

Mission
The mission of Benjamin Franklin High School is to prepare students of high academic achievement to be successful in life.

The mission of Benjamin Franklin High School is to prepare students of high academic achievement to be successful in life.
Thank you for your interest in Benjamin Franklin High School for the 2025-2026 school year. We are here to help you every step of the way through the admissions process. Franklin is the only school in the city with an admissions process based solely on merit and is a special school for many reasons:
Ben Franklin is the #1 ranked public high school in New Orleans. Each year, we have students accepted into every Ivy League school and top HBCUs like Howard, Spelman, and Morehouse. With courses such as Asian American Studies and Existential Literature Research to 3-Dimensional Computer-Aided Design and Dramatic Literature, we update our course catalog each year to offer new and diverse content that excites and challenges students. This year we are thrilled to offer eight Dual Enrollment classes, eight LSU STEM Pathways courses, 17 research classes, and 27 AP courses to meet students’ interests and get them ready for college.
Franklin has the very best teachers for the very best students. Our faculty features National Board-certified teachers, multiple Louisiana Teachers of the Year, and a Milken Educator Award recipient.
Our student body is incredibly diverse. We’re proud to be a public school that serves students from all different backgrounds and experiences. Franklin students come from every ZIP code in the city. Over 60% of our students identify as students of color.
You will find your home.
At Franklin, we realize that academics is only part of the high school experience. We offer more than 80 student groups and clubs. Whatever you’re interested in – anime, soccer, chess, fashion, K-pop, golf, poetry, science, drama, or robotics – we have a club for you!
At Franklin, we are developing the future leaders of the city. If you can’t find a club that appeals to you, you’re encouraged to get a few other students together and start one. As you begin the admissions process here at Ben Franklin, it’s normal to be nervous, but please know that we are here to help.
Best wishes,
Dr. Kendall McManus-Thomas Chief Executive Officer Principal
Thank you for considering Benjamin Franklin High School! We encourage you to visit the school to learn more. Please review the included packet for more details on the process. Contact our admissions staff if you have any questions about the school or the admissions process.
Visit www.bfhsla.org for important dates, deadlines, and testing information.
• Attend the Admissions Open House on October 10, 2024.
• Complete the online test registration entirely, including all requested documents.
• Once a test registration has been submitted, the student will be scheduled for an admissions test.
• Eligibility letters will be mailed out beginning in February and will continue on a rolling basis.
Founded in 1957
8,741 graduates
Current enrollment is 1,060
#1 Best Louisiana Public High School, #12 Best U.S. Charter School - Niche.com
#1 Orleans Parish High School, #22 U.S. Charter School - U.S. News & World Report
Five-time National Blue Ribbon school
National Green Ribbon school
Member of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools
Average class size: 20
Our students come from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds
Scan to see where our students come from
303 students earned AP Scholar Awards in 2024
45 students in Class of 2023 recognized by College Board
99% of graduates attend four-year colleges
99% of graduates are eligible for TOPS
100 colleges send recruiting reps to the campus annually
Dual-enrollment opportunities with Louisiana State University, Loyola University, and University of New Orleans
Since 1957, Benjamin Franklin High School has educated the city’s best and brightest and is ranked as one of the top public charter schools in the nation. The Franklin family fosters a tradition of excellence in all of its students, who go into the world fully prepared for life in higher education and beyond.
Franklin is the top Advanced Placement testing school in the Southern region. Our 2024 AP scores reflect outstanding achievement across the board – 90% of our students taking AP exams scored a 3 or higher. An impressive 18% of our students earned a top score of 5 on their AP exams, and we also have 303 AP Scholars – that’s 44% of our AP testers achieving this prestigious status, with an outstanding average score of 3.69. The breadth and depth of our academic offerings are also on display, as students took exams in a variety of subjects, including Art History, Chemistry, English Literature, French, U.S. Government & Politics, and World History – and surpassed global averages in every category. Our LEAP data is also impressive, with 100% of students achieving mastery in English I, English II, and Algebra I, making us the highest-performing high school in the state.
