New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School (Sci High) is unveiling its first electric school bus fleet today at a ribbon cutting in the city’s Mid-City neighborhood. The deployment includes nine IC Bus Type C electric school buses with dedicated charging ports, operated by A&S Transportation and supported by Highland Electric Fleets under an Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) model. The project was funded through a competitive award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, secured by a coalition of school districts.
Highlights
- Nine IC Bus Type C electric buses replace diesel vehicles on Sci High’s daily routes
- Funding sourced through the EPA Clean School Bus Program via a multi-district coalition application
- A&S Transportation, sister brand of Durham School Services, will operate the fleet
- Ribbon cutting held April 29 at 2011 Bienville St., New Orleans
Funding Path and Operating Model
Sci High joined a coalition of school districts to apply for funding under the EPA Clean School Bus Program, a competitive federal initiative supporting the replacement of diesel school buses with zero-emission alternatives. The award covered both the buses and associated charging infrastructure, allowing the school to transition without diverting general operating funds.
Highland Electric Fleets is delivering the project through its EaaS model, which bundles vehicles, charging hardware, energy management, and ongoing support into a single subscription-style arrangement. The structure shifts capital expenditure off the school’s balance sheet and transfers operational risk — including charging uptime and battery management — to Highland. Charging infrastructure at the site is configured for overnight depot charging, the standard pattern for school bus duty cycles, where vehicles return to base between morning and afternoon routes.
A&S Transportation, which operates alongside Durham School Services under the National Express LLC umbrella, will handle day-to-day fleet operations. The arrangement extends a longstanding partnership between Highland and the Durham/A&S group, which previously deployed 52 electric school buses across California, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire under a similar structure.
Health and Operating Cost Rationale
Electric school buses carry a meaningfully different cost and emissions profile than their diesel counterparts. They have far fewer moving parts, which reduces scheduled maintenance, and their fuel input — electricity — is less exposed to the price volatility that has affected diesel budgets in recent years. For school transportation programs operating on multi-year budget cycles, that predictability matters as much as the per-mile fuel savings.
On the health side, diesel exhaust is a recognized asthma trigger, and in-cabin pollutant concentrations on diesel buses can exceed ambient outdoor levels by a significant margin — a particular concern for students who ride daily. Eliminating tailpipe emissions removes that direct exposure for both riders and the surrounding community.
Quotes
“We are excited to be among the first in our community to transition to an electrified fleet of buses. As a STEM school, we at Sci High believe it is our responsibility to lead the effort in bringing a cleaner, greener option to our community,” said Monique G. Cola, Ph.D., Head of School, New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School. “We recognize the impact that the toxic fumes of diesel fuel have on the health of our students and the greater community. We see this move to EV-buses as one positive step in improving the environment in which we live. At Sci High, we want to be the catalyst for positive change in our community.”
“What a proud moment for Sci High to now have a 100% electric fleet of school buses. As their transportation partner, we are happy to have been able to help bring this milestone initiative to fruition for the sake of the safety and wellbeing of our students and the New Orleans community,” said Wayne Skinner, Senior Vice President of Fleet, Maintenance, and Procurement, A&S Transportation/Durham School Services. “These EV buses will benefit Sci High students for years to come, creating a healthier, green environment for them to learn and flourish in, and we are honored to have had a helping hand in making that happen. Thank you to all our partners and team members for their shared commitment to safeguarding students and our communities and helping drive this project to success.”
“Diesel exhaust is a known asthma trigger, and pollution levels inside diesel buses can be up to four times higher than outside air,” said Brian Buccella, Chief Commercial Officer, Highland Electric Fleets. “Electric school buses eliminate those emissions, giving students a cleaner, quieter ride that can support better health and a more comfortable start to the school day.”
Louisiana Context
The Sci High deployment lands a few months after InspireNOLA Charter Schools deployed Louisiana’s largest electric school bus fleet earlier this year, suggesting growing momentum for fleet electrification among the city’s charter operators. Louisiana school districts have historically been heavy users of diesel transportation, and the EPA Clean School Bus Program has been a primary funding lever for districts pursuing the switch.
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