A very special group of passengers boarded the Fondren Express last week to tour Jackson. They were students from New Orleans' Fischer Accelerated Academy.  The story might be similar to any other we share about this group or that group riding the trolley.  But this one's different.  You see, before Hurricane Katrina, Fischer Elementary School in Algiers was plagued with substandard test scores, among the worst in New Orleans. The school closed after the storm, not to be reopened.  But now, just three short years later, the new William J. Fischer Accelerated Academy, with 415 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, is meeting the diverse challenges of its pupils. Earlier this year, national, state, and local education experts celebrated reports that students' scores on standardized tests had risen dramatically. So it was with pleasure that we taught a historical lesson of sorts as Fischer students saw our state capital, governor's mansion, and many other notable landmarks around the city.  We celebrate with Fischer for their achievements, and would love to celebrate with you.

Reward a school group, youth group, or business group to a Jackson tour.  We have all the details at FondrenExpress.com.