Enrollment
357
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Meriden, CT
Benjamin Franklin School
Federal NCES profile for Benjamin Franklin School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 090240000439
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benjamin Franklin School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Connecticut schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Meriden · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 62.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Benjamin Franklin School has class sizes larger than 77% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Franklin School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Meriden, CT.
School address
District: Meriden School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090240000439 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.2:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.4%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+71% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Benjamin Franklin School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at Benjamin Franklin School
Benjamin Franklin School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Meriden, Connecticut, enrolling 357 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 13.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Connecticut schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 62.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 357 students, its enrollment sits close to the Connecticut median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 142 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #53.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (51%) and White (27%) (diversity index 64/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.1% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Meriden School District spends $19,132 per pupil, 20% below the Connecticut average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Meriden's public schools, it stands alongside Nathan Hale School (485 students): Benjamin Franklin School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.2:1 vs 13.5:1).
Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students) and Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students) alongside Benjamin Franklin School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Benjamin Franklin School compares
Benjamin Franklin School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▲ 9% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.4% | ▲ 71% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 357 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
357
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 77% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,132
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.3%
White 26.6%
African American 13.2%
Two or More 7.3%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.3, Benjamin Franklin School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Meriden School District, which includes Benjamin Franklin School.
$19,132
Per student
-20%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.9%
State 54.9%
Federal 14.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Benjamin Franklin School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis T. Maloney High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orville H. Platt High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edison Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Casimir Pulaski School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benjamin Franklin School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,291
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,191
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 773
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 684
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 539
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Meriden
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nathan Hale School
Standard public school
485 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Roger Sherman School
Standard public school
457 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Hanover School
Standard public school
456 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
John Barry School
Standard public school
418 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Thomas Hooker School
Standard public school
404 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~357 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Benjamin Franklin School's federal record.
- Compare Benjamin Franklin School against another school. Compare schools
- Meriden School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Benjamin Franklin School
How many students attend Benjamin Franklin School?
Benjamin Franklin School has 357 students enrolled. It is a public school in Meriden, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Franklin School?
The student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Franklin School is 13.2:1, which is 9% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 16% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Benjamin Franklin School?
62.4% of students at Benjamin Franklin School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benjamin Franklin School?
The largest demographic group at Benjamin Franklin School is Hispanic or Latino at 51.3% of enrollment, in Meriden, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benjamin Franklin School?
Benjamin Franklin School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Benjamin Franklin School rank among schools in Meriden?
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Franklin School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Meriden, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Meriden on the city page.
Is Benjamin Franklin School a good school?
Benjamin Franklin School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Connecticut schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Meriden School District?
Besides Benjamin Franklin School, Meriden School District also operates Francis T. Maloney High School (1,291 students), Orville H. Platt High School (1,191 students), and Edison Middle School (773 students). See the Meriden School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.