Benjamin Franklin Middle School
| Benjamin Franklin Middle School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
335 North Van Dien Avenue Ridgewood , New Jersey 07451 United States | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, Public middle school |
| School district | Ridgewood Public Schools |
| Grades | 6–8 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Website | bf |
Benjamin Franklin Middle School is a public middle school located in Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It serves students in grades 6 through 8 and is one of two middle schools in the Ridgewood Public Schools district, alongside George Washington Middle School.
History
Originally named Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, the school was established in September 1929 following a reorganization of Ridgewood High School, during which ninth-grade students were reassigned to two newly created junior high schools within the district. The school was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
In 1955, a major addition was constructed to expand the building in response to growing enrollment and evolving educational needs in the Ridgewood community. In later decades, as educational philosophy shifted away from the traditional junior high structure, the school was renamed Benjamin Franklin Middle School and reorganized under the middle school model serving grades 6–8.
Benjamin Franklin Middle School has continued to operate as a central component of Ridgewood’s public education system for nearly a century.
Campus
The school is located at 335 North Van Dien Avenue in a residential section of Ridgewood. The campus reflects mid-20th-century institutional architecture, with the 1955 expansion significantly increasing classroom and program capacity.
Academics
Benjamin Franklin Middle School offers a comprehensive curriculum aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Core academic subjects include English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. Students also participate in related arts programs such as world languages, visual and performing arts, health, and physical education.
Academic support services include guidance counseling and a child study team, providing social, emotional, and instructional support to students. The school operates within the broader academic framework of Ridgewood Public Schools, which is recognized statewide for strong academic performance.
Student body
The school serves approximately 600–650 students in grades 6 through 8. Class sizes are relatively small compared to national averages, reflecting the district’s staffing structure and suburban enrollment patterns.
Extracurricular activities
Benjamin Franklin Middle School offers a variety of extracurricular activities and student clubs that vary annually based on student interest and faculty sponsorship. Programs typically include academic clubs, service organizations, performing arts opportunities, and intramural athletics.
Recognition
Benjamin Franklin Middle School was recognized during the 1998–99 school year as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, one of the highest distinctions awarded to American schools for academic excellence.
See also
- Ridgewood Public Schools
- Ridgewood, New Jersey
- George Washington Middle School (Ridgewood, New Jersey)
External links
References
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