At New Orleans prices, LA GATOR is the first layer of a three- or four-layer plan. This guide puts the layers in order: the account, a Tuition Donation Credit (STO) scholarship, the Archdiocese of New Orleans' tuition assistance program, and the school's own aid, with the rule for how they combine.
Layer 1: LA GATOR
$5,243, $7,626 or up to $15,253, paid to the school through Odyssey against tuition and required fees. It is applied first, by law.
Layer 2: an STO scholarship
Louisiana's Tuition Donation Credit program funds school tuition organizations with tax-credited donations. A student qualifies with household income at or below 250% of poverty ($80,375 for a family of four) if he or she was in public school, is entering kindergarten, or already held a state scholarship. Awards are capped at the lesser of tuition and fees or 80% of the state per-pupil amount for grades K-8 (90% for high school). Under Act 403 the STO award is added after LA GATOR, and the two together can't exceed actual tuition and fees. Each STO has its own application and limited money; apply in the spring.
- ACE Scholarships Louisiana
- Arete Scholars Louisiana
- Aspiring Scholars Louisiana
- Son of a Saint (New Orleans)
Layer 3: archdiocesan tuition assistance
The Archdiocese of New Orleans runs a tuition assistance program for families at its elementary and high schools, funded by the archdiocese and donors and administered through the schools' financial aid process (most use FACTS). Awards are need-based and vary by school and year. It is applied after LA GATOR and any STO award, and schools generally ask for the same income documentation you used for the 250% test, so file once and reuse it.
Layer 4: the school's own aid
Parishioner rates at elementary schools, sibling discounts, alumni and order-funded scholarships at the high schools, and work-study at a few. Ask every school the same question: do you apply LA GATOR before or after you calculate aid? The answer can move your balance by thousands.
Schools in our area on the 2024-25 STO list
70 schools in the directory accepted STO scholarships in 2024-25, by area:
Orleans
- Bishop McManus School (New Orleans, grades PK-8)
- Brother Martin High School (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- Cabrini High School (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- Christian Brothers School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- De La Salle High School (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- Good Shepherd Nativity Mission School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- Holy Cross School (New Orleans, grades PK-12)
- Holy Name of Jesus School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- Jesuit High School (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- Life of Christ Christian Academy (New Orleans, grades PK-12)
- McMillian's First Steps Academy (New Orleans, grades PK-8)
- Mount Carmel Academy (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- Resurrection of Our Lord School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- St. Alphonsus School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- St. Andrew the Apostle School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- St. Augustine High School (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- St. Benedict the Moor School (New Orleans, grades PK-4)
- St. Dominic School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- St. John Lutheran School (New Orleans, grades K-8)
- St. Katharine Drexel Preparatory School (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- St. Leo the Great School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- St. Mary's Academy (New Orleans, grades PK-12)
- St. Mary's Dominican High School (New Orleans, grades 8-12)
- St. Michael Special School (New Orleans, grades PK-12)
- St. Stephen School (New Orleans, grades PK-7)
- Ursuline Academy (New Orleans, grades K-12)
East Bank
- Archbishop Chapelle High School (Metairie, grades 8-12)
- Archbishop Rummel High School (Metairie, grades 8-12)
- Crescent City Christian School (Metairie, grades PK-12)
- Faith Lutheran School (Harahan, grades PK-8)
- John Curtis Christian School (River Ridge, grades PK-12)
- Lutheran High School of Greater New Orleans (Metairie, grades 8-12)
- Memorial Baptist School (Metairie, grades PK-8)
- Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie, grades PK-12)
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (Kenner) (Kenner, grades PK-7)
- St. Angela Merici School (Metairie, grades PK-7)
- St. Benilde School (Metairie, grades PK-7)
- St. Christopher School (Metairie, grades PK-7)
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School (Kenner, grades PK-7)
- St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie, grades PK-12)
- St. Rita School (Harahan, grades PK-7)
- St. Therese Academy (Metairie, grades PK-12)
- Torah Academy (Metairie, grades PK-8)
- Victory Christian Academy (Metairie, grades PK-7)
West Bank
- Academy of Our Lady (Marrero, grades 8-12)
- Archbishop Shaw High School (Marrero, grades 8-12)
- Arden Cahill Academy (Gretna, grades PK-12)
- Concordia Lutheran School (Marrero, grades K-8)
- Immaculate Conception School (Marrero, grades PK-7)
- Knights Academy and High School (Harvey, grades 5-12)
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (Belle Chasse) (Belle Chasse, grades PK-7)
- Our Lady of Prompt Succor School (Westwego) (Westwego, grades PK-7)
- St. Anthony School (Gretna, grades PK-7)
- St. Cletus School (Gretna, grades PK-7)
- Visitation of Our Lady School (Marrero, grades PK-7)
Northshore
- Archbishop Hannan High School (Covington, grades 8-12)
- Lakeside Christian Academy (Slidell, grades PK-12)
- Northlake Christian School (Covington, grades PK-12)
- Our Lady of Lourdes School (Slidell, grades PK-7)
- Pope John Paul II High School (Slidell, grades 8-12)
- St. Margaret Mary School (Slidell, grades PK-7)
- St. Peter Catholic School (Covington) (Covington, grades PK-7)
- St. Scholastica Academy (Covington, grades 8-12)
River Parishes
- Ascension of Our Lord Catholic School (LaPlace, grades K-7)
- Riverside Academy (Reserve, grades K-12)
- St. Charles Catholic High School (LaPlace, grades 8-12)
- St. Joan of Arc School (LaPlace, grades PK-7)
- St. Peter School (Reserve) (Reserve, grades PK-7)
Washington Parish
- Annunciation School (Bogalusa, grades PK-7)
St. Bernard
- Our Lady of Prompt Succor School (Chalmette) (Chalmette, grades PK-7)
Source: LDOE, Tuition Donation Credit Program 2024-2025 Participating Nonpublic Schools. Participation changes yearly; confirm with the school.