School Choice in Louisiana
Louisiana runs 4 private school choice programs, together serving about 73,453 students. Its strongest program reaches EdChoice's universal eligibility tier.
Elementary and Secondary School Tuition Deduction
Individual Tax Credit/Deduction- Students
- 63,355
- Eligible
- 13%
- Average award
- $269
- Launched
- 2008
The average award is 45% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program
Education Savings Account- Students
- 6,000
- Eligible
- 53%
- Average award
- $7,250
- Launched
- 2025
The average award is 55 of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Tuition Donation Credit Program
Tax-Credit Scholarship- Students
- 3,603
- Eligible
- 53%
- Average award
- $4,318
- Launched
- 2012
The average award is 32% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities
Voucher- Students
- 495
- Eligible
- 10%
- Average award
- $2,483
- Launched
- 2011
The average award is 35% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Homeschooling in Louisiana
Homeschooling is legal in every state. Louisiana recognises two legal routes to it, compulsory attendance runs from age 5–18, and notice to the state is required. The Louisiana homeschool requirements are set out in full on their own page.
How Louisiana compares
Nationally, 36 jurisdictions run 82 private-choice programs serving roughly 2,279,109 students, and 18 have at least one program any student may apply to. The state-by-state guide sets out how the programs differ.
Where this comes from
Program data from EdChoice's School Choice in America dashboard, retrieved 2026-09-16; homeschool requirements from HSLDA. Participation and award figures are the most recent EdChoice publishes and lag the current school year. Educational information, not legal or financial advice — confirm eligibility with the program before you rely on it.
More on Louisiana: its freedom score and rank