KEY TAKEAWAYS: Private schools are expanding STEM, leadership and experiential learning through new academies, partnerships and outdoor education. Cabrini High School‘s Class of 2026 earned $17.7 million in college scholarships and grants, with six graduates receiving more than $1 million ea ch. Students gain hands-on experience through partnerships with Ochsner Health, Tulane Sports Medicine, WYES, City Park and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Schools are strengthening specialized programs in environmental science, fine arts and athletics to prepare students for college and future careers.   Private schools across New Orleans are increasing investment in developing young leaders, STEM innovation and hands-on learning. Immersive science experiences, including using the school campus’ own waterways, and added leadership and honor programs aim to prepare students for college and careers. Academically, private school students thrive in college readiness, with graduating seniors earning millions in scholarships and multiple college and university scholarships. At Cabrini High School, an all-girls Catholic school, the 2026 graduating class earned $17.7 million in college scholarships and grants. Six graduates each earned more than $1 million in scholarship awards each, while one graduate earned $2.2 million. The class averaged more than $361,000 in scholarships per scholarship-receiving graduate. At Cabrini High School, students learn on an Anatomage Table, a medical-grade 3D visualization system that allows students to explore anatomy and science across disciplines. The Bayou St. John school named for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini will expand leadership and STEM programming for the 2026-27 school year, rooted in the school’s mission of forming young women of conviction, courage and service. Cabrini is debuting the Mother Cabrini Leadership Summit in Colorado, where student leaders will spend five days at the Mother Cabrini Shrine studying servant leadership and applying it to modern challenges. Throughout the year, leadership forums and speaker events will connect students with alumni and professionals across industries. The school is launching the Cabrini High School Leadership Academy, a student-led summer program where middle school participants learn directly from Cabrini students involved in academics, athletics, campus ministry and student organizations. On the STEM side, Cabrini continues to expand one of the region’s most distinctive programs. Nearly one-third of students participate in HOSA Future Health Professionals, competing in healthcare disciplines from medical research to sports medicine. Students also benefit from partnerships with Ochsner Health. At Cabrini High School, students learn on an Anatomage Table, a medical-grade 3D visualization system that allows students to explore anatomy and science across disciplines. Partnerships expanded significantly over the last year. Through collaborations with organizations such as Ochsner Health, Tulane Sports Medicine, WYES, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, City Park and numerous STEM and industry partners, students gain exposure to professional environments. Ochsner Health provides career exploration opportunities, mentorship, healthcare workshops, and Lunch and Learn programs with medical professionals, while students interested in medicine and healthcare can engage with and shadow practitioners and learn firsthand about careers in the field. Through Tulane Sports Medicine, Cabrini students and student-athletes benefit from access to an on-campus athletic trainer and exposure to sports medicine and rehabilitation practices. At WYES, students work with professional-grade broadcast cameras, lighting systems, audio mixing consoles, digital editing software, and technical production equipment while receiving mentorship from industry professionals. A major academic highlight is the use of the Anatomage Table, a medical-grade 3D visualization system that allows students to explore anatomy and science across disciplines. Students investigate concepts in physics, chemistry, environmental science, earth science, astronomy, and biology through interactive simulations and laboratory experiences that bring everything from jet propulsion and sound waves to geology and black holes to life. Additional programs introduce students to robotics, engineering design, coding and innovation challenges. The school’s waterfront campus on Bayou St. John provides a one-of-a-kind living laboratory, offering hands-on opportunities in environmental science, conservation, fishing and kayaking through partnerships with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and City Park. Across the city, STEM learning is also taking root through immersive fieldwork at Isidore Newman School, where third-grade students recently became wetland scientists during a hands-on investigation titled “Science in the Pond.” Armed with nets, magnifying lenses and field data sheets, students collected and identified macroinvertebrates such as dragonfly larvae, aquatic snails and water beetles. The experience helped students assess ecosystem health while building foundational skills in observation, classification and scientific inquiry. The pond — located on Newman’s campus — served as an outdoor classroom where students documented biodiversity through sketches and data collection, turning everyday green space into an active science lab and reinforcing experiential learning in environmental science. In the arts, Ursuline Academy of New Orleans, another all-girls Catholic High School, is celebrating national recognition through its Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter, a music honors program. The honor reflects student leadership in music education, performance, and community engagement, as well as the school’s broader commitment to fine arts excellence. Student athletics at private schools are also a strong tradition. At Jesuit High School, college commitments in athletics for graduating seniors in track and field, football, swimming and tennis include Washington and Lee University, Princeton University, Florida State University and Millsaps College, among others. ...read more read less