Education and Schools

Prior to Katrina education played a vital role in the parishes economic and cultural vitality.  St. Bernard Parish offered public schools that are among the best in the region as well as excellent private and parochial elementary and secondary schools.  Like all other structures in St. Bernard Parish Katrina flooded and severely damaged all of St,. Bernard's public and private schools.  Through the amazing efforts of local school officials, with little help from the federal government, the St. Bernard Unified School opened on the site of the Chalmette High School to serve the educational needs of St. Bernard's children.  Today several other schools have reopened but the majority of the parish public and parochial schools remain closed. 

A major factor in the area's  economic and cultural vitality prior to and after Katrina is it's own higher education institution, Nunez Community College. Nunez Community College is a comprehensive community college which offers both vocational and technical programs and arts and sciences programs and is  accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools  to award Associate Degrees and Certificates.  Prior to the hurricane over 2,000 students attended Nunez.  To meet it's growing enrollment the facility expanded including the opening in January 2000, of  three-story Arts, Sciences, and Technology building which also contains a 400-seat auditorium, a new library, twenty-three general purpose and specialized classrooms, and faculty offices. In addition, it houses the college's continuing education program and provides offices for the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and for the Arts and Sciences Division.  Like all institutions in the Parish Nunez had substantial damage but was again operating in 2006 as repairs to the campus were underway.

St. Bernard Parish Public Schools  Nunez Community College  Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish School