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All schools in the International School of Louisiana group
Melanie Tennyson
School Principal
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin
Typical class size 15
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction
International School of Louisiana (ISL) is a tuition-free public charter school system providing K–8 across three campuses. The St. Roch Campus serves K–3, the Uptown Campus serves 4–8, and the Westbank Campus serves K–5. ISL offers an American curriculum delivered through language immersion in French or Spanish, with English instruction for enrichment. The Immersive Experiential Curriculum follows Louisiana Standards, with Kindergarten and 1st grade spending about 90% of time in the target language, and Grades 2–5 spending about 80% in the target language; middle school allocates around 25% immersion time, with English used for Social Studies and Science and a three-year sequence of a critical language (such as Mandarin) beginning in middle school. Founded in 2000 by families seeking diverse, inclusive public education, ISL emphasizes language immersion, culture, and community. Facilities include circus arts enrichment center, a stage for performances, a library with materials, and outdoor spaces and families nationwide.
This campus is part ofInternational School of Louisiana
2518 Arts St, New Orleans, LA 70117, United States
The Essentials
International School of Louisiana - St. Roch has 1,300 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in French, Spanish.
Location
ISL operates three campuses in New Orleans, Orleans Parish: St. Roch Campus (2518 Arts St., New Orleans, LA 70117), Uptown Campus (1400 Camp St., New Orleans, LA 70130), and Westbank Campus (502 Olivier St., New Orleans, LA 70114). St. Roch serves Kindergarten–3rd Grade with French and Spanish Immersion; Uptown serves 4th–8th Grade with French and Spanish Immersion; Westbank serves Kindergarten–5th Grade with Spanish Immersion. Students come from across Louisiana.
Stages
ISL offers K–8 education across three campuses. St. Roch (Kindergarten–3rd), Uptown (4th–8th), and Westbank (Kindergarten–5th) cover the grade structure.
Type
The school is a tuition-free public charter school offering K–8 education with language immersion in French or Spanish.
Additional learning support
ISL provides direct, related, and support services to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. Each campus is served by certified special education teachers, social workers, nurses, and speech therapists; occupational therapy, physical therapy, adaptive physical education, and other services are provided as needed by contracted providers. ISL assures a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) is available to all children with disabilities who attend a campus.
ISL offers yellow bus service for eligible Kindergarten–5th grade students and RTA bus passes for eligible 6th–8th grade students. To qualify, students must reside in Orleans Parish, reside more than one mile from a campus, and agree to read, understand, and abide by the Transportation Handbook.
Fees
Application fees
- There is no application fee to apply for admission to the International School of Louisiana (ISL); ISL is a tuition-free public charter school serving Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Tuition fees (by year group and per term)
- Kindergarten through 8th grade (all year groups): No tuition is charged. ISL operates as a tuition-free public charter school; therefore annual and per-term tuition fees are USD 0 for all students.
Billing schedule and payment terms (school-operated fees and programs)
- Regular school attendance (K–8): No tuition billing occurs because instruction is provided tuition-free.
- Childcare (Before- and After-School programs: Early Bird / Prime Time): These programs are fee-based and billed monthly. Monthly childcare invoices are due in full upon receipt of the invoice; students with past-due childcare accounts will not be eligible to participate until the account is brought current. Registered families are charged at the program rates on a daily basis with monthly caps; drop-in and late pickup fees apply and must be paid at the time of service or the same day.
Childcare program — fees and examples (Early Bird / Prime Time)
- Annual registration fee: USD 25.00 per family (non-refundable).
- Early Bird (registered): USD 4.00 per day per child, up to USD 40.00 per month per student. Drop-in Early Bird service: USD 10.00 per student (must be paid the same morning of service).
- Prime Time / After-school (registered): USD 10.00 per day per child, up to USD 150.00 per month per student. Students not picked up by the program's closing time incur late fees (example: a USD 5.00 charge for the first minute and USD 1.00 per minute thereafter as specified for late pick-up). Students remaining after dismissal who are not registered will be automatically checked into drop-in and charged a higher drop-in fee (example USD 20.00).
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not offered. ISL operates multiple day campuses serving K–8; there is no residential/boarding program.
Other costs and fees
- Annual Voluntary Enrichment Fee: ISL lists an Annual Voluntary Enrichment Fee of USD 250 (per campus information); this fee is used to support enrichment programming and is collected via the school's payment system.
- Meals: School meal accounts and meal payments are managed separately; families may apply for free or reduced-price meals via the school's meal application process. Meal charges (where applicable) are handled through the school's payment system.
- School supplies and spirit-store items: Classroom supply lists and optional spirit-store purchases are additional family costs. Supply lists are provided by campus and items are purchased by families as specified for each grade.
- Public records / copy fees: ISL charges for copies of public records and instructional materials when requested; the base fee for paper copies is USD 0.25 per page (two-sided documents count as two pages) and comparable fees apply to electronic copies.
