What Benjamin Franklin High School does

Benjamin Franklin High School is a public charter high school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, founded in 1957 and operated as a Type 3 Charter under the Orleans Parish School Board by the non-profit Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. The school selectively admits academically qualified Orleans Parish residents (minimum 2.0 GPA, no failing grades, 88+ matrix points for 8th graders) with no lottery system, serving approximately 1,000 students from every ZIP code in the city — a headcount that has surpassed the original 850-student building capacity and required leasing additional classroom space from the University of New Orleans.

The academic program centers on 29 Advanced Placement courses (all students must take at least 3), 8 dual enrollment classes with UNO, 8 LSU STEM Pathways courses (Pre-Engineering and Digital Design & Emergent Media certificate tracks), 17 research classes, and a Gifted & Talented program. Partnerships with NOCCA, Loyola University New Orleans, and the Earl K. Long Library extend curriculum depth. The technology stack is standard educational SaaS — PowerSchool for student information, Google Classroom for learning management, Naviance for college counseling, and third-party tutoring platforms (Varsity Tutors, Paper, Tutor.com, PeerKonnect). Outcomes include a 99% college attendance rate, 28.4 ACT mean composite for the Class of 2026, 93% AP exam pass rate (vs. 37% Louisiana average), and 99% TOPS eligibility.

The business model relies on Louisiana's Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) state funding at approximately $8,800 per student — roughly 40% of what private/independent schools receive — supplemented by private fundraising through the Friends of Franklin Foundation (a 501(c)(3)), alumni donations, course fees, and capital campaigns such as the Katherine Johnson STEAM Center (over $325,000 raised). There is no tuition. Go-to-market is community-led through word-of-mouth, Open House events, Welcome Wednesdays campus tours, and active social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The school is governed by a board of directors including alumni and community members and is led by CEO Alex Jarrell and Principal Dr. Kendall McManus-Thomas.

Name

Benjamin Franklin High School

Legal name

Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. D/B/A Benjamin Franklin High School

Website

https://bfhsla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Benjamin Franklin High School is a New Orleans public charter high school (founded 1957) serving ~1,000 selectively admitted Orleans Parish students with 29 AP courses, dual-enrollment partnerships with UNO and LSU, and a 99% college attendance rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education (Public Charter High School)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter STEM/STEAM-Focused Schools (EDAJACAG)

Keywords

• Charter high school
• College preparatory education
• Advanced Placement courses
• Dual enrollment programs
• Secondary education services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding (Minimum Foundation Program): As a public charter school, Franklin receives state funding through Louisiana's Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), which covers basic educational expenses.
2. Private Donations and Fundraising: Friends of Franklin Foundation serves as the primary fundraising organization, pursuing donations from alumni, parents, foundations, and corporate sponsors to bridge the gap between MFP funding and the full educational experience. The school operates on approximately $8,800 per student, roughly 40% of what private/independent schools receive.
3. STEAM Center Campaign: Capital campaign fundraising for the Katherine Johnson STEAM Center, which has raised over $325,000 toward renovations for expanded robotics, engineering, and media arts spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Benjamin Franklin High School is a public charter high school in New Orleans offering college-preparatory education to approximately 1,000 Orleans Parish residents in grades 9-12. Core academic offerings include 29 Advanced Placement courses (all students required to take at least 3), 8 dual enrollment classes with the University of New Orleans and Loyola, 8 LSU STEM Pathways courses, 17 research classes, and comprehensive college counseling. The school supplements academics with 20 competitive athletics teams, music, theater, and visual arts programs, over 80 student clubs, the Global Classroom international travel program, and the Katherine Johnson STEAM Center for robotics, engineering, and media arts.