Franklin serves a population of students of high academic potential with 99 percent of graduates entering college. Our students are recruited and accepted by the most prestigious colleges and universities in the world. More than 100 college and university representatives visit our campus annually. Franklin students’ average ACT, SAT, and PSAT scores are consistently among the highest in Louisiana.
Through a partnership with the University of New Orleans, Louisiana State University, and Loyola University, Franklin students also have the opportunity to attend college classes in a concurrent or dual-enrollment program, earning high school and college credit simultaneously.
Our success stems from an extraordinary and diverse learning environment. Our students work, learn, and grow together. The Franklin experience encourages expression in visual and media arts, vocal and instrumental music, and dramatic arts, as well as involvement in an abundant array of extracurricular activities.
We are exceptionally proud of our outstanding faculty and staff. These dedicated professionals play an essential role in the Franklin experience.
Our faculty come from throughout the U.S. and the world to call our school home. Collectively, they represent centuries of experience in education, with many having been at Franklin for decades.
Our faculty are highly trained by institutions across the globe. Forty-one hold master’s degrees and twelve have Ph.D. (or terminal) degrees in specialized fields, as well as in education. Seven faculty members have earned the distinction of National Board Certification, as well.
• Carl LaCoste was one of the winners of New Schools for New Orleans’ 2023 New Orleans Excellence in Teaching Awards.
• Rachel Becker ’99 was named state Journalism Education Association Adviser of the Year.
• Kate Youngblood ’09 and Chris Dier have both been Louisiana Teacher of the Year.
• Jay Weisman won the Milken Educator Award, known as “the Oscars for teachers.”
• Philippe Radelet was named the 2023-2024 president of the Southeast Louisiana District Literary Rally Association, which includes 87 schools.
• Dr. Connie Rodriguez received a research grant from the Louisiana Classical Association.
Our teachers bring their devotion, talent, and innovations to the courses they teach. Beyond the classroom, faculty lead clubs and organizations that span academics, arts, athletics, and community outreach. They strive to inspire a broad range of interests in our students. At Franklin we know that a great education is a community effort.
Faculty continue their mentorship with students long after their years at Franklin. Alumni realize faculty and staff are a valuable source of guidance in their professional lives, and faculty and staff love nothing better than seeing their former students succeed. Bonds built here last a lifetime – and some alumni even return to work at Franklin. We have 12 alumni currently employed here, four of whom are also current Franklin parents!
English
English I H and G
English II H and G
English III H, G, and AP
African American Literature H
English IV H, G, and AP
Math
Algebra I H & G
Geometry H & G
Algebra II H & G
Pre-Calculus H, G, & DE
Probability & Statistics H & AP
Calculus H
AB Calculus AP
BC Calculus AP
Differential Equations & Linear Algebra
Physical Education
Physical Education I
Health
Physical Education II
Science
Physics H
Chemistry I H
Biology I H
Physics C: Mechanics AP
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism AP
Biology II AP
Chemistry II AP
Environmental Science AP
Climate & Meteorology H
Social Studies
World Geography H
Human Geography AP
World History H & AP
U.S. History H & AP
Civics H
American Government/ Comparative Politics AP
World Languages
French I H
French II H
French III H
French IV AP
French V DE
Spanish I H
Spanish II H
Spanish III H
Spanish IV AP
Spanish V DE
German I H
German II H
German III H
German IV AP
Latin I H
Latin II H
Latin III H
Latin IV AP
Chinese I H
Chinese II H
Chinese III H
Chinese IV AP
3D Computer-Aided Design
ACT Prep
Art I-III
Art History AP
Band (Beg., Int., Adv. I and II) H
Computer Science A AP
Computer Science Principles AP
Classical Civilization Research H
Creative Writing I-III H
Digital Imaging DE
Digital Storytelling H
Discrete Math Research H
Dramatic Literature H
Ethics DE
Existential Literature Research H
Financial Lit. & Academic Foundations
Global Competence
History of American Music Research H
Intro to Engineering H, DE
Intro to Computational Thinking H
Macro/Micro Economics AP
Mass Communications DE
Math Lab Research H
Media Arts I-III H
Music Theory I H, II AP
Orchestra I-IV H
Philosophy DE
Photography I-II
Physical Education III and IV
Psychology H, AP
Publications I, II
Robotics H
Shakespeare Research H
Sociology H
Speech I H
Student Teaching Research H
Studio Art AP: 2D Design
Studio Art AP: 3D Design
Talented in Music I - IV
Talented in Theater I-IV
Talented in Visual Arts I - IV
Theater I, II
Video Game Design H
Women’s Studies
H = Honors
G = Gifted
AP = Advanced Placement
DE = Dual Enrollment, both high school & college credits
All students must take Academic Foundations & Financial Literacy (if entering as ninth graders), one art class, one research-intensive class, and three AP classes.