Refund information
- Childcare registration fee: The USD 25.00 annual registration fee for Early Bird/Prime Time is stated as non-refundable. Other childcare charges are billed monthly and are due in full on invoice; specific refund policies for childcare monthly charges are not listed in the childcare FAQ. Parents with billing questions are instructed to contact the childcare representative.
- Tuition refunds: Not applicable because tuition is not charged for K–8 instruction.
- Public-record copy fees: Fees charged for producing copies (for example USD 0.25 per page) are administrative charges and not refundable in the same manner as tuition; any refund or dispute would follow the school's records-provision procedures.
Fee payment options and methods
- The school uses an online payments platform (MySchoolBucks) for many school-related payments; MySchoolBucks accepts credit/debit card payments and supports bank-account payment information when configured through the portal. Childcare program payments can be made online through the Kids Care/Parent Portal which directs families to MySchoolBucks for online payment.
- Cash and money order (payable to ISL) are also accepted for some program payments per the childcare program guidance. Families are instructed to follow the payment instructions provided on invoices and in the Kids Care/Parent Portal for childcare billing.
Contacts for fee questions and payments
- Childcare / Early Bird & Prime Time billing: contact the ISL Childcare Representative for billing questions (phone and email contacts are provided by the school). Payments for enrichment fees, childcare, and cafeteria accounts are processed through the school's payment channels.
Academics
International School of Louisiana - St. Roch teaches American Curriculum for students aged 5 to 14.
Curriculum
ISL uses an Immersive Experiential Curriculum built on Louisiana Standards. Instruction is delivered in a Target Language (French or Spanish). Kindergarten and 1st grade spend about 90% of daily instruction in the Target Language, with enrichment classes potentially in English. Grades 2–5 spend about 80% of daily instructional time in the Target Language, with Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies taught in the Target Language and English Language Arts added for 60 minutes daily. In middle school, about 25% of time is spent in the immersion language, English is the language of instruction for Social Studies and Science, Mathematics remains in the Target Language, and 35% of the day is spent in a language other than English; a three-year sequence of a critical language (such as Mandarin) begins in Middle School.
Student Teacher Ratio
ISL's overall student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 12:1, with the ratio varying by grade level; all Kindergarten classes have a teacher and a full-time assistant.
Exam Results
In 2019, ISL was named a Louisiana Department of Education Equity Honoree and Top Gains Honoree for LEAP results, and the school's students consistently score above local and state averages.
Higher Education Progression
After 8th grade, ISL students go on to high schools throughout the Greater New Orleans area, with many attending highly competitive secondary schools.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
ISL provides direct, related, and support services to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. Each campus is served by certified social workers, as well as certified special education teachers, nurses, and speech therapists. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, adaptive physical education, and other services are provided as needed by contracted providers. ISL assures that a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) is available to all children with disabilities who attend one of its campuses.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
ISL provides direct, related, and support services to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. Each campus is served by certified special education teachers, social workers, nurses, and speech therapists. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, adaptive physical education, and other services are provided as needed by contracted providers. ISL assures that FAPE is available to all children with disabilities.
Mental Wellbeing
ISL provides mental wellbeing support through campus social workers and related services. The National Suicide Hotline Prevention Number is 988. A Bullying or Cyberbullying Hotline is available at 504-304-5782. The school also offers reporting channels for child abuse and neglect via the DCFS hotline (1-855-4LA-KIDS or 1-855-452-5437).
Safeguarding
Safeguarding resources include reporting child abuse and neglect via the DCFS hotline and access to safeguarding policy documents such as the Seclusion and Restraint Policy Manual and Disability Discrimination Procedures. ISL also references safeguarding-related materials and advisory channels through its Special Education Advisory Council.
Admissions
Admissions
1. ISL is a state-authorized, tuition-free public charter. It serves Kindergarten through 8th grade with language immersion in French or Spanish. Applications apply to the next school year. Children must be five by Sept 30, 2026. 2. Families new to NOLA-PS can enroll by visiting a Family Resource Center; for Kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment information, visit Enroll NOLA PS. ISL serves students from any Louisiana parish. 3. Applications are online-only and must be submitted at enrollnolaps.com. 4. Kindergarten and 1st Grade applicants do not require language experience. 2nd–8th Grade applicants must already read, write, speak, and understand French or Spanish. Target Language Assessments will be scheduled as needed and must be taken in person. ISL emphasizes language immersion as part of its program. 5. Admission into Kindergarten through 8th Grade is based on the NCAP lottery system (formerly OneApp) and seat availability. 6. If placed, the primary parent/guardian will receive an ISL admissions email within the next business day of receiving the placement notification from NOLA PS. The email goes to the address provided in the application. Seats must be claimed within 5 business days or the seat is forfeited. 7. ISL does not discriminate and complies with Louisiana statutes concerning public schools. 8. Open House and campus tour dates are available on the ISL admissions pages.
FAQs
Where are ISL's campuses, what grades do they serve, and what is the age range for students?
