Saint Katharine Drexel Preparatory School in Uptown New Orleans is under a bright spotlight after a parent publicly alleged that a teacher pushed and punched her daughter during what began as a quick conversation about grades on Friday. School officials say they reviewed the report and took action, and New Orleans police investigated the incident on campus. The student's family and school leaders now sharply differ on how the situation was handled, with everyone careful to note that the case centers on a minor.
Parent says grade talk turned into confrontation
The student's parent told WDSU that her senior daughter went to speak with a teacher on Friday about a grade, even though the student is not enrolled in that class. According to the parent, the teacher verbally insulted the student, criticized her handwriting and told her to leave the classroom.
The parent said the teacher then followed the teen into the hallway and continued to insult her, and that the student later reported being pushed and struck in the mouth. The parent also told WDSU that the teacher emailed students and parents asking them to speak on the teacher’s behalf and that the email identified the student by name, despite her being a minor.
School and NOPD push back with their own account
In a statement to WDSU, Saint Katharine Drexel Prep said it is aware of a social media post that includes “a serious allegation involving a student and a member of our school community” and stressed that “the safety, dignity, and well‑being of every student entrusted to our care remain our highest priorities.”
The school said it carried out what it called a comprehensive review, including interviews and an evidence review, and that it did so in collaboration with the New Orleans Police Department, the Archdiocese of New Orleans and its Board of Directors. The statement added that “appropriate actions have been taken in alignment with school policy and governing standards.”
According to NOPD, which also spoke to WDSU, a Second District school resource officer responded to a report of a simple battery in the 5100 block of Magazine Street. After investigating, police issued the student a municipal summons to appear in court on one count of battery.
Inside Drexel Prep and what comes next
Saint Katharine Drexel Preparatory School is an all-girls Catholic college-preparatory school on Magazine Street. Saint Katharine Drexel Preparatory School lists its campus address, mission and emphasis on student safety and a supportive environment online.
School officials are urging anyone with concerns to reach out to administrators directly. At the same time, they say they cannot discuss specific details of the case because it involves a minor. With the municipal summons now in the system, any court dates and outcomes will play out in city court, not in the school's disciplinary office.
Legal stakes and unanswered questions
Police say the student was issued a municipal summons on one count of battery, which requires the recipient to appear in court to answer the allegation. Because the school is declining to get into specifics while a minor is involved, the public record remains thin.
Parents and community members have said they want clearer communication about how discipline and safety are handled as the process unfolds. For now, the next moves rest with the courts, while the school, police and the Archdiocese continue to shape what happens behind the scenes.
