Saved Schools

The Net: Central City

The Net: Central City, nominated by Big Picture Learning and an anonymous organization, is a middle/high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

Location New Orleans, Louisiana

Governance Public Charter School

Grades Middle, High

Students 135

Locale Urban

Principal Christy Swauncy

Demographics

Percentage of students*

7%

English Learners

82%

Free/Reduced Lunch

30%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 87%

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1%

Hispanic or Latino 5%

White 3%

2+ Races

Why The Net: Central City was nominated

As a school in the Big Picture Learning network, this school supports the organizational mission of activating the potential of Schools, Systems, and Education through student-driven, real-world learning. Its design helps to scaffold and facilitate student learning aligned with the "10 Expectations" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K96c-TGnSf4) and it is organized to implement the "10 distinguishers" (https://www.bigpicture.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=389353&type=d&pREC_ID=902235) to deliver "one kid at a time" personalized learning situated in the communities it serves.

Student experience design

* Small classes * Relationship Driven * Hands-on Project Learning * Real World Connections & Internships * Self-paced, Flexible Scheduling

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Assessments For Deeper Learning

5+ years

Community And Workforce Partnerships

5+ years

Internships

5+ years

Restorative Practices

5+ years

Universal Design For Learning

5+ years

All Practices

Student Advisories

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Career Advising & Support

Career Exploration

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Cooperative Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Higher Education Partnerships

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Industry-recognized Credentials

Industry-aligned Learning Pathways

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Multi-age Classrooms

Industry Networking

No Tracked Classes

Project-based Learning

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

SEL Integration School-wide

Service Learning

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Youth Employment Programs

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Better support a specific population of students

Better support economically disadvantaged students

Better support students classified as English learners

Better support students experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness

Better support students in the foster care system

Better support students in the juvenile justice system

Better support students of color

Better support students with disabilities

Better support students with interrupted formal education

Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools

Increase student agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.