The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Benjamin Franklin Elem. Math and Science
Benjamin Franklin Elem. Math and Science is a charter school in New Orleans serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It sits in a dense urban setting that blends historic residential neighborhoods with the commercial and cultural energy of a major Gulf Coast city. The school describes itself as a regular public school, and its charter status gives it operational flexibility within the Orleans Parish district.
Academically, this school presents a clear picture of challenge. On Louisiana’s LEAP 2025 assessments for grades three through eight, proficiency rates across subjects are well below what most families would hope to see. English language arts shows the highest share of students reaching the proficient or above levels, but still less than two in five. Math proficiency is lower, and science and social studies are lower still. When placed alongside the other elementary and middle schools in Orleans Parish, Benjamin Franklin’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. That positioning is a meaningful signal for a parent weighing academic options. The school’s participation rate on state tests was complete, so the results reflect nearly the entire tested student body.
A very large majority of the students come from families with low incomes, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is almost entirely Black, with a small share of Hispanic students and very few white, Asian, or multiracial students. Data on students receiving special education services and on English learners was not available in the reporting we reviewed, so a parent looking for that information would want to ask the school directly.
The school runs from pre-K through eighth grade, so there is no high school graduation rate to examine, and state testing results only cover the tested grades. Chronic absenteeism figures were also missing from the available data, which makes it harder to gauge the consistency of student attendance without asking the school.
New Orleans itself has a distinctive character shaped by its cross-cultural heritage, its music and food traditions, and events like Mardi Gras. The city operates as a merged city-parish government and serves as a major port and commercial hub. Tourism, hospitality, film production, and Tulane University anchor the local economy. The housing market in the area around the school has values that are above the state and national benchmarks, reflecting the desirability of many New Orleans neighborhoods, though the cost of buying versus renting tilts toward renting as the more affordable option for many households. The city’s population declined sharply after Hurricane Katrina and has rebounded over time, though recent estimates suggest a slight shrinkage. Gentrification and displacement have been ongoing concerns in redeveloping neighborhoods.
At the district level, Orleans Parish voters in 2022 approved a property tax millage renewal that continues dedicated funding for early childhood education through the City Seats program, which provides free preschool for children from low-income families. That means families in Benjamin Franklin’s attendance area may have access to early childhood options funded through that measure.
For a family considering this school, the academic performance numbers are the central fact. The school’s name emphasizes math and science, but the results in those subjects are the weakest. A parent should investigate what supports and instructional approaches the school uses in those areas and whether the curriculum matches their child’s needs. The school serves a population with high economic need, and the peer environment reflects that. The broader New Orleans setting offers a rich cultural and economic landscape, with housing costs that are high relative to the rest of the state.
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