| Franklin High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 500 Elizabeth Avenue Somerset, NJ 08873 USA |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Motto | Pride & Dignity |
| Established | 1961 |
| School district | Franklin Township Public Schools |
| Principal | Dr. Neely Hackett |
| Vice principal | Ammon Barksdale (acting) Rod Brundidge Anna Washington |
| Faculty | 145.3 (on FTE basis)[1] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 2,051 (as of 2008-09)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14.1[1] |
| Color(s) | Blue and Gold |
| Athletics conference | Skyland Conference |
| Team name | Warriors |
| Newspaper | 'The Warrior' |
| Website | School website |
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 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,051 students and 145.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.1.[1]
The school was the 201st-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools. The school was ranked 150th in the magazine's September 2008 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[2]
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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 2002 and finished in September 2005. In that same month, the new Franklin High School opened its doors.
Among the persons in recent years who have served as Principal of Franklin High School are Orville Wilson, Dr. Howard Lucks, and currently Dr. Neely Hackett.
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
Our years with dear Franklin High
FHS offers a wide selection of courses to suit 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.
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[3]:
| 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 |
Franklin High School students have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program, Advance Placement Scholar Awards, Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Program.
Franklin High School competes in the Skyland Conference, which comprises 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).
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:[4]
Note: Some information may be inaccurate due to clubs forming or dissipating late in the year and sparse updates for the website.
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Members of the school administration are:[5]
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