Skip to main content

Very Good

#377 of 1,815 schools in CO

Top 21% in state

Ben Franklin Academy

Elementary School · Douglas County School District No. Re 1

2270 PLAZA DR, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Charter

Enrollment

879

Student-Teacher

19.1:1

Score

7.8

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#377 of 1,815

In Highlands Ranch

#21 of 26

public schools

In district

#39 of 88

Douglas County School District No. Re 1

Academic growth

8.6 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Ben Franklin Academy?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Ben Franklin Academy

7.8/10

Elementary School in Highlands Ranch · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Stem School Highlands Ranch

7.4/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Littleton Academy

9.0/10

1.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Ben Franklin Academy

Ben Franklin Academy is a public elementary school in Highlands Ranch, CO, part of Douglas County School District No. Re 1. Ben Franklin Academy serves approximately 879 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio.

Ben Franklin Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #377 of 1,815 schools in CO. Structured state assessment records for Ben Franklin Academy show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2022) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2021).

How it compares0.3 pts above district
  • This school 7.8 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.5
  • CO avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Ben Franklin Academy is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-2.13 pts/yr
Data Period2011–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.3Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency58% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency62% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency60% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)58% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+2.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile74th
Resources & Environment5.1Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,942
Chronic Absenteeism16.4%

Ben Franklin Academy — Students at Ben Franklin Academy score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

9.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 63.8% (multi-year average, 2011-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 70.0% (multi-year average, 2011-2021)
School
State
N/A

Based on 23 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2011
Math
87%
ELA
84%
2012
Math
86%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
85%
ELA
89%
2014
Math
50%
ELA
58%
2015
Math
55%
ELA
49%
2016
Math
55%
ELA
60%
2017
Math
56%
ELA
69%
2018
Math
60%
ELA
76%
2019
Math
60%
ELA
76%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
58%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.6/10.

How Ben Franklin Academy Compares

See how Ben Franklin Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
79th percentile in CO
Academic
8.3/10
Excellent
Growth
8.6/10
Excellent
Environment
5.1/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
9%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
46 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2270 PLAZA DR, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ben Franklin Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Littleton Academy (rated 9.0/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Littleton), which scores notably higher. Another option is Eldorado Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Northridge Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Highlands Ranch, see our Highlands Ranch schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.7 mi
School Distance Rating
STEM School Highlands Ranch Highlands Ranch 1.0 mi 7.4
Littleton Academy Littleton 1.2 mi 9.0
Trailblazer Elementary School Highlands Ranch 1.4 mi 8.3
Eldorado Elementary School Highlands Ranch 1.5 mi 9.0
Thunderridge High School Highlands Ranch 1.7 mi 8.0
Ranch View Middle School Highlands Ranch 1.9 mi 7.9
MACKINTOSH ACADEMY Littleton 2.1 mi 7.5
Heritage High School Littleton 2.0 mi 7.9
Runyon Elementary School Littleton 2.1 mi 8.2
Coyote Creek Elementary School Highlands Ranch 2.2 mi 8.3
Saddle Ranch Elementary School Highlands Ranch 2.1 mi 8.0
Northridge Elementary School Highlands Ranch 1.9 mi 8.6
ST MARY LITTLETON Littleton 2.5 mi 5.0
Stone Mountain Elementary Highlands Ranch 2.5 mi 8.6
Bear Canyon Elementary School Highlands Ranch 2.3 mi 6.6
John Wesley Powell Middle School Littleton 2.3 mi 8.2
ARMA DEI ACADEMY Highlands Ranch 2.7 mi 5.6
Euclid Middle School Littleton 2.9 mi 7.8
Hopkins Elementary School Centennial 2.7 mi 8.1
Columbine Hills Elementary School Littleton 2.7 mi 6.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80129 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$136,915

Median Home Value

$643,400

Median Rent

$2,283/mo

Population

29,495

College Educated

63%

Homeownership

71.5%

Avg Commute

23.9 min

Poverty Rate

3.3%

Median Age

41.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Highline Academy Northeast Denver, CO 7.8
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER Denver, CO 7.8
Leman Classical Academy Parker, CO 7.8
New Summit Charter Academy Colorado Springs, CO 7.8
Shaffer Elementary School Littleton, CO 7.8
Bear Creek Elementary School Monument, CO 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ben Franklin Academy

What grades does Ben Franklin Academy serve?

Ben Franklin Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Ben Franklin Academy?

Ben Franklin Academy has an enrollment of approximately 879 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Franklin Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Ben Franklin Academy is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ben Franklin Academy rank in CO?

Ben Franklin Academy ranks #377 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Ben Franklin Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Ben Franklin Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ben Franklin Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Ben Franklin Academy has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2022) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2021).

Is Ben Franklin Academy a charter school?

Yes, Ben Franklin Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Ben Franklin Academy a Title I school?

No, Ben Franklin Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ben Franklin Academy?

9.1% of students at Ben Franklin Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
23 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
879
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
46
Free/Reduced Lunch
9.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Douglas County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.4%

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.