Franklin County High School (Kentucky)

Franklin County High School is the largest of three public high schools in Frankfort, Kentucky and is one of two high schools operated by Franklin County Public Schools.^[3] The campus also houses the Franklin County Career & Technical Center, which offers vocational training. The principal of the school is Stirling "Buddy" Sampson.

History

Franklin County High was opened in the fall of 1958 and dedicated on November 30 of that year. It consolidated Elkhorn, Bridgeport, Bald Knob, Thornhill, and Peaks Mill High Schools. Franklin County is named for Benjamin Franklin, and the high school's mascot, the Flyer, was chosen in honor of Franklin's kite experiment. The mascot itself is a bird named "Freddie Falcon".

In 1981, the Franklin County district was split into two high school attendance zones with the opening of Western Hills High School, with Franklin County High now serving primarily the eastern half of the county, including eastern portions of the city of Frankfort. The central part of the city is served by a separate district, Frankfort Independent Schools, which operates the other public high school in the county, Frankfort High School.

in 1990, science classrooms and some math classrooms were enlarged, two computer labs were added, and the library was expanded. A more extensive renovation project began in the summer of 1997 and continued uninterrupted through the summer of 2001. The facade was updated, the original band room and administrative offices were torn down, and the original bus circle was removed. New music classrooms, practice rooms, business classrooms, and offices were constructed. Also added were a new center hallway on both the first and second floors; the second floor hallway connects the original front wing with the back foyer. The cafeteria, auditorium, and gymnasium also were updated, and the library and the remaining original classrooms were enlarged.^[4]

In late 2015 Franklin County High School was featured in a national OxiClean commercial. The first of the two 30-second commercials is called "Pride", and it features the team's members and equipment manager sharing their enthusiasm for OxiClean and how clean the team's uniforms look.^[5]

Academics

FCHS offers three diploma choices for students: Enrichment and Academic The Enrichment Diploma requires 15.5 core units and 11.5 elective units. The Academic option requires 18.5 core units and 10.5 elective units. Students are graded on a 4-point GPA scale.^[6]

JROTC

There is an Air Force Junior ROTC Wing at the school. KY-20021 supports the school by providing Color Guards for home football and basketball games. The Color Guard has presented flags flown over the capital for former congressman Ben Chandler at Hearn Elementary, and also participated in the 2007 Inauguration Parade for the former Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear and the 2015 Inauguration Parade for current Governor Matt Bevin

The rifle exhibition team, started in 2005, has performed for the school, a Kentucky State University football game at halftime, and various elementary schools in the area. A Kitty Hawk Air Society chapter, named the William H. Cornish Chapter, is also in place.

Along with color guard, drill, and rifle exhibition, the unit also has a Raiders team.

AFJROTC Unit KY-20021 has attended multiple summer leadership schools, and the cadets have won numerous awards.

Athletics

The school is a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA). FCHS offers its students the opportunity to participate in multiple sports:

• Boys and girls:
  • Cheerleading (not governed by KHSAA), **Basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, track and field, tennis
• Boys:
  • Baseball, football, wrestling
• Girls:

Dance Team (not governed by KHSAA), softball, volleyball The athletics program is led by Tracy Spickard.^[7]

The school's gymnasium, tennis court, football stadium/track, baseball, softball and soccer fields are located behind the school. A training facility with locker rooms and a weight room is found beside the football stadium.

The Flyers' main rivals are the Western Hills Wolverines and the Frankfort Panthers.

The Flyers have a rich history in athletics, with multiple teams and individuals competing for statewide championships through its history.

Team records

Individual records

Band

The Franklin County Band comprises multiple diverse ensembles which as many students feel as a prestigious honor of being apart of. The band is currently led under the direction of Josh Toppass who is an alumnus of FCHS and Associate Band Director Chris Collins who is the band director at Elkhorn Middle School. The band annually participates in the Kentucky Music Educators Association district assessments toward the end of the school year which the concert bands have fulfilled distinguished ratings over the years and continues to do so.

Marching band

The Flyer Marching Band has made an appearance in the KMEA marching competition in past times but has since discontinued it for unknown reasons. FCHS is 1 in 5 High Schools in the entire state of Kentucky that is known for having a Pre-Game which features both the Fight Song and National Anthem. The High School is widely known for its highly distinguished drumline cadences written by former students Aaron Graham and Quinn Blandford. The cadences are so influential that adjacent High School have started to use them as well. When in off season the band makes appences in Basketball Games and Seasonal Concerts for the public. Since the High School is located in the Capital City the band is usually seen at Governor's Inauguration during parades and Christmas parades.

Fight song

The Franklin County High Fight Song is mostly played at sporting events where the school's band is present, mainly football and basketball games. As the band begins to play the song, fans stand up, clap and sing along with the music.

Lyrics

Fight, fight, fight, blue, white and gold

We're going to fly right in and make that goal

Hail to the Flyer team, more glory to our name

Rah, rah, rah

Up, up, way up in the sky

To win a Flyer victory

For win or loose, we will choose

Dear Franklin County High

F-C-H-S^[20]

Alma mater

The school's Alma Mater is not as widely known as the fight song and is mainly played at graduation and other scholarly events. The "Avenue of Trees" referenced in the song describes the tall oak trees lining the shared driveway between the school and Elkhorn Middle School from the entrance at East Main Street. However, this entrance was closed and no longer exists because of traffic re-routing. Both schools now have separate entrances to alleviate traffic.

Unlike many high schools which use re-written lyrics to popular college songs, both Franklin County's Fight Song and Alma Mater are original works by the school's first band director, David Livingston.

Lyrics

Our alma mater here's to thee,

In our green Avenue of Trees.

Standing beneath the eastern sky,

To thrill each heart that passes by.

In our memory you will be,

Ever present and dear to me.

Through the years it will be my constant plea,

Franklin County Stand by me.^[20]

Notable alumni

• Elizabeth Hulette, better known as the wrestling valet Miss Elizabeth
• Jeff Bradford, better known as the wrestling valet Prettyboy
• Teresa Russell,1989 (Singer)

References