Inspiring Excellence, Transforming Lives

At George Washington Carver High School, exceptional educators are at the heart of the Rams’ success. Carver recently earned its first "B" letter grade from the Louisiana Department of Education in school history, a testament to the tireless efforts of its students and teachers. The school has also maintained an "A" letter grade in Growth, ranking #1 among all New Orleans open-enrollment high schools in every year since 2021. With 99% of seniors accepted into college, including Yale, Dillard, Xavier, LSU, USC, Tulane, and others, Carver's teachers are making a profound impact on their students' lives. 



Let us introduce you to two dedicated educators who are uplifting the entire Carver community: Nora McGann and Elliot Pernell.

Nora McGann: Cultivating Exceptional Writers

Nora McGann was named a finalist for Louisiana Teacher of the Year on May 28, 2024. She is on a mission to help every student at Carver become an excellent writer. 



Perri Sibille, a fellow English teacher at Carver, commends Ms. McGann, stating, "Ms. McGann is in the business of making kids excellent writers. She's constantly talking to scholars about how to make their writing more nuanced and complex. Every kid is going to produce strong writing." 

Laila Thomas, a Class of 2023 graduate, expressed her gratitude for Ms. McGann's influence: "Thank you, Ms. McGann, for making me a better writer and better scholar. You pushed me to exceed the expectation and helped me become who I am today!" 

Amidst stagnation in LEAP testing scores across Louisiana, Laila and her fellow English II students have shown remarkable progress. Since pre-COVID results in 2019, the average Louisiana scores have only increased by two percentage points. In contrast, Ms. Nora McGann's students at Carver have seen a 20% increase in their Mastery scores over the same period—an improvement ten times greater than the state average.

Elliot Pernell: America's Favorite Teacher Contender

Elliot Pernell, a 2001 Carver alumnus, has returned to his alma mater as a Financial Literacy teacher. His passion for teaching students how to manage money through savings accounts, credit cards, and business operations has earned him a spot in the top three of Reader's Digest's "America's Favorite Teacher" contest.

Mr. Pernell's approach to education is rooted in self-sacrifice and the belief that the decisions made today will impact the future. He encourages his students to learn from his mistakes and use them as a roadmap for success.

Amryi Bailey, a sophomore at Carver, appreciates Mr. Pernell's enthusiasm and genuine nature, saying, "He connects a lot. You can tell he likes being a teacher. He comes to school with a smile on his face, and he's funny and energetic."



Junior Endia Piercey credits Mr. Pernell with teaching her valuable life skills, stating, "I learned a lot from him. I learned how to budget my money and master my credit cards."

Carver: A Legacy of Excellence

Carver's success is a testament to the dedication of its educators and the resilience of its students. The school's rich co-curricular programming, including athletics, band, dance, cheer, flag, and majorette teams, along with clubs like Drama, Men of Carver, and Student Government, allows students to explore their passions and build their own legacies as Rams.

As Carver's teachers, like Nora McGann and Elliot Pernell, continue to inspire and support their students, the school community remains committed to its vision:

The vision of George Washington Carver High School is to prepare all scholars for college success, inspired and ready to exceed any expectation.

Collegiate Academies believes in building schools that serve all students exceptionally well.

The mission of Collegiate Academies (CA) is to build world-class public schools that prepare all students for college success and lives of unlimited opportunity. We operate five high schools across New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as Next Level Nola (a one-year program to earn career credentials and college credit after graduation) and Opportunities Academy (a post-secondary school for young adults with disabilities).

CA is now hiring for the 2023-24 school year. If you're hungry to grow as a teacher and leader in service of your students, we'd love to talk to you. Click here to view our open roles.

Collegiate Academies believes in building schools that serve

all students exceptionally well.