Franklin High School (New Jersey)

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This article is about the Franklin High School in New Jersey. For others of a similar name, see Franklin High School (disambiguation)
Franklin High School
Location
500 Elizabeth Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
USA
Information
School district Franklin Township Public Schools
Principal Dr. Howard Lucks
Enrollment

1,922 (as of 2005-06)[1]
Faculty 143.4 (on FTE basis)[1]
Student:teacher ratio 13.4[1]
Type Public high school
Grades 9-12
Motto Pride & Dignity
Team name Golden Warriors
Color(s) Blue and Gold            
Newspaper The Beacon
Established 1961
Homepage School website
Image:FHS-home_picture.jpg

Franklin High School (FHS) is a comprehensive four-year public high school located at 500 Elizabeth Avenue, in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, New Jersey, United States. The high school is part of the Franklin Township Public Schools.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,922 students and 143.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.4.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The original Franklin High School, now Franklin Middle School, was opened in 1961. Prior to that, the district sent its high school students to Princeton High School, Bound Brook High School, Highland Park High School, and New Brunswick High School among others. The original Franklin High School was designed to accommodate 1,600 students. By the mid 1990s, the student population had grown to over 2,000 making overcrowding a serious issue. In 2001, the residents of Franklin Township voted for the construction of a new High School. Construction began in 2003 and finished in September 2005. In that same month, the new Franklin High School opened its doors.

[edit] Alma Mater

Mem'ries are dear when we sing Franklin High
Enter to learn, we'll go forth to serve her well
Years will pass by for us, names left behind
Yet we will stay with you, pleasant thoughts in mind
For it's you that we love, for our years spent with alma mater

[edit] Academics

[edit] Courses

FHS offers a wide selection of courses to suite all types of students. Honors level courses in the core content areas and in the areas of the Fine and Performing Arts and of Technology. The school offers business and vocational programs offering training and practical application in real world situations. Students can earn certification in Cisco Systems, acquire television production and studio recording skills, and participate in a variety of internship and co-op experiences offered through local area businesses. Students may chose to attend Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School either part-time or full-time. There students learn the core curriculum along with various skills such as auto shop and culinary arts.

The school offers an open Advanced Placement Program (AP) college-level courses. Any student can register for an AP course as along as he has completed the prerequisites. For example, it is not uncommon for sophomores to take AP United States History. The AP courses FHS has are (as of the 07-08 school year):

Certain students who have completed the majority of courses in a department have a chance to take college courses in local colleges. In the past, seniors have taken courses in Princeton University, Rutgers University, and Raritan Valley Community College.

[edit] Curriculum

Franklin High School students need to earn a total of 120 credits to be eligible for graduation. The vast majority of the year-long courses give 5 credits each while a half-year course offers 2.5 credits. The exceptions to this rule are the science classes with labs. An extra credit is given for each lab day in the 5-day cycle. Honors science classes with one lab and AP sciences classes with two labs give the students 6 and 7 credits, respectively. The credit spread for incoming classes is as follows[2]:

Department Minimum Credits
Language Arts 20
Mathematics 15
Science 15
Social Studies 15
Physical Education, Health, or JROTC 20
Visual and Performing Arts 5
World Language 5
Career Education or Life Skills 5
Electives 20
Total Minimum Credits 120

[edit] Academic excellence

Franklin High School students have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program, Advance Placement Scholar Awards, Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Program.

[edit] Athletics

Franklin High School competes in the Skyland Conference, which is comprised of nineteen public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County, Somerset County and Warren County in west central New Jersey and operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

[edit] Extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities provide an excellent medium for FHS students to explore their interests, learn, and help the community. Most "clubs" meet after school when additional buses are available for after school transportation. Some clubs such as Brass Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, and Model United Nations meet at night, in which cases the students are responsible for their own transportation. Clubs offered at Franklin High School include:[3]
Note: Some information may be inaccurate due to clubs forming or dissipating late in the year and sparse updates for the website.

[edit] Administration

Members of the school administration are[4]:

  • Howard J. Lucks - Principal
  • Peter Fland - Vice Principal Guidance and Data Processing
  • Rod Brundidge - Vice Principal Grade 12
  • Charles Searson - Vice Principal Grade 11
  • Yolanda Toney-Lockley - Vice Principal Grade 10
  • Evelyn Rutledge - Vice Principal Grade 9

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Franklin High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 23, 2008.
  2. ^ Franklin High School Course of Study, accessed September 11, 2006
  3. ^ Clubs and Activities, accessed May 11, 2007
  4. ^ Franklin High School Staff, accessed March 9, 2008.

[edit] External links