Scan the QR code below for more information on required & elective classes
COURSE CATALOG
Kind and calm: Those are two things that visitors always notice about our student body.
The students here are exceptionally kind, empathetic, quick to hold the door for others or tear a sandwich in half to share. They are polite – they say “please” and “thank you” – but they’re more than just polite. They care deeply about and for one another, giving impromptu pep talks after bad days, holding study sessions on their own time to make sure everyone can ace the physics test.
And they’re calm. It’s not that they’re not busy. It’s that they have a sense of purpose that keeps them focused on their goals. When the bell rings, they go to class. They want to go to class. They have better ways to use their time than on drama or chaos.
Our students are many other things –curious, passionate, smart, ambitious, funny, quirky – but kindness and calmness pervade our hallways, and we couldn’t be prouder.
We also know that nothing broadens your perspective quite like travel. Our Global Classroom program organizes trips all over the world, including Costa Rica, Colombia, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, and Japan, as well as U.S. trips to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the Grand Canyon and national parks.
In the classroom and all across the globe, our students know there are no limits on where they can go and what they can achieve.
At Ben Franklin, we’re not merely tolerant. We absolutely revel in our diversity. We cherish it. We celebrate it. We show it off every chance we get. “Inclusivity” is more than a buzzword for us; it’s a way of life. With students from every ZIP code in the city, as well as students who moved here from other states and countries, we know that our students’ varied life experiences enrich us all as a community.
Here, everyone belongs!.
With over 80 clubs and organizations, our students develop leadership skills; compete in local, state, and national competitions; and travel outside the country.
Academic Games
Active Minds
Arts & Crafts Club
Asian Pacific Culture Club
Black Culture Club
Black Girls United
Book Club
Build a Little Library
Care Connection
Cheese Club
Chess Club
Chinese Culture & Language
Choir
CIA (Christ in Action)
Code for Change
Computer Science Club
Crochet for a Cause!
DEI Student Group
Eco Club
E-Sports Club
Fashion Club
Fantasy Football Club
Feed NOLA
Filmmaking Club
Fitness Club
Fourth Wall Film Journal
French Language & Culture
From Student to Scientist
FTV (Falcon Television)
Future Professionals in the Arts
German Club
Green Society
GSA - Gender Sexuality Alliance
Hands Across the Globe
Health and Wellness Club
Hispanic Culture Club
HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
Jazz Club
Jewish Culture Club
Key Club
Key Players
K-Pop Dance Club
Krewe du Cypress / Green Society
Latin Club
Line Dancing Club
Literary Rally
Magazine Club
March for Our Lives
Muslim Student Association
Mu Alpha Theta
Model United Nations
Music Seminar
National Honor Society
Newspaper Club
PAWS (Animal Support Group)
Period New Orleans
Ping Pong Club
Podcast Club
Quiz Bowl
Rec Club
Riverbend Press
Sailing Team
Science Olympiad
Sickle Cell Awareness Club
Speech & Debate
Society of Women Engineers
Student Council
Tea Time Club
Table Top Gaming Club
The Wishing Crane Project
UNICEF
Urban Culture Step Team
Voodoo Voltage - Robotics
Yearbook
Young Women for Social Justice
Youth Rebuilding New Orleans
Club offerings are subject to change depending on student interest and participation. Students are encouraged to organize new clubs to enhance the school community.
