Since the state took over the failing schools after Hurricane Katrina in the fall of 2005, the New Orleans Public Schools have been managed by three different entities. It is a system of schools, not a school system.

The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) retained 16 non-failing schools.  The Recovery School District (RDS) took over 100 schools whose School Performance Scores were below the state average. 

In 2010 – 2011, the RSD operates 69 schools with a student population of over 28,000.  The OPSB operates 16 schools with a student population of approximately 10,500; and BESE operates 3 Type 2 charters with a student count of 1,100. Among these 3 operators, there are 61 charter schools which educate 71% of the public school students.

The total student population has decreased from 65,000 students in 2005 to almost 40,000 in 2010 – 2011.