Original Research by School Decision on Benjamin Franklin High School
Benjamin Franklin High School operates as a single-school charter district in Orleans Parish, serving only grades nine through twelve. That structure—one high school acting as its own district—is unusual and means the entity’s academic, financial, and operational picture is the picture of that one campus. The school enrolls a mid-sized student body for a high school, with roughly equal numbers across the four grade levels.
The student population is racially and ethnically diverse. The largest group of students are white, followed by Black students, with meaningful shares of Asian and Hispanic students, and smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Data on how many students come from low-income households was not available, nor were figures for students with disabilities or English learners. A parent or resident may want to ask the school directly about those dimensions of student support.
State testing results and a four-year graduation rate were both absent from the available record. Without those, a reader cannot compare the school’s academic performance—its proficiency in core subjects or its rate of on-time graduation—against other high schools in Orleans Parish or across Louisiana. Because the school serves only high school grades, the lack of state testing data is not explained by an untested grade band; the state administers tests in high school, so this is a genuine gap in what is reported. The same applies to the graduation rate, a standard metric for any high school. Families likely will want to seek that information from the school’s website or state education department directly.
On measures that were available, the school stands out in one area and sits in a distinct financial position relative to its parish peers. The chronic absenteeism rate—the share of students missing a substantial number of school days—is among the lowest across Orleans Parish’s districts. A low rate like this suggests most students attend regularly, which is a signal of engagement and stability in the school environment.
Per-pupil current spending is in the lower range compared with other districts in the parish. That does not mean the school is underfunded; it could reflect a lean administrative structure given that it is a single-site district, or different cost structures than larger, multi-campus systems. Families may want to ask how the school allocates its budget—what it prioritizes for instruction, facilities, extracurriculars, and student supports—and whether the spending level matches their expectations for resources.
The district brief, based on available public research, found no recent property-tax initiatives, referendum efforts, or curriculum changes of lasting parent-relevant impact at Benjamin Franklin High School. That is consistent with a stable charter school that has not undergone a major governance or financial shift in the near term.
For a family considering this school, the picture is incomplete but has clear outlines. The school is a single high school operating independently, with a diverse student body and a low level of chronic absenteeism that hints at a focused student body. Academic attainment data is missing, so the strongest claim available about the school’s educational outcomes is that the public record does not yet include them. That is a gap any prospective family will want to close before making a decision. The context of Orleans Parish includes many other districts, and the school’s spending level is lower than many peer districts, which could mean either a cost-effective model or fewer resources per student depending on how that money is used. A parent or resident would benefit from a direct conversation with school leadership about graduation rates, college-going patterns, and how the school measures student progress.
See more original research from School Decision →