August 2025 marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina altered New Orleans forever. Much has been written about the storm’s destruction and the city’s long road to recovery. But tucked behind those headlines is another story. One that shaped the lives of thousands of children.
Where the Schools Went is a five-part documentary series about what happened to the city’s schools after the levees broke, and how it led to the most radical education experiment in modern American history.
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August 2025 marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina altered New Orleans forever. Much has been written about the storm’s destruction and the city’s long road to recovery. But tucked behind those headlines is another story. One that shaped the lives of thousands of children.
Where the Schools Went is a five-part documentary series about what happened to the city’s schools after the levees broke, and how it led to the most radical education experiment in modern American history.
After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans did something no other city had ever tried: it dismantled its entire school system. No school zones. No central offices. Even the local school board was sidelined In its place came a radical experiment in autonomy, where every school essentially ran on its own terms. But freedom had costs. Admissions were unfair. Students with disabilities often fell through the cracks. And parents were left confused about who was in charge. This episode of Where the Schools Went traces how New Orleans slowly stitched together something new: not by rebuilding the old system, but by deciding which parts were essential and trying to do those things uncommonly well.
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Where the Schools Went is an original podcast from The Branch in partnership with The 74 and MeidasTouch.
Let us know what you think of the show! Email us at wheretheschoolswent@thebranchmedia.org or follow us on X and Instagram at @thebranchmedia.
Where the Schools Went
August 2025 marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina altered New Orleans forever. Much has been written about the storm’s destruction and the city’s long road to recovery. But tucked behind those headlines is another story. One that shaped the lives of thousands of children.
Where the Schools Went is a five-part documentary series about what happened to the city’s schools after the levees broke, and how it led to the most radical education experiment in modern American history.
