Ben Franklin High School

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This article is about the Franklin High School in Louisiana. For others of a similar name, see Franklin High School (disambiguation)
Benjamin Franklin High School
Address
2001 Leon C. Simon Drive
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70122, United States
Website
http://benfranklinhighschool.org
Information
School board Orleans Parish School District (charter school).
Principal Ms. Carol Christen
School type Public magnet high school
Grades 9-12
Mascot Falcons
Colors Green, white, and orange
Founded 1957
Enrollment 628 (Fall 2006)

Benjamin Franklin High School is a public magnet high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. Commonly nicknamed "Franklin" or "Ben Franklin", this school should not be confused with Franklin High School in Franklin, Louisiana.

The school was founded in 1957 and moved to its current location in 1990. Ben Franklin is adjacent to the campus of the University of New Orleans (UNO) in the Lakeview district of Orleans Parish, near Lake Pontchartrain. It is on the intersection of Leon C. Simon Drive and St. Anthony Street.

Ben Franklin is part of the Orleans Parish School District. However, the school became a charter school under UNO after Hurricane Katrina in the fall of 2005. Ben Franklin has a selective admissions process and is known for the academic performance of its students. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School twice by the U.S. Department of Education, and before Katrina was highest-ranked secondary school in the state of Louisiana.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The original campus of Benjamin Franklin High School on 719 South Carrollton Ave., from 1957 to 1990
The original campus of Benjamin Franklin High School on 719 South Carrollton Ave., from 1957 to 1990
After Katrina, Ben Franklin received support from across the nation and around the world. Here, the United States Ambassador to Germany, William R. Timken, Jr., accepts a "Band of Friendship" from the students of Clay Oberschule, Ben Franklin's official GAPP partner school in Berlin, Germany on December 8, 2005.
After Katrina, Ben Franklin received support from across the nation and around the world. Here, the United States Ambassador to Germany, William R. Timken, Jr., accepts a "Band of Friendship" from the students of Clay Oberschule, Ben Franklin's official GAPP partner school in Berlin, Germany on December 8, 2005.[2]

Benjamin Franklin High School was originally opened as a math and science-oriented school for gifted children in 1957 on Carollton Avenue in Uptown New Orleans, under the direction of School Superintendent James F. Redmond. During the African-American Civil Rights Movement, a 1960 Time Magazine article stated that Redmond's "proudest memory of the first day of integration three weeks ago, when truancy was rife, is that 'my Franklin kids stuck with it.'"[3]

The address of the original campus was 719 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, built in 1855 as the Jefferson Parish Courthouse. This is now the campus of the Lusher Elementary School. The Orleans Parish School Board leased land from UNO and built a larger and more modern campus for Ben Franklin in the late 1980s. Ben Franklin moved to its current Lakeview campus during the 1989-1990 school year.[4] The building was designed by E. Eean Mcnaughton Architects and received an honor award from the American Institute of Architects Gulf States Region in 1994.[5]

Ben Franklin is located near the London Avenue Canal. Like the southern buildings of UNO and most of the schools in Orleans Parish, Ben Franklin suffered several feet of flood damage from Hurricane Katrina. The school was closed before the storm hit on August 29, 2005, and remained closed for several months. School administration, faculty, parents, students, alumni, and volunteers participated in a massive cleanup effort, without funding from and independent of the Orleans Parish School Board. The effort was chronicled by several nationwide news agencies.[6][7][8]

The school re-opened as a charter school on January 17, 2006, the 300th birthday of its namesake Benjamin Franklin. The re-opening ceremony was held in the previously flooded-out gym. The gym had been the most severely damaged structure on campus. All of the floor tiles had to be removed and replaced, and the wind-damaged ceiling had to be repaired.[9]

