Two New Orleans elementary schools could face closure under NOLA Public Schools’ stricter accountability standards that went into effect over the summer.

“Initiation of Triggered Revocation Review” — that was the subject line of letters the district sent to leaders of Fannie C. Williams Charter School and Dr. Martin Luther King Charter Elementary School on the first day of October.

They are the first two charter schools to face enhanced academic scrutiny under new accountability standards that went into effect July 1. Amid declining enrollment and financial concerns about under-enrolled schools, the Orleans Parish School Board approved policies that allow swifter intervention in charter schools.

In the last four years, King School has received two Fs and two Ds from the Louisiana Department of Education. In 2022, Williams School received a letter grade of F. It was rated a D each of the last three years. (See 2025 state letter grades here)

State letter grades are issued each fall based largely on students’ state test scores. King and Williams, like all other charter schools under NOLA Public Schools auspices, operate on a contract. If the district revokes the charter groups’ contracts, the schools would close. 

Charter schools are granted broad autonomy — hiring and firing staff, selecting curriculum, setting school calendars and more — in exchange for meeting academic, operational and financial benchmarks. 

Typically, the high-stakes reviews of school operations and performance take place at the end of a charter group’s contract. That’s what makes this review different — neither King nor Williams schools are up for contract review this year. 

The school “is in material breach of the academic performance obligations” in its operating agreement, Chief Schools and Accountability Officer Kelli Jordan wrote in the letters issued on Oct. 1.

In 2021, King received a three-year contract renewal. In 2024, the district granted King another three-year contract, through 2028. The contract for Williams runs through 2030.

The board of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School is scheduled to meet tonight (Oct. 13). The meeting agenda indicates the board will discuss the district’s review.

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