ISL operates three campuses in New Orleans: St. Roch (K–3), Uptown (4–8), and Westbank (K–5). The school serves children aged 5 to 14, across Kindergarten through 8th grade, with a tuition-free public charter model.
What curriculum does ISL use, and how is language immersion delivered?
ISL uses an Immersive Experiential Curriculum built on Louisiana Standards. Instruction is delivered in a Target Language (French or Spanish), with high immersion in the early years and gradual inclusion of English Language Arts and other subjects as students progress.
Is ISL a boarding school or a day school?
ISL is a day school with no boarding options. Students attend from K through 8 across three campuses.
Is ISL tuition-free, and are there other costs families should expect?
Yes. ISL is tuition-free for K–8. There are additional charges for childcare programs (Early Bird and Prime Time), annual enrollment-related fees, meals, enrichment activities, and certain administrative or material costs.
How does someone apply to ISL, and what are the key admissions steps?
Applications are online at enrollnolaps.com. ISL uses the NCAP lottery system for admissions with seat-availability checks; applicants must be five by Sept 30, 2026. Kindergarten and 1st-grade applicants don't need prior language experience, while 2nd–8th-grade applicants should already read, write, speak, and understand French or Spanish. If placed, the family must claim the seat within 5 business days.
Are there scholarships or a waitlist for ISL?
The information provided does not mention scholarships or a waitlist. Admissions are described as lottery-based with seat availability, and ISL notes open house and campus tours for prospective families.
What is the student–teacher ratio, and how does class size vary by grade?
ISL's overall student–teacher ratio is about 12:1, with variation by grade level. Kindergarten classes include a full-time teacher and assistant to support early immersion and learning.
How does ISL perform academically, and what kinds of outcomes are highlighted?
ISL has been recognized for strong LEAP performance in the past, including Equity Honoree and Top Gains honors in 2019, with students generally scoring above local and state averages.
What happens after students finish 8th grade at ISL?
ISL graduates continue their education at high schools throughout the Greater New Orleans area, with many attending highly competitive secondary schools.
What facilities and campus features do ISL's campuses offer?
St. Roch features a large outdoor area, playground, covered court, a spacious cafeteria, and an enrichment center for circus arts. Uptown has an outdoor play area, a field, a library with materials in French, Spanish, and English, a cottage, a stage, and a large cafeteria. Westbank provides K–5 Spanish Immersion spaces and operates across a separate campus.
Are there libraries and arts/enrichment spaces across the campuses?
Yes. The Uptown Campus includes a library with multilingual materials, and ISL employs 22+ enrichment teachers across three campuses for Art, Music, PE/Movement, and Library. The St. Roch Campus hosts an enrichment center for circus arts, and the Uptown Campus hosts performance spaces for assemblies and Circus Arts.
What kinds of extracurricular activities and competitions do ISL students participate in?
ISL students take part in activities like MATHCOUNTS (at UNO) and the GNOSEF Science & Engineering Regional Fair. They also participate in DELF language assessments and have had success in circuses, music, and arts-related events, including performances at Jazz Fest-related activities.
What opportunities exist for student leadership, community service, or volunteering?
ISL emphasizes community engagement with a dedicated Community Engagement Facilitator and volunteer opportunities for families. There are campus-wide events and partnerships like Community Works After School, encouraging leadership and service.
What support is available for well-being, language needs, and safeguarding?
ISL provides on-site nurses and counselors, certified social workers, and MTSS/504 coordinators to support student well-being. The school offers direct and related services for students with exceptionalities and safeguarding resources, including the DCFS hotline and a safeguarding policy manual.
What does the ISL uniform policy look like, and where can families buy uniforms?
ISL has a uniform policy; shirts must be white, blue, or navy with the ISL logo. The logo can be embroidered or ironed on via official uniform vendors, including several listed suppliers such as Orleans Embroidery and Lands' End.
What is the ISL meal program like, and how are meals paid for?
ISL operates a cafeteria program with meals managed through the ISL Cafe Menu. Families can apply for free or reduced-price meals, and meal payments are handled via the MySchoolBucks platform.
What recognitions has ISL earned, and what language-related achievements exist?
ISL has been awarded LabelFrancÉducation by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs for excellence in bilingual education. Language assessments such as DELF A2 (5th grade) and DELF B1 (8th grade) are used to measure language proficiency in the immersion program.
What is ISL's history and its focus on community and diversity?
ISL was founded in 2000 by parents seeking a non-selective, tuition-free charter school that emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and equity. The school emphasizes language immersion, international awareness, and a diverse, multilingual community across its three campuses in New Orleans.
What is the scale and diversity of ISL's community?
ISL serves about 1,200 students with a staff from 33 countries and 23 languages. The student body includes a mix of backgrounds—roughly 43% African American, 29% White, 25% Latinx/Hispanic, with smaller percentages of other groups—reflecting a diverse, multilingual community.
How can families engage with ISL outside of daily classes?
ISL hosts community events across campuses, such as ISL Community Night at City Park, and invites families to participate in volunteer opportunities through its Community Engagement initiatives.