Product overview

Benjamin Franklin High School is a public charter high school in New Orleans offering a comprehensive educational program. The core academic offerings include 29 Advanced Placement courses, a Dual Enrollment Program with the University of New Orleans, LSU STEM Pathways (Pre-Engineering and Digital Design tracks), and Gifted & Talented programming. The school maintains a partnership with NOCCA for arts education and operates the Katherine Johnson STEAM Center for robotics, engineering, and media arts. Beyond academics, the school offers extensive extracurricular programs including 20 competitive athletics teams, music, theater, and visual arts programs, over 80 student clubs, and the Global Classroom international travel program. The school's development infrastructure includes the Friends of Franklin Foundation (501(c)(3) fundraising) and the Alumni Association, which support memorial awards and student enrichment programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Katherine Johnson STEAM Center: STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) educational facility for robotics, engineering, and media arts programs
• Bennaroo Music Festival
• Friends of Franklin Foundation

Products and services

• Advanced Placement (AP) Program College-level courses enabling students to earn college credit through AP examinations; the school offers 29 AP courses and requires all students to take at least 3 AP courses during their 4 years. 93% of Franklin students earned a 3, 4, or 5 on AP exams versus the 37% Louisiana average.
• Dual Enrollment Program Partnerships with University of New Orleans and Loyola University New Orleans allowing students to earn both high school and college credit. Current offerings include Dual-Enrollment Pre-Calculus, Media Arts, Philosophy, and a DE Mass Communications class taught by Loyola faculty on the Franklin campus.
• LSU STEM Pathways STEM certification pathways in partnership with LSU offering two certificate tracks: Pre-Engineering (Intro to Engineering Design, Intro to Computational Thinking, Introduction to Robotics, Principles of Engineering) and Digital Design & Emergent Media (Digital Storytelling, Programming for Digital Media, Coding for the Web, Video Game Design, Digital Image & Motion Graphics, Media Arts II: Filmmaking).
• College Counseling Program Comprehensive college counseling including large and small group meetings, individual sessions, college visits, and application support. 99% of graduates attend college or university; uses the Naviance college and career readiness platform.
• Gifted & Talented Program Specialized instructional services for students meeting Louisiana Department of Education criteria for G/T classification, featuring gifted courses in English and math using college prep materials with emphasis on higher-level thinking skills.
• NOCCA Partnership Program Partnership with the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) allowing approximately 40 students to attend NOCCA's half-day program in the afternoons while graduating from both Benjamin Franklin High School and NOCCA, attending highly selective colleges.
• Katherine Johnson STEAM Center New facility bringing classroom space and critical upgrades to the fabrication lab, with renovated robotics and engineering spaces and expanded media arts programs supporting the LSU STEM Pathways certificates in pre-engineering and digital design.
• Music Program Beginner through advanced Orchestra and Band, along with Music Theory I and AP Music Theory classes. Music classes participate in two concerts yearly, music festivals, competitions, and out-of-school engagements.
• Theater Program Theater program recognized by the New Orleans Theater Association, with support from the Keller Foundation, RosaMary Foundation, and other donors. Includes auditorium upgrades.
• Visual Arts Program Wide variety of courses in painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, digital design, and other media arts. Student artwork recognized by Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Rau for Art Foundation, Jazz & Heritage Foundation, and Selley Foundation.
• Global Classroom Student Travel Program International and domestic student travel program organizing trips to Costa Rica, Colombia, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Japan, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Grand Canyon/national parks.
• Athletics Program 20 competitive sports teams including soccer, football, cross-country, golf, volleyball, tennis, swimming, basketball, softball, baseball, and indoor/outdoor track and field. School frequently contends for the Ford Cup awarded to the best athletic program in Louisiana.
• Student Support Services Comprehensive support including Student Assistance Team, New Student Support Counseling, Special Services for students with disabilities, mental health professionals, school nurse, and test coordinator.
• Tutoring Services Multiple tutoring options including Varsity Tutors (free 24/7 online tutoring), PeerKonnect (peer tutoring with current Franklin students), Physics in Motion, Chemistry Companions, and teacher office hours.
• Friends of Franklin Foundation Primary fundraising organization for the school pursuing philanthropic support and managing resources. 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID: 83-2479067) that pursues donations from alumni, parents, foundations, and corporate sponsors to bridge the gap between MFP state funding and the full educational experience.
