<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES OCTOBER 31, 2000 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> FRANKLIN CALIFORNIA GROWTH FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2001
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2,012,328,730
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,162,943,835
<RECEIVABLES> 16,042,867
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,178,986,702
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,486,341
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 7,338,510
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8,824,851
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,918,603,026
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,619,296
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,288,530
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (1,838,430)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 102,782,150
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,150,615,105
<NET-ASSETS> 3,170,161,851
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 12,245,089
<INTEREST-INCOME> 629,809
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (14,713,328)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (1,838,430)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (45,780,261)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 188,534,806
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 140,916,115
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,394,513
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (63,747)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 652,145,597
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 148,562,411
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (6,376,931)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (14,713,328)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,927,692,358
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 49.640
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.200)<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.980
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 52.420
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.600<F2>
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING.
<F2>ANNUALIZED
</FN>
</TABLE>
