Welcome to Benjamin Franklin High School

It is a pleasure to welcome you to our website. I hope you enjoy your electronic tour, and eventually take the time to visit us in person and see why we are so proud of Ben Franklin High School.

There is something special about this place. It is found in the hallways, the classrooms, and the playing fields. It is witnessed in the achievements of every member of our Franklin Family. It is a spirit that fosters excellence in all that we do, and, of equal importance, makes us ponder the question, "What can we do?"

More than fifty years ago, Ben Franklin High School embarked upon a bold experiment in education. As a public school, Franklin was given the mandate of meeting the educational needs of all academically high-achieving public school students in the New Orleans School District. At a time when schools were strongly chided for their lack of rigor, Franklin's public school students consistently achieved well above national standards and exceeded the expectations of even the most demanding critics.

Today, Franklin is located on the campus of the University of New Orleans. Girded by a distinguished faculty, Franklin is now a Charter School that has withstood the most difficult test of success - the test of time, as it continues to foster a superb world-class academic environment for every student. The school has consistently been cited as one of the finest high schools in the nation, (Newsweek, May 26, 2008), and has earned numerous distinctions, including the prestigious Presidential Blue Ribbon of Distinction Award. In addition, the school is famous for producing one of the highest rates of National Merit Scholars in the nation, so there should be little wonder why many of our graduates attend some of the finest universities in the country. We are recognized for our academic achievements, but also take pride in an abundant extra-curricular program that features twenty-four highly competitive sports teams and more than 30 robust clubs and activities.

Yet there is a more important reason for our success. Simply put, Franklin fosters a magnificently diverse learning environment that promotes life-long values that enrich the experience of each student. We believe that success is not necessarily measured by points or grades, but by how we work, learn, and grow together. Our purpose is to provide students with the tools to craft their own ethical compass that will help them discern right from wrong, and last them throughout their highly successful lives. One of our respected teachers shared with me these powerful words written by the late Chaim Ginott which seem to capture this important concept,

"Reading, writing and mathematics are important only if they serve to make our children more humane."

These are only a few reasons why I welcome you to our Web Site and invite you to learn more about the ineffable nature of Franklin. Please feel free to visit us, so you could see first-hand why our school is truly such a special place. It's something we call Our Spirit of Excellence.

Sincerely,

Dr. Timothy G. Rusnak, Principal/CEO