teamwork.