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O. Perry Walker College and Career Prep HS and Community Center
9 to 12
2832 General Meyer Avenue, 70114

Principal: Mary Laurie
Assistant Principal: Brian Gibson
Assistant Principal: Mark Bailey
Assistant Principal: Taisha Williams-Payne
Main Line: 504-302-7170
Fax: 504-309-2960

Walker turnaround featured on CNN - Video


LOCATION

O. Perry Walker College and Career Preparatory High School and Community Center is located on General Meyer Avenue in Algiers (New Orleans) along the West Bank of the Mississippi River.  Since 1970, O. Perry Walker has excelled in guiding young men and women of varied background to become leaders in our community.

EXPECTATIONS

Our Mission

The mission of O. Perry Walker College ad Career Preparatory High School and Community Center is to provide age appropriate opportunities for students to expand their conceptual understanding, acquire critical thinking and problem solving skills and develop positive habits of mind towards academics, service and comprehensive health.

CURRICULUM

In the O. Perry Walker classroom, students are taught in a collaborative environment.  Students work side-by-side to help each other excel academically.  All freshmen and sophomore students work in same gender classes.  Research has found that students in same gender classes are more likely to perform better in class when combined with students of the opposite gender.  Freshmen are also required to attend O. Perry Walker‘s Saturday Academy.  The Saturday Academy is designed to enhance student test taking skills in preparation for the I-LEAP Test, which the state of Louisiana requires all freshmen to take and is a predictor of success for the Graduate Exit Exam.  From ninth to twelfth grade, students are challenged by our faculty to reach their full academic potential and goals.  O. Perry Walker utilizes the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum.  We call ourselves a college and career preparatory high school because we prepare our students for success at the college level and beyond.  More than 85 percent of O. Perry Walker’s alumni and alumnae go on to further their educational experience at a college or university.

O. Perry Walker is a partner with the International Center for Leadership in Education.  The International Center has developed an extraordinary reservoir of resources and relationships to advance school improvement.  O. Perry Walker graduates earn a minimum of 24 high school credits.  The O. Perry Walker curriculum is anchored by a 9—minute class schedule for each semester.

Many students participate in O. Perry Walker’s Dual Enrollment program.  O. Perry Walker has developed partnerships with local higher-education institutions for dual enrollment opportunities for students.  Students receive an opportunity to become skilled and receive a certificate in carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, or a certified nursing assistant. The Dual Enrollment program gives students the opportunity to obtain college credits while in high school.   These credits will be honored by any college the student chooses to attend.
O. Perry Walker also provides an additional class period for students who are behind and are in need of academic credit.

All students involved in extra-curricular activities and sports must attend one-hour of tutoring after school before attending practice.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

The Exceptional Student Services (ESS) component at O. Perry Walker ensures that everyone, including those with special needs, receives a quality college and career preparatory education.  Those services are provided to students identified as autistic, mentally disabled (from mild to severe/profound), learning disabled, developmentally delayed, other health-impaired, orthopedic-impaired, traumatic brain-injured, hearing impaired, speech/language impaired, emotionally disturbed and those with multiple disabilities.  Exceptional Student Services and educational programming are determined by individual multidisciplinary evaluations and an individualized Education Plan (IEP).  Several ESS students participate in O. Perry Walker’s “Start on Success” career preparation program in which students participate in paid internships. 

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Project FLATT honors and advanced placement; Project Momentum: credit recovery; Young Audiences cultural enrichment; NFL Play It Smart; Dual-Enrollment programs with Dillard University, Delgado Community College, Louisiana State Technical College, Nunez Community College, Southern University at New Orleans, and Tulane University.

REGISTRATION PROCESS

O. Perry Walker is an open-enrollment school of choice.  Applications must be completed and submitted to the school registrar.  Call the school for more information.

HEALTH SERVICES

A school nurse is on the campus every school day.  O. Perry Walker also has a LSU Medical Health Clinic on the campus that is open to all students during the school hours.

TRANSPORTATION

Free school bus service is provided throughout the city for all O. Perry Walker students.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Student Government Association, National honor Society, Marching Band, Concert Band, Majorettes, Walkerettes, Chargerettes, Color Guard, Cheerleading Team, Drama Club, Robotics Team, Navy Jr. ROTC, Choir, Hoof Prints Newspaper, and Yearbook

ATHLETICS

Football, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Track and Field, Baseball, Softball, and Volleyball.

Boasting a school motto of "We Lead...Others Follow", it is only fitting
that O. Perry Walker College and Career Preparatory High School and
Community Center would rise to the forefront of the movement to revitalize
public education in New Orleans.

 O. Perry Walker College and Career Preparatory High School and Community
Center is named for Oliver Perry Walker, a long-time educator in Orleans
Parish.  Mr. Walker ended his career as Superintendent of the Orleans Parish
Schools when he retired in 1965.  He died at the age of 68 in 1968.