[edit] Academics

An admissions test is required to apply to Ben Franklin. Ben Franklin features a challenging college-preparatory curricula and an extensive AP Program. Approximately 99.5% of each graduating class enters college. Of the 162 students in the class of 2006, 28 were National Merit Semifinalists, 7 National Achievement Finalists, and 3 Hispanic Scholars. For the class of 2005, the mean SAT Verbal score was 645, and the mean SAT Math score was 636. The mean ACT composite score was 27.2.[10] One hundred percent of Franklin students passed the Louisiana Graduate Exit Examination (GEE) in Spring 2006, with a significant number achieving Advanced and Mastery level.[11]

In the fall of 2005, Ben Franklin was one of three high schools given a five star rating (the highest possible) by the Louisiana Department of Education. The following table displays the three schools, along with their respective "School Performance Score (SPS)." The SPS is based on test scores from LEAP/GEE subject area tests in addition to "The Iowa Tests" results and attendance/dropout data.[12]

2005 Louisiana School Performance Score (SPS) Comparisons[13]
School Name Magnet School Status Performance Label (2005) Baseline SPS (2005)
Benjamin Franklin Senior High School Yes Five Stars 200.5
Caddo Parish Magnet High School Yes Five Stars 176.6
Baton Rouge Magnet High School Yes Five Stars 171.7

Benjamin Franklin High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in 1989 and 2003.[14][15] It is routinely ranked as the best traditional high school in Louisiana with regards to student test scores, sports, arts, and advanced placement programs. In 2006, Newsweek listed Ben Franklin as one of the elite public schools in the country.[16] Also, 11 Presidential Scholars have been selected from the school as of 2006.[17]

[edit] Enrollment

A marble statue of Benjamin Franklin stands in the atrium
A marble statue of Benjamin Franklin stands in the atrium

Enrollment in Ben Franklin is open to residents of Orleans Parish entering ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade. Students applying for tenth grade must have one credit in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language. Students applying for 11th grade must have two credits in each of the listed courses. Admission is based on an applicant's GPA and performance on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills or the Iowa Test of Educational Development for reading, language, and mathematics. The Iowa Tests are administered at Ben Franklin. All students meeting the criteria for entrance into 9th grade are also required to pass the LEAP 21 exam (Louisiana Educational Assessment Program for the 21st Century Exam taken in 8th grade).[10]

Ben Franklin had 888 students during the 2004-2005 school year. The demographics were 423 Caucasian, non-Hispanic, 239 African American, 123 Asian, and 33 Hispanic.[18]

White, non-Hispanic African American Asian/Pacific Islander Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native
56% 27% 14% 4% 0%

[edit] Extracurricular activities

[edit] Athletics

Logo of the Ben Franklin Falcons
Logo of the Ben Franklin Falcons

Ben Franklin teams are known as the "Falcons" with school colors green, white, and orange. The Falcons are in Class 4A (Div. II) of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Ben Franklin is best known for its girls athletics program, which is one of the best in the Greater New Orleans Area. The girls' soccer team was the Class 4A State Champion in 1998, 2003, and 2004, and the volleyball team won state titles in 1996, 2002, and 2003.[19]

Accomplishments include:

  • Swimming-Girls (AAAA Champion 1997; Runner-up 1996, 1999)
  • Swimming-Boys (AAAA Champion 2001; Runner-up 1999, 2000)
  • Volleyball (AAAA Champion 1996,2002,2003; Runner-up 1997, 2004)
  • Girls' Soccer (AAAA Champion 1998,2003,2004)
  • Boys' Soccer (AAAA Champion 2004; Runner-up 2005)
  • Tennis-Girls (AAAA Runner-up 1997)
  • Tennis-Boys (AAAA Runner-up 2004)

[edit] Publications

Ben Franklin publications include The Franklin Forum (school newspaper), The Ben Franklin Post (parent monthly newsletter), The Riverbend Review (literary magazine), and The Franklin Falcon (yearbook). The Riverbend Review has received numerous awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, winning a Silver Crown as recently as 2006.[20]

[edit] Clubs and organizations

The following list includes clubs offered at Ben Franklin High School in 2006-2007.

