New Harmony High School

What New Harmony High School does

New Harmony High School is a Type 2 public charter high school located at 3819 St. Claude Avenue in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 2018 by Sunny Dawn Summers after winning a $10 million XQ: The Super School Project grant, the school serves approximately 250+ students in grades 9-12 with 50+ staff members. Its core offering is a four-year project-based and place-based learning program organized around coastal restoration and environmental sustainability, structured as grade-specific Mission Aligned Programming (Outdoor Adventures in 9th grade, Human Centered Design in 10th grade, College & Career Exploration in 11th grade, and Impact Capstone for seniors), delivered through 15-student advisories and semester exhibitions of learning. Supporting programs include dual enrollment with Delgado Community College and University of New Orleans, Industry Based Credential pathways via NOTEP, Operation Spark, and NOVAC, an Inclusive EL Program, a Diverse Learners Program, free meals through Chartwells/CEP, and bus transportation.

The business model is public charter funding: per-pupil allocation from NOLA Public Schools covers core operations, while the differentiated programming (fellowships, Outdoor Adventures, community partnerships) is funded by grants (XQ initial $10M, plus Bloomberg Philanthropies, GNO Foundation, Entergy, ConocoPhillips, AT&T Foundation) and community donations via GiveNOLA Day. Enrollment is free and processed through the EnrollNOLA OneApp system open to any Louisiana resident. Distribution is exclusively through the centralized OneApp lottery, with Shadow Days as the sole direct-engagement channel.

The school is closing at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year after receiving a 'D' score from the Louisiana Department of Education in 2024, below the required 'C' threshold. The Board proactively relinquished the charter to ensure a student-first transition, with over 250 student records to be transferred to next schools by May 2026. The school remains fully operational through its final year to support this wind-down.

Name

New Harmony High School

Legal name

New Harmony High School

Website

https://newharmonyhigh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Harmony High School is a free, public Type 2 charter high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, serving ~250 students in grades 9-12 through project-based learning centered on coastal restoration. Founded in 2018 via a $10M XQ grant, the school is closing at the end of the 2025-2026 school year following a 'D' state assessment score.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Charter High School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

Keywords

• Charter high school
• Project-based learning
• Place-based education
• Coastal restoration curriculum
• Dual enrollment program

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: As a Type 2 public charter school, New Harmony receives per-pupil funding from the state and federal government based on enrollment. This covers basic school operations and 'the high school part' of education - earning credits towards graduation.
2. Grant Funding: The school received a $10 million XQ: The Super School Project grant to open. Additional grant funding supports the 'New Harmony' parts of the program above traditional schooling - fellowships, Outdoor Adventures, community partnerships, and special programming.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Community donations through GiveNOLA Day and other campaigns bridge the gap between allocated per-pupil funds and the full New Harmony educational program. The school actively fundraises to support coastal restoration focus, community mentors, and experiential learning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Harmony High School is a free, public, open-enrollment Type 2 charter high school (grades 9-12) in New Orleans that delivers high school education through project-based and place-based learning with a unifying focus on coastal restoration and environmental sustainability. Its core offering consists of grade-sequenced Mission Aligned Programming (Outdoor Adventures for 9th grade, Human Centered Design for 10th grade, College & Career Exploration for 11th grade, and Impact Capstone for 12th grade), supplemented by dual enrollment with Delgado Community College and the University of New Orleans, advisories of 15 students, and community-mentored fellowships.

