Franklin High School
General Information

Principal
Mrs. Willie Dickerson

Assistant Principal/Administrative Assistant
Christian Niemeyer

Nikki Patton

Marlon Ruck

Theodore Robinson


 

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Part 1:  Profile

Introduction

This section of our school improvement plan provides an overview of student performance data, student and community demographic data, school characteristics, and stakeholder perspectives on the quality of education at Franklin high School.

STATISTICAL DATA

GRADING SYSTEM

Numerical grades are given in all classes for each 9-weeks’ grading period.  Letter grades are recorded on transcripts (1994-95 and later).  For Advanced Placement (AP) courses, teachers add five (5) points to each 9-weeks’ numerical average.  For Honors courses, teachers add three (3) points to each 9-weeks’ numerical average.  Additional quality points are added to Honors and AP grades to determine the GPA (effective the 1994-95 school year).  The GPA determines class rank.  Class rank includes all subjects given school credit beginning with the first semester of the 9th grade and ending with the second semester of the 12th grade.  Prior to 2000 – 2001, class rank and GPA were calculated only on the work completed in the Williamson County School System.  

School Characteristics

Franklin, founded in 1799, in Williamson County, Tennessee, is an established community with deep roots.  The county covers 583 square miles and has a population of 153,000.  Since 1990, the county has experienced extraordinary population growth.  The incorporated city of Franklin has a population of 50,000.  Just over 27,000 students between the ages of 5-18 are enrolled in county schools; approximately 9,200 are enrolled in high school.  Franklin High School is the oldest and largest public high school in historical Williamson County currently serving 1,801 students. Franklin High is a public high school with a long history of community traditions.  It was established in 1910 with 20 students and 2 teachers.  The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools first accredited the school in 1941, when there were 13 teachers and a senior class of 53 students; and this accreditation has continued to the present time.  The school came into existence in 1910 and began with only two classrooms within the Franklin Grammar School located at Five Points in Franklin. The original school had thirty-seven students and employed two teachers, A.J. Haun and Nella Shea.  By 1923, due to an increase in enrollment, the school was moved to the Harrison home located on the corner of Main and Fifth Street. The area continued to grow and in 1925, the city of Franklin issued bonds for the construction of a new building. This new building opened in 1926 and was located on Columbia Avenue.  The school was completed and furnished for $125,000. The building remained in the same location until it was destroyed by fire in 1956. After the fire, the Williamson County School Board decided to relocate Franklin High School to the 28 acre Joel Cheek property on Hillsboro Road. This new school was completed for $1.1 million. The building, which was completed in the Fall of 1957 opened with 507 students. Over the next three decades, several additions and renovations were undertaken to expand the student capacity and improve the structure; however, due to an increase in student enrollment and deteriorating conditions within the structure, the Board decided to build a new structure on the same campus. In June of 2004, construction began on the new $21 million building. Construction was completed ahead of schedule, and students entered the new building in January of 2006.

Although he school building is located on the edge of the city of Franklin and faces a busy highway, it has an almost bucolic setting because of the lush green land that borders the back of the building.  The 43-acre tract on which the building is located has athletic facilities for a wide variety of outdoor sports, 763 parking spaces plus 250 in the “East Forty” for students and spaces for faculty, staff, and visitors.  The total campus is attractively landscaped, and its appearance is further enhanced by seasonal plantings and high quality maintenance.

The building covers nearly 270,000 square feet, and the construction is described as two-story concrete masonry with brick veneer.  It has a standard seam metal roof with the exception of the spacious atrium which is covered with Cal-Wall that gives the impression of translucent sky lights.  In addition to comfortable up-to-date equipped classrooms including cutting edge technology, the building has two gymnasia (one of which has ample bleacher seating for regional contests), a student-friendly media center, and a cafeteria and auditorium that spatially accommodate the students.  Both the back and front entrances have two-story non-fluted Corinthian columns.  The overall appearance of the building and the facilities are a source of pride for the students, the teachers, and the community.

In 2000, Franklin High School became the first school in Tennessee to be accepted into the International Baccalaureate Program. There are currently 105 students involved in the program; 34 Freshmen and 41 Sophomores in Pre-IB classes and 19 Junior and 11 seniors.  Inclusion of special education students into regular classes has been expanded over the past four years. The Building Leadership Team is in place, which represents each department throughout the school. The school also utilizes various committees throughout the school year to analyze and interpret data to improve the school.  Franklin High School schedules an eight period day, thus allowing students more choice for electives as well as the addition of a Privilege Activity period for juniors and seniors to have added choices each day. Technology is widely utilized throughout the building. The building utilizes a wireless system throughout the building; therefore, teachers and students have internet capabilities throughout the building. There are four computer labs for students to utilize as well as three mobile labs. Each classroom contains a computer docking station and LCD projector.  Each teacher has been assigned a laptop computer for the 2007-2008 school year to be utilized in the classroom and that can be utilized at home as well.  Attendance and grades are recorded electronically and in October 2006, a new program called K12 Planet was launched. This program allows parents to check student grades by computer from home.

The typical school day for students is 7.5 hours and includes eight periods ranging from 47-53 minutes in length.  The length of the school year is 180 days.

Safety is a high priority item at the school.  The Williamson County Police Department provides cross-walk guards (uniformed traffic directors) at two locations before and after school, and the Sheriff’s Department has assigned Danny Booker to serve as a Resource Officer.  A very strict protocol is followed when students leave school before the regular dismissal time including parental or guardianship contact.  All visitors are required to sign in, and students who are enrolling after the start of school must have the appropriate documentation which includes withdrawal forms, birth certificate, social security card, immunization records, and verification of residence.  Under some circumstances proof of custody is required. The school assumes the responsibility for requesting transcripts.  If a visitor were to enter the building during a change of classes, he or she most likely would see an example of “Teen-age America” on the move in an orderly and reasonably courteous manner.  Administrators and teachers are regularly seen in the halls and often engaged with the students.