  • Academic Decathlon
  • Academic Games
  • Anime
  • Art Club
  • Asian Pacific Club
  • Band/Orchestra
  • Black Culture Club
  • Bookstore
  • Cheerleaders
  • Chess
  • Choir
  • Classical League
  • Close-Up: Washington, D.C.
  • Culinary Club
  • Dance Team
  • Drama Club (Produces school plays)
  • Environmental Club
  • French Exchange Program
  • French Trip
  • Franklin Forum (School Newspaper)
  • FTV (Falcon Television)
  • Gay/Straight Alliance
  • German Club (Delta Epsilon Phi)
  • German School Exchange Program (GAPP)
  • Green Society
  • Hebrew Culture Club
  • Hi-Y/Tri Hi-Y
  • Intramural Program
  • Iota Sigma
  • KEY Club
  • Library Media/Reading Club
  • Mock Trial
  • Mu Alpha Theta
  • National Honor Society
  • Philosophy Club
  • Outdoor and Sports Club
  • Pottery Club
  • Riverbend Review
  • S.A.D.D.
  • Science Olympiad
  • Service Learning Projects
  • Spain Trip
  • Speech/Debate Team
  • Student Council
  • Student Leadership Team (Jrs./Srs.)
  • SWAAT
  • Yearbook
  • Young Democrats
  • Young Republicans

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Trivia

Portions of Ben Franklin's atrium and front entrance were used in the Disney Channel movie Stuck in the Suburbs.

President Bill Clinton talked with Franklin students on April 30, 1993.[22]

The marble statue of Benjamin Franklin that now stands in the atrium was commissioned in 1844 and has been with the school since 1959.[23]

Contributions to Ben Franklin after Katrina included US$10,000 from the government of France.[24]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Saulny, Susan (2006-01-04). "Students Return to Big Changes in New Orleans". The New York Times. Retrieved on March 15, 2006.
  2. ^ Speech by Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. to the students of the Clay Oberschule, December 8, 2005. U.S. Embassy in Germany. Retrieved on March 1, 2007.
  3. ^ Time (1960-12-12). "Hot Seat in New Orleans". Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
  4. ^ Southeastern Louisiana University Regional History - New Orleans Collection. Retrieved on 2007-03-01
  5. ^ E. Eean Mcnaughton Architects Project Page. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
  6. ^ CBS News "The Early Show": Principal Pushes To Reopen School (January 19, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
  7. ^ Anders, George (2006-01-13). "Back to Class: How a Principal In New Orleans Saved Her School". The Wall Street Journal, pg. A1 (dead tree edition). Retrieved on March 15, 2006.
  8. ^ National Public Radio "Fresh Air": Back in School, Back in New Orleans (March 15, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
  9. ^ Camille Bullock's reopening speech.
  10. ^ a b Benjamin Franklin Admissions Booklet. Retrieved on 2007-02-17.
  11. ^ Louisiana Department of Education GEE Grades 10 & 11 - First-Time Test Takers. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
  12. ^ Louisiana Department of Education: 2004-2005 Accountability User Guide
  13. ^ Louisiana Department of Education: Fall 2005 Detailed School-Level Tables. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
  14. ^ List of Blue Ribbon Schools Recognized 1982-2002. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  15. ^ 2003 No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public High Schools. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
  16. ^ Newsweek (May 8, 2006) The Public Elites. Newsweek Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
  17. ^ Presidential Scholars Program search State:Louisiana, High School:Benjamin Franklin. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
  18. ^ National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  19. ^ LHSAA State Championship Archives. Retrieved on 2007-02-24
  20. ^ Columbia Scholastic Press Association: 2006 Scholastic Crowns. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.
  21. ^ "Blowing up a storm" January 25, 2003. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-02-20
  22. ^ William J. Clinton Foundation: Remarks by the President with students of the National Service Initiative: at Benjamin Franklin High School.
  23. ^ Clarion Herald: Franklin's statue well traveled throughout city June 22, 2000. Retrieved on February 15, 2007.
  24. ^ General Consulate of France in New Orleans: French Cultural Aid to Louisiana. Retrieved on February 15, 2007.

[edit] External links

[edit] Miscellaneous

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