• BFHS Alumni Association Alumni organization fostering a connected alumni community to preserve and promote scholastic excellence and traditions. Enacts its mission through membership dues, Gift to School awards, reunion seed money, and scholarships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of graduates enter college
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of New Orleans (UNO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership providing dual enrollment courses (Pre-Calculus, Media Arts, Philosophy), library access (Earl K. Long Library with JSTOR, EBSCO access), and wireless internet on campus. Students can also take classes at UNO's facility.
• Louisiana State University (LSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSU STEM Pathways program offering two certificate tracks: Pre-Engineering (Intro to Engineering Design DE, Intro to Computational Thinking, Introduction to Robotics, Principles of Engineering) and Digital Design & Emergent Media (Digital Storytelling, Programming for Digital Media, Coding for the Web, Video Game Design, Digital Image & Motion Graphics, Media Arts II: Filmmaking).
• Loyola University New OrleansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecently launched DE Mass Communications class in partnership with Loyola's Journalism department, taught by Loyola faculty members on the Franklin campus.
• New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproximately 40 students attend NOCCA's half-day program, spending mornings at Ben Franklin and afternoons at NOCCA. Students graduate from both institutions and attend highly selective colleges.
• Regional Transit Authority (RTA)minorOthersProvides free public transportation to students living more than a mile from campus through Youth Jazzy Passes (31-day unlimited passes) or tokens, with the school coordinating distribution through the parent PowerSchool portal.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BASIS Charter Schools: Network of high-performing public charter schools (and BASIS Independent private campuses) known for rigorous AP-heavy curricula and top-tier college placement. Comparable as a college-prep charter operator competing on academic outcomes and AP breadth.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: High-performing New York City public charter school network with a strict selective admissions process, strong test scores, and AP-heavy academic programming. Comparable to Franklin as a results-driven, selective-admissions urban public charter high school.
• New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA): Louisiana public arts conservatory high school that partners with Franklin (~40 students attend both institutions simultaneously). Comparable as a New Orleans-area selective public high school serving academically and artistically talented students.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Public Charter Schools: One of the largest U.S. charter management organizations operating dozens of public charter schools, including high schools with a college-prep mission. Comparable as a charter school operator serving underserved communities with college-readiness outcomes as a key value proposition.
• Noble Network of Charter Schools: Chicago-based charter management organization operating multiple college-prep public charter high schools with a focus on college readiness for underrepresented students. Comparable as a multi-campus charter operator emphasizing college placement outcomes.

Regional players

• University Lab School (LSU): Louisiana public laboratory school affiliated with LSU offering college-preparatory curriculum to top students. Comparable as a state-level high-achieving college-prep public school competing for the same pool of academically strong Louisiana families.
• Isidore Newman School: Premier New Orleans private K-12 college-preparatory school competing for the same academically strong New Orleans families. Comparable as a New Orleans college-prep high school with selective admissions and strong college placement, though operating under a tuition-funded independent school model.
• Jesuit High School New Orleans: Selective New Orleans private Catholic college-prep high school with rigorous academics and strong college placement record. Comparable as a New Orleans college-prep high school competing for high-achieving students from the same geographic area.
• Payton College Preparatory High School: Top-ranked Chicago Public Schools selective enrollment college-prep high school, consistently ranked among the best public high schools in the U.S. Comparable as a selective public magnet college-prep high school with elite college placement outcomes.

Emerging players

• Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) High Schools: KIPP's high school campuses focus on college readiness for first-generation college students with charter-driven accountability. Comparable as a charter high school operator using extended day, college-prep curricula, and AP courses to drive college outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BenFranklinFTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/bfhsfalcons
• Instagraminstagram.com/benfranklin_hs
• Xx.com/bfhsfalcons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Benjamin Franklin High School