Culture, Community & Connection in 2024
Our 2024 was filled with lots of events and celebrations across the FirstLine network.
We believe New Orleans can be the first city in America where every child goes to a great school.
Our schools will prepare students for college, fulfilling careers, and a healthy life by nurturing students in mind, body, and spirit.
FirstLine Schools is a network of four public charter schools educating pre-kindergarten through 8th-grade students.
Our 2024 was filled with lots of events and celebrations across the FirstLine network.
Edible Schoolyard & Arthur Ashe celebrated another amazing Sweet Potato Festival this October! With picture perfect weather, our FirstLine & ESYNOLA families and staff came together for a parade, complete with lively walkers and the Ashe band’s upbeat tunes.
In response to the anticipated severe winter weather, all FirstLine schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 21. This decision aligns with NOLA PS and the City of New Orleans recommendations. For tips on preparing for winter weather, please visit ready.nola.gov/home/.
Decisions about school operations for Wednesday, January 22nd, will be made and communicated by Tuesday afternoon.
FirstLine Schools will communicate any updates via email, ParentSquare, website, social media, and the local news media.
Stay safe and keep warm!
Scott Shirey began his teaching career in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was a Teach For America corps member. After three years, he completed the KIPP School Leadership Program as a Fisher Fellow, which included intensive study at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. In 2002, Scott founded KIPP Delta Public Schools, where he led their flagship school as School Director. The school produced strong results consistently outperforming the state and local district. In 2005, Scott received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, and in 2008 the school was named a National Blue Ribbon School. After serving six years as the School Director, he transitioned to the role of Executive Director of KIPP Delta Public Schools and helped the region expand in Helena and into Blytheville, AR. Forbes Magazine listed Scott as one of the world’s seven most powerful educators in November 2011. In 2012, KIPP Delta Collegiate High School was ranked #2 in the state according to U.S. News and World Report, and the Arkansas Department of Education named the high school as one of five Exemplary Schools in the state of Arkansas.