Skip To Main Content

School History

🏫 A Little History of Jaguar Land

  • Benjamin Franklin Elementary School is one of several campuses named for major figures in early American history. Ben Franklin, though best known for his outdoor experiments with electricity, was also the inventor of bifocals, watertight ship bulkheads, and the lightning rod. He was also the only Founding Father to have signed all five documents that established American independence.

  • The school dates back to at least 1913, initially named Magnolia Park Public School, and was renamed Benjamin Franklin Elementary by 1916, as part of an effort by Houston ISD to establish schools named after American historical figures. The building was replaced with a new structure in 1948 and then in 1979.

  • Serving Pre-K through 5th grade, the school was situated between the Houston Ship Channel and the University of Houston, reflecting its connection to both industry and education. 

  • Today, Franklin Elementary serves about 250 students. It operates as a Title I school, receiving federal support per the Improving America’s Schools Act.

  • The school remains deeply connected to its diverse Magnolia Park community and strives to "prepare good students and good people for the future"