About the Willow School
The Willow School is a Kindergarten through 12th-grade New Orleans public charter school located in Uptown New Orleans. For the past several decades, The Willow School has been at the forefront of innovative and successful educational institutions in Louisiana. Using a collaborative, site-based leadership structure, Willow’s faculty has implemented cutting-edge reforms in arts-based education, integrated the latest developments in neurological and brain research, designed positive discipline programs to foster a strong school culture, and applied a research-based, systematic approach to literacy and numeracy instruction. Its strong academic, arts, and athletics programs allow students to explore and develop their talents while preparing for college. Attend an Open House and visit the school website to learn more about the programs Willow offers.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tulane and The Willow School entered into a formal partnership. Tulane provided The Willow School with $1.6 million to support the planning, reopening, and operation of its elementary, middle, and high schools. In turn, The Willow School opened its doors to children of Tulane faculty and staff who met the admissions criteria.
This ongoing partnership allows Willow students access to Tulane courses and resources, such as the library and other campus facilities. In their junior and senior years, Willow High School students may enroll in Tulane classes at no charge, graduating with both a high school diploma and a Tulane transcript.
The Willow School also serves as a professional development site for Tulane’s Division of Teacher Education, offering placement and training for teacher candidates in school classrooms and programs.
All public schools in New Orleans, including Willow, participate in the NOLA-PS Common Application Process (NCAP), run by New Orleans Public Schools, and must follow district enrollment policies. The Willow School, along with three other public schools in Orleans Parish, has academic admissions criteria that require a supplemental application and an admissions exam. This process is essential to evaluate the readiness of applicants for Willow’s rigorous program and is reflected in a matrix score.
Families can learn all about the Willow admissions process on the admissions website. The best time to apply to grades K–12 for the next school year is during the Main Round, which takes place each winter. For grades with available seats or a short waitlist after the Main Round, applications are accepted during the Spring Round and Summer Round. Willow does not accept new students after September 1 each year.
Because of the relationship between Tulane and Willow, K–12 applicants who are children of full-time Tulane employees, full-time graduate students, or full-time professional students receive priority admission to The Willow School during the Main Round. The Tulane Affiliate priority applies only to applicants in the Main Round, per NOLA-PS policy.
When Tulane families complete the Willow application, they will be asked to provide their affiliation information and Tulane ID number. Tulane University uses this information to verify eligibility for the priority. Families do not need to complete the Tulane Affiliation Verification Form used in prior years.
Please refer to The Willow School admissions website for dates for the current application cycle. Families are encouraged to reach out directly to The Willow School admissions team with any questions. They look forward to getting to know your family through the application process.
