Established in 2009, JCFA is a non-traditional public charter school serving students in the Greater New Orleans and Lafayette areas. Initially founded on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, by 2019 JCFA expanded to four campuses, serving both at-risk students and those seeking a more flexible pathway to a high school diploma.

Faced with new challenges during the Covid pandemic, JCFA leadership was forced to reorganize their facilities, faculty, and staff to serve the needs of their students. Just before the opening of the 2021 school year, Hurricane Ida severely damaged two campuses, forcing the leadership team and the JCFA community to adapt once again.

Featuring interviews with faculty, leadership, and students, JCFA: Finding Alternatives is a chronicle of one independent South Louisiana charter school’s resilience, and the community that it serves.

DP: Ted Moree