Franklin students are deeply committed to their school, their community, and the world in which they live. Many of our clubs and organizations such as Key Club, Green Society, Interact, Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, UNICEF, and Student Council, turn this commitment into action. Franklin is a leading participant in the city-wide Mission Ignition Project, earning over 3,800 volunteer service hours the past three years. Franklin students are making a difference.
The Music Department includes beginner through advanced-level Orchestra and Band, along with Music Theory I and AP Music Theory classes. Music counts for one of the necessary art credits at Franklin, but it is more than just an elective. Franklin music classes also double as a club/organization, and students participate in two concerts every year; numerous fundraisers; music festivals; competitions; and out-of-school engagements, such as weddings, anniversaries, retirement parties, and much more. Music is a great way to foster school spirit and ensure balance of work and artistic creative expression.
Our theater program is expanding each year, and our newly renovated theater is now a worthy space for our remarkable students. The program has been recognized by the renowned New Orleans Theatre Association, which has underwritten numerous shows and funded upgrades to our auditorium. Beyond the classroom, students use theater as a powerful tool to effect change. Last year, 20 students from the Gender Sexuality Alliance and the Key Players drama club worked with Broadway director Jimmy Maize to present a devised theater piece on the Capitol steps in Baton Rouge as a protest against proposed state legislation. The Theater Department is more popular than ever with recent exciting shows like Into the Woods, Radium Girls, The Laramie Project, and Something Rotten.
The Visual Arts Department offers a wide variety of courses in multiple disciplines including painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, digital design, and other media arts.
Our students and faculty make a fantastic creative learning team! Our students’ artwork has been recognized by numerous organizations including Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Rau for Art Foundation, Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Selley Foundation, and The George Rodrigue Foundation. Our outstanding Fine Arts faculty have participated in international and local exhibitions and have been published in national art journals.
Our excellent creative writing program helps students find their authentic voices and hone their writing skills while letting their imaginations run wild. From highly structured poetry such as sestinas to more experimental free verse or short stories, our writing students learn to take risks and push their creative limits. The program also has produced the nationally acclaimed Riverbend Review, an anthology of student writing and artwork honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association as one of the finest student publications in the country.
Franklin is proud to partner with the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), giving qualified students the opportunity for off-campus preprofessional arts training with intensive instruction in dance, media arts, music, theater arts, culinary arts, visual arts, and creative writing.
The achievements of Franklin students are not limited to the classroom. Franklin has fielded numerous state championship athletic teams, and the school is frequently a contender for the Ford Cup, an award given to the best athletic program in the state of Louisiana.
Franklin has 20 competitive sports teams, including soccer, football, cross-country, golf, volleyball, tennis, swimming, basketball, softball, baseball, and indoor/outdoor track and field.
• Boys’ Cross Country
• Boys’ Swimming
• Football
• Girls’ Cross Country
• Girls’ Swimming
• Volleyball
• Boys’ Basketball
• Boys’ Indoor Track & Field
• Boys’ Soccer
• Girls’ Basketball
• Girls’ Indoor Track & Field
• Girls’ Soccer
• Baseball
• Boys’ Golf
• Boys’ Tennis
• Boys’ Outdoor Track & Field
• Girls’ Golf
• Girls’ Tennis
• Girls’ Outdoor Track & Field
• Softball
• 4 students scored a perfect 36 on the ACT last year
• 45 students were recognized by College Board as National Merit Finalists, National Merit Commended Students, National African American Scholars, National Hispanic Scholars, and National Indigenous Scholars
• 11 students earned POSSE scholarships
• 6 students earned CollegeTrack scholarships
• 3 students earned Mayor’s Scholarships
• 2 students earned highly competitive Gates Scholarships
• 1 student earned a QuestBridge Scholarship
• 1 student won an $80,000 scholarship from CJ McCollum’s McCollum Scholars and College Beyond programs
• 1 student earned a gold medal as one of the four high schoolers representing the U.S. at the 35th International Olympiad in Informatics, one of the most prestigious computer science competitions in the world
• 1 gold medal semifinalist for the U.S. Physics Team
• 1 student was named the 2024 State K-12 Chess Champion
• Quiz Bowl placed third in the state
• 6 students went to Speech & Debate Nationals
• 4 students won first place at the Greater New Orleans Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge
• 18 students took home trophies at the Mu Alpha Theta state competition, and we placed second in Interschool
• Our computer science club, BFHS-Open, placed sixth in the nation in picoCTF, a high school cybersecurity competition hosted by Carnegie Mellon University
• 31 students placed at the district literary rally
• 10 students medaled at the Science Olympiad state competition
• Academic Games won first in Propaganda, first in Presidents, third in On-Sets, and first overall in Sweepstakes, as well as second in LinguiSHTIK at the national competition.
