Belle Chasse Academy welcomes students back to school
Photo By Garrett Dipuma |
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans-area service members welcome Belle......read moreread more
Photo By Garrett Dipuma | Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans-area service members welcome Belle Chasse Academy students back to school, Aug. 26, 2026. Opened in 2002, the kindergarten through eighth-grade Louisiana Type II charter school is located onboard NAS JRB New Orleans and can serve more than 900 students annually. (U.S. Navy photo by Garrett Dipuma) see less
| View Image Page
Belle Chasse Academy welcomes students back to school
BELLE CHASSE, La.—Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans-area service members welcomed students, parents and staff back to Belle Chasse Academy on Aug. 26 for the start of the school year.
Opened in 2002, the kindergarten through eighth-grade Louisiana Type II charter school is located onboard NAS JRB New Orleans and can serve more than 900 students annually. The academy earned an "A" on its Louisiana Department of Education report card and holds a Purple Ribbon School designation, which recognizes the institution’s commitment to supporting the educational and emotional needs of military children, who frequently relocate due to parental assignments.
"We are so excited to welcome our families back to Belle Chasse Academy," said April Vincent, the academy's principal and chief academic officer. "Our mission is to serve our military-connected families, and a major part of that is ensuring our teachers and staff, which includes three full-time counselors with two military-family life counselors, understand the unique stressors that impact military children."
The school also features an after-school program with several science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) activities, including gardening, cooking, robotics and drone classes. Vincent said the school coordinates its hours and after-school programs to align with most military work schedules.
Having a school located on an installation simplifies daily routines and commutes for military families.
"Belle Chasse Academy has an outstanding student-to-staff ratio," said Capt. Andrew McGinly, NAS JRB New Orleans commanding officer. "Coupled with the fact that so many military families live on the base, it's a great opportunity for parents to walk their children to school or drop them off and pick them up right where they work."
Vincent said enrollment is prioritized for military-affiliated families, including active-duty, Reserve and retired service members. The academy aims to help students reach their academic and personal potential by fostering core knowledge, problem-solving skills and community responsibility.
NAS JRB New Orleans is home to 33 active-duty and Reserve tenant commands from the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard. As a premier military training destination with direct access to Gulf of America airspace, the air station operates two active runways to support joint-force combat readiness and homeland defense missions.