Product overview

New Harmony High School is a public open-enrollment charter high school (Type 2) in New Orleans, Louisiana, focused on coastal restoration and environmental sustainability. The school offers a unified educational program centered on project-based and place-based learning, consisting of grade-specific mission-aligned programs (Outdoor Adventures for 9th grade, Human Centered Design for 10th grade, College and Career Exploration for 11th grade, and Impact Capstone for seniors), supplemented by dual enrollment opportunities with Delgado Community College and University of New Orleans. The school provides student support services including an inclusive EL Program, Diverse Learners Program, advisories (small 15-student learning communities), and exhibitions of learning. Student-created content includes the Harmony Horizons Climate Action Podcast. The school operates with meal/nutrition services and transportation as supporting infrastructure. Note: The school announced it will close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Four classes of students have graduated from New Harmony
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delgado Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partner allowing juniors and seniors to earn both high school and college credit through college-level courses. Students can take Delgado courses aligned with New Harmony's mission and Louisiana's top industries.
• University of New OrleanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual enrollment partner offering college-level courses to qualifying juniors and seniors. Students can earn both high school and college credit while exploring programs including Engineering to Aerospace Manufacturing.
• ChartwellscoreOthersSchool's meal and nutrition provider. Chartwells K12 provides diverse chefs, dietitians and food experts serving breakfast and lunch daily. School participates in Community Eligibility Provision allowing all students to eat at no cost.
• 826 New OrleanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWriting and publishing partner. Students work with 826 New Orleans on creative writing projects including the 'Me In This Moment' podcast and book series. Students have published books through this partnership.
• Be Loud StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio production partner supporting the New Harmony High Podcast and student audio projects. Provided audio equipment and recording session assistance to students.
• 350 New OrleansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit climate justice organization. Staff member Alicia Cooke is a founding member, devoting free time to climate justice work supporting frontline organizers.
• Common Ground ReliefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner focused on creating resilient Gulf Coast communities that are environmentally sustainable, financially viable and personally cohesive. Students participate in ongoing wetlands planting projects, nursery care, food pantry, and restoration activities.
• Glass Half Full NOLAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit recycling glass into sand for restoration and hurricane protection. Founded by Tulane students. Offers volunteer opportunities for students to support coastal restoration.
• Youth Force NOLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for career preparation programs. Works with students to assist them in finding the right path for high wage, high growth careers. Offers summer opportunities and career exploration.
• NOTEP (New Orleans Technical Education Provider)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining provider partner offering courses that prepare students for Industry Based Credential (IBC) exams. Part of dual enrollment and career readiness programming.
• Operation SparkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining provider partner offering technology courses aligned with New Harmony's mission and Louisiana's top industries. Helps students prepare for IBC certifications in tech fields.
• NOVAC (New Orleans Video Access Center)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining provider partner offering courses preparing students for Industry Based Credential exams in media/video fields.
• Liberty's KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer preparation program for culinary arts and hospitality. Offers 6-week summer programming for 15 New Harmony students including training stipend, professional skills, and employer access.
• City ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Super Saturdays community volunteer days. Students participate in trail mulching, painting, planting, shoreline cleanup, catch basin cleaning, and special events.
• Ogden Museum of Southern ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in Teen Intern program and have artwork displayed at the museum. Partnership includes photography collaboration culminating in exhibits.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Steve Cochran leads EDF's state affairs work. EDF has worked extensively on Mississippi River Delta coastal restoration. Aligns with school's coastal focus.
• CRCL (Coastal Restoration and Conservation Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Future Coastal Leaders Program supplementing student knowledge of Louisiana's environment and coastal communities. Connects students with professionals working for coastal preservation.
• Community Sailing New OrleansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents participate in Crew to Captain Program - a 3-year maritime career development program connecting students with mentors and training them to become certified sailing instructors.
• Grow Dat Youth FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner featured on Harmony Horizons podcast. Urban farming organization providing experiential learning opportunities for students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• KIPP New Orleans Schools: Large charter network operating multiple schools in New Orleans, directly competing for high school students through the same EnrollNOLA OneApp system and serving similar low-income populations.
• ReNew Schools: New Orleans charter network that operates ReNew Accelerated High School, where New Harmony's founding leader previously taught. Direct peer competing for the same New Orleans charter families and per-pupil dollars.
• Lusher Charter School: Highly-rated New Orleans charter school spanning K-12; competes for the same high-achieving families via OneApp and serves as a yardstick for charter performance in the city.
• Dream Charter School: New York City XQ Super School winner with project-based learning and community partner network; comparable enrollment size, mission-driven design, and funding structure.
• Phoenix Union Bioscience High School: Another XQ Super School winner with a STEM/mission-aligned focus; comparable in scale, public charter status, and design philosophy to New Harmony.
• Iowa BIG: Iowa XQ Super School winner built on real-world project-based learning with community partners; highly analogous model and funding origin to New Harmony.
• New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School (Sci High): New Orleans open-enrollment charter high school with a STEM focus; directly comparable in size, mission, and enrollment channel, and named in New Harmony's leadership histories.
• Crosstown High (Memphis): One of the original XQ Super School Project winners; shares New Harmony's project-based, community-anchored model and comparable funding origin story.

Regional players

• Edna Karr High School: High-performing New Orleans public high school referenced in New Harmony's executive director's background; comparable open-enrollment high school competitor in the same city.

Broad incumbents

• Science Leadership Academy (Philadelphia): Long-running inquiry-driven project-based high school cited as an inspiration for many XQ schools; the established reference point for the learning model New Harmony adopted.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/newharmonyhigh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-harmony-high

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Harmony High School