• 9 students served on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
• 36 students inducted into the Louisiana Zeta Chapter of the National German Honor Society Delta Epsilon Phi
• More than 100 students medaled in the French National Exam
• More than 50 students medaled in the National German Exam
• 20 students medaled in the National Latin Exam
• 2 students were named finalists for the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts/Trombone Shorty Foundation visual art and songwriting contests
• Orchestra and Band won two Excellence Awards at the Festival Disney competition
• 1 student was named a finalist in the Rau for Art Scholarship Competition
• 10 students earned 2024 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards from the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
• 20 students worked with Broadway director Jimmy Maize on a devised theater experience that was performed on the steps of the state Capitol
Volleyball was state semifinalist, with four players named to the All-Academic team, three named to the All-District team, and two named to the All-State team
Boys’ cross-country finished the season as district champions, and girls’ cross-country finished the season as distinct runner-ups
6 swimmers medaled at the state competition
Boys’ and girls’ soccer both went to the state championship with 18 players named to the AllDistrict teams and 5 named to the All-State team
Our Sailing Team won multiple regattas and regional championships last year
2 students named to the All-District girls’ basketball team and 2 named to the All-District boys’ team
• 9 students qualified for state for boys’ and girls’ tennis with one student named to the AllAcademic Composite Girl’s Tennis Team
• 11 students qualified for state for boys’ and girls’ track
• 7 students named to the softball All-District team
• 4 students named to the baseball All-District team
• 1 student named #1 batter in the state for softball
• 1 student named state champion at the Louisiana Men’s State Gymnastics Meet, as well as an Academic All-American by USA Gymnastics
• 1 student named to Team USA as an alternate in the boys’ 16- to 18-year-old level for the Funakoshi Gichin Cup Karate World Championship
Story and Design By: Adeline Coughlin ’25 and Serena Revels ’25
What makes up a Franklin Falcon? What are their favorite parts of their school, and why do they believe that people should come to Franklin? With unique clubs, academic classes, and athletic programs, we have a lot to offer you. Here are some active students who display what it is like to be a student at Benjamin Franklin High School.
Kaya is a determined, organized, and optimistic senior at BFHS. As a varsity volleyball team member for the past four years, she has learned through the program the value of commitment and what it is like to have a second family. Kaya is an active member of the school’s club life, serving as the chapter lead of the Future Health Leaders Club and the president of the Society for Women Engineers Club. She appreciates the school’s diverse culture, rich academic options, and the encouragement given to students to pave their paths.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT FRANKLIN IS THE FREEDOM STUDENTS HAVE TO EXPLORE AND TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEYS.
Dysen is a senior who describes himself as creative, responsible, hardworking. With a strong sense of leadership, Dysen is a senior representative for the Black Culture Club, has been in Student Council for the past three years, and is a part of National Honor Society and Key Club. One of Dysen’s favorite things about Franklin is the access to Advancement Placement classes and courses like African American Literature, which others schools do not have. It gives students an opportunity to learn more about their cultures or things they are interested in.
FRANKLIN ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES LIKE THROUGH CLASSES LIKE AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE.
Coleman is a senior at BFHS, where he has made significant contributions serving as the president of the Quiz Bowl Club and being an active member of the boys’ soccer team for the past three years. One of Cole’s favorite aspects of Franklin is the passionate faculty. The teachers prioritize academic success and strive to instill values that prepare students to be conscientious members of society. Describing himself as hardworking, compassionate, and easygoing, Cole embodies the spirit of Franklin. When asked about the culture at the school Cole stated,
“
BEING A STUDENT AT FRANKLIN HAS A REPUTATION IN ITSELF. WHENEVER YOU TELL SOMEONE YOU GO HERE, THEY ARE INSTANTLY IMPRESSED.
