Administrative/Biographical History
In 1994 the Society founded Bishop Perry Middle School in New Orleans. This school was established to serve African American males demonstrating financial need and who did not have access to quality education. The model for Bishop Perry Middle School was Nativity Mission Center in New York, which had become well known for its success in preparing and supporting their students through high school and college. The school offered a structured environment of strict discipline with a low student-to-teacher ratio during an extended school day – all designed to foster positive values as an alternative to the destructive influence of the streets. Parental involvement in the tuition free school was required, and all alumni were expected to return to volunteer at the school as well. Upon graduation, the Society paid high school tuition for any students who wished to attend a parochial school in New Orleans. The school’s vision was to see that their young students are able to face the challenges of high school and to become aware of their cultural heritage.
In 2006 Bishop Perry Middle School was forced to close its doors following the 2005 devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The school actually weathered the storm well, but found its student body gone. It did reopen for the spring semester in 2006, but found that it was not able to populate the school with the low income, academically at-risk students fundamental to its mission. Rather than alter the mission, the Board decided to close. The board agreed to financially support all former students at parochial schools and continued to support alumni for the duration of their secondary careers.