In 1970, O. Perry Walker High School opened it's doors at 2832 General Meyer
Avenue in the Algiers community of New Orleans, along the west bank of the
Mississippi River.  Since then, O. Perry Walker has excelled in guiding
young men and women of varied backgrounds to become leaders in our
community.
 
O. Perry Walker College and Career Preparatory High School and Community
Center was chartered in 2005 and operates under the jurisdiction of the
Algiers Charter Schools Association.  The Algiers Charter Schools
Association (ACSA), in conjunction with the Orleans Parish School Board, has
elected to establish charter schools to address the needs of families living
on the West and East Banks of New Orleans.

Morning Gathering

Every morning, during O. Perry Walker's "Morning Gathering", students gather
to celebrate the success of other students and to hear important school
information.  "Morning Gathering" is set in a family atmosphere which
conveys the awareness that O. Perry Walker is a united body.  Students
discover something in common with - or something worth learning from
Walker's diverse students and faculty.

Teachers

Teachers at O. Perry Walker College and Career Preparatory High School are
dedicated to doing everything possible to ensure student achievement.
Walker’s teachers are Highly Qualified educators willing to go above and
beyond in order to meet the needs of individual students. Teachers are
available after school in the academic support center Monday-Thursday from
4pm-5pm

College and Career Exploration Center

The College and Career Exploration Center has been established to assist all
students with the transition from high school to secondary education or the
world of work. The Center is staffed with two counselors and five graduation
coaches. These individuals work with our staff and students to ensure
students have the support they need to complete college applications,
scholarship applications, financial aid applications, etc.

Dual Enrollment

Many students participate in O. Perry Walker’s Dual Enrollment program.  O.
Perry Walker has developed partnerships with local higher-education
institutions for dual enrollment opportunities for students.  Students
receive an opportunity to become skilled and receive a certificate in
carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, or as a certified nursing assistant.
The Dual Enrollment program gives students the opportunity to obtain college
credits while in high school.  These credits will be honored by any college
the student chooses to attend.  Partnering Colleges and Universities:
Dillard University, Delgado Community College, Louisiana State Technical
College, Nunez Community College, Southern University at New Orleans, and
Tulane University.

Saturday Academy

Saturday School is offered for credit recovery each Saturday. Through this
process, students are given the opportunity to make-up the seat time from
unexcused absences thereby making him/her eligible to receive a passing
grade by meeting the minimum attendance requirements.
In addition, Walker’s 9th and 10th grade academies hold Saturday Academies
in the spring semester to assist students with preparing for the Graduate
Exit Exam. These academies are mandatory for all 9th and 10th graders.


AP Initiatives

Students continue to make quick progress in Walker’s first AP-approved
course: Physics B.  All students who are able to score a 3 or higher on the
test in May will be eligible to receive college credit and their transcript
will indicate that they have taken a rigorous college level course.  The
guest lecturer from Austin, Texas, was impressed by our students’ progress
as well as their work ethic; more than 80% have been consistently coming to
Saturday school in order to prepare for the test.  Right now, we are about
to shift focus in the class and begin the Electricity and Magnetism.  This
area of physics promises to be both challenging and exciting for our
students.

 
Exceptional Student Services

Walker prides itself on being a full-inclusion school, open to students of
all exceptionalities. Students are educated in the least restrictive
environment which, in most cases, is the general education classroom.
Walker’s ESS, 504, and ESL students are provided the accommodations to which
they are entitled according to their IEP or IAP. Walker’s general education
teachers and ESS teachers work collaboratively with parents and students to
ensure all educational plans are developed and executed according to each
student’s needs.

Teaching the Arts (Band, Choir, Dance, Art, and Speech classes)
Walker provides comprehensive arts educational opportunities for all
students. Classes and extra-curricular activities are open to all students
in the areas of instrumental music, vocal music, dance, drama, visual arts,
and speech.

Admissions

The admissions process
Walker is an open admissions school available to all students and parents
who register and enroll. Walker’s enrollment limit is 800 (200 per grade, 9-
12) and open to the first 800 students to register. Registration begins in
early March and will conclude in early April. Applicants will be notified of
their acceptance/position on the wait list (if applicable).


 The DEAL Center  

The DEAL (Drop Everything and Listen) Center is designed to meet the
mental and emotional needs of Walker’s students. Led by Walker’s two social
workers, the purpose of the Center is to provide a safe haven to students
and to connect students and parents to mental health services in the school
and community.

The DEAL Center will begin the Life Skills Training Program this
month with 9th and 10th graders. This program is being introduced to our
school through the School District Alliance, Incorporated in conjunction
with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals' Office for Addictive
Disorders. The program is a substance abuse and violence prevention program.
Permission letters will be sent home with students this month.