Barry Ashe ’74: Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of LA
David “Dee-1” Augustine ’03: Rapper
Gilda Barabino ’74: President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Jalila Jefferson-Bullock ’93: Representative, District 91: 2003-2007
Lolis Eric Elie ’81: Former columnist at The Times-Picayune, TV writer for Treme and Hell on Wheels, author, award-winning documentary filmmaker
Ted Frank ’87: Director of the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest
Fri Forjindam ’98: Co-owner of Mycotoo - theme park, museum and experience designer
Daniel Hammer ’96: President of the Historic New Orleans Collection
Shaneika Dabney-Henderson ’96: Vice President of Production for the Saints and Pelicans
Anya Kamenetz ’98: Freelance writer & columnist, author of Generation Debt
Sally Bronston Katz ’09: Coordinating Producer, Meet the Press at NBC News
David Kinch ’79: Nationally acclaimed chef and former owner of Manresa restaurant
Oscar Liu ’17: Launched Vita Innovations - developed VitalMask, a smart respiratory mask for monitoring patient vitals
Delfeayo Marsalis ’83: Jazz trombonist
Wynton Marsalis ’79: Nine-time Grammy Award-winning musician
Jeffery Miller ’14: Jazz trombonist
James Nolan ’65: Poet, fiction writer, essayist, and translator
Wendell Pierce ’81: Actor, star of the HBO dramas The Wire and Treme
Wade Rathke ’66: Co-founder of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)
Cedric Richmond ’91: Senior advisor to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement in the Biden administration; former U.S. Representative, Louisiana’s 2nd district: 2011-2021
Virginia Saussy ’84: Co-founder of Muses Mardi Gras krewe
Sonny Schneidau ’77: Co-founder of Tipitina’s and talent manager at House of Blues.
Clint Smith ’06: Author and poet, known for his work in education, incarceration, and inequality
Ben Springgate ’90: Chief Health Officer and medical adviser to NOLA Public Schools
Richard Talens ’04: Entrepreneur, celebrity trainer, and co-founder of Fitocracy
Tania Tetlow ’88: Current president of Fordham University and past president of Loyola University New Orleans
Rosie Tran ’02: Stand-up comedian, actress, model, and podcast host
Beth Arroyo Utterback ’79: General Manager of WWOZ-FM New Orleans
Kyle Widmer ’98: Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare system
Walter Williams ’71: Saturday Night Live writer, creator of Mr. Bill
Phillip Youmans ’18: Won Best Director at the 2019 Tribeca Film festival
YOU join us!
T he campus is named in honor of NASA trailblazer
Katherine Johnson
BFHS becomes a charter school and is the first to reopen after the storm
The campus sustains extensive damage in Hurricane Katrina; faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni work together to clean and restore the facility
BFHS moves across town to its current location on the UNO campus
BFHS adds a ninth grade
By request of students and faculty, BFHS becomes the first high school in the city to desegregate
The first class graduates
Benjamin Franklin High School opens in the former Carrollton Courthouse
FOSTERING EXCELLENCE
ACADEMICS
COMMUNITY
CHANGE
CREATIVITY
OPPORTUNITY
DIVERSITY
LEARNING
JUSTICE
HONOR SERVICE
WISDOM
FALCONS
CURIOSITY
KEY
JOHNSON
SCHOLARS
TEAMWORK
LEGACY
CEO: Alex Jarrell
Principal: Dr. Kendall McManus-Thomas
Alexis Parent-Ferrouillet, Ed.L.D. ’96 President
Sean A. Blondell, Secretary
Jill E. Condon, Treasurer
Alea M. Cot
Shaneika Dabney-Henderson ’96
Tim Duncan
Charmaine Cooper Hussain
Brian Johnson
Jenny Kottler ’79
Jonathan L. Levy ’03
Dolly Malik
Todd Ragusa
Mark Rubin ’86
Jeffrey Seymour
Mitchell Turnbough