Staff Characteristics

The current faculty numbers 123 with more than half holding advanced degrees.  The demographics of the faculty and staff during 2006-2007 were 33% male and 67% female.  Of this population, 89% were white, 9% were African-American and 4% were Hispanic which closely parallels the student population.  The Asian population was not a significant percentage.  All Franklin High School staff members within the core curriculum are highly qualified.  As shown in Table 5, Franklin High School teachers average 15 years experience.

A school climate survey was completed by the Franklin High School staff in the spring of 2006.  The survey acknowledged areas of strengths and weaknesses within the school.  The highest area averages were instruction and involvement.  This year the biggest increases were in the environment and expectations components of the survey.  The survey supported the beliefs that the school is a safe place for staff and students.  The survey also acknowledged that teachers utilize a variety of teaching strategies and that the faculty and staff share a sense of vision for the school.

Table 5 

Degrees and Teaching Experience of Staff

Community Characteristics

The community data available is a reflection of all of Williamson County.  Franklin High School is unique in that the school community reflects both a segment of Williamson Country as well as the City of Franklin within the county.  Because the data is reported in this manner, the community data is not a true reflection of our school, however, we have discovered through our survey questions that the data does provide a close resemblance to the area actually served by the school.  Because of this close resemblance, the community data is presented in this manner.  Results of the survey can be seen under the Parent/Guardian demographics heading. 

Between the years of 2000 to 2005, the county experienced a 21% population growth.  The racial composition of the county is predominately white (92%) with approximately 5% African –American, 3% Hispanic, and 2% Asian and other races.  In 2003, the average household income of homes within Williamson County was approximately $76,000 with less than 5% of households living below the poverty level.  The per pupil expenditures for Williamson County for the past two years have been $7,145.

The community provides many opportunities for education and enrichment.  Within the county, there are six libraries, numerous churches, theaters, historical sites, and an active park and recreation service.  A high percentage of the population strongly supports their favorite athletic teams.  Parental support for the school is exemplary.  Some of their activities include serving daily as hostesses, manning the gates and concession stands at athletic contests, donating $30,000 to the school, providing gifts for the students and refreshments for the faculty at special events, and volunteering in the library, the guidance department, the teacher workroom, and the class rooms.  The parents reflect an “I get to do this” rather than an “I have to do this” attitude and appear to be genuine in their appreciation for the administrators and the total school staff.

According to Table 6, approximately 31% of Williamson County residents have acquired a bachelor’s degree, and 17% have completed a graduate or professional degree. Almost 20% of county residents have a minimum of a high school diploma and an equal number have attended some college, but did not receive a degree. Ninety-two (92%) have obtained at least a high school diploma whereas 72.9% have had some college experience.  Just two decades ago Williamson County was considered an agrarian society; however, today it more readily resembles a suburban area.

Williamson County - Franklin, TN Chamber of Commerce

Williamson County Government

Williamson Works

City of Franklin Website

   Table 6

 Parent/Guardian Perspective and Demographics

A parent survey was given in order to better understand the demographics of our parent population.  The survey indicated that 76% of our students live with both a mother and father in the home, while nearly 17% live only with their mother.  More then 26% of the parents indicated a household income of more than $150,000, while another 21% of the parents have a household income ranging from $20,000-$50,000.  Fewer than 5% of our students come from a home in which the household income is below $20,000.

FRANKLIN

Franklin, founded in 1799, in Williamson County, Tennessee, is an established community with cultural roots.  Around the town suburban growth is fast-paced.  The county, which covers 583 square miles, has a population of 145,000.  Between the years of 1990 and 2000, the county experienced a 56 % population growth.  Franklin is the largest incorporated area within the county with a population of 50,000.  Approximately 23,450 students are enrolled in county schools, between the ages of 5 and 18; approximately 8,400 students are enrolled in high school.  The median household income is $72,031.

FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL

Franklin High School has a long and rich history of providing education to the young people of Williamson County.  It began in 1910 with twenty students and two teachers in a few upstairs rooms of the Franklin Institute, the old Franklin Elementary School, located at Five Corners.  That first Franklin High School graduated three students in 1912.  One of the early principals was an educator by the name of Miss Nell Shea.  In the fall of 1926, the new Franklin High School opened its doors on a site atop a hill on Columbia Avenue. G.E. Craddock was the principal when this move was made, and he carried with him a staff of ten teachers and a senior class of 33.  Courses taught included English, math, history, science, French, Latin, home economics and manual arts, taught by Mr. Craddock, the principal.  In 1936, W.C. Yates became principal of Franklin High School.  In addition to serving as principal, Mr. Yates also taught agriculture.  In 1941, when FHS first became accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, it had 13 teaching staff members and a senior class of 53.  Mr. Daly Thompson, who earlier had served as superintendent of schools while teaching Bible and science at Franklin High School, became principal in the early 1950's.

In 1955, Barry Sutton became principal, and it was during his first year, January 1956, that the building on Columbia Avenue burned, leaving only the gym and a few basement classrooms standing.  Local church buildings were pressed into service until a new building was constructed on the present site.  It consisted of 19 classrooms, a gym, cafeteria, library, study hall, offices and three shops.  With a staff of 19 and a senior class of 72, Mr. Sutton and Franklin High School moved into the new building over the Thanksgiving holidays in 1957.  During Mr. Sutton's tenure, the building was enlarged, and by 1967 the senior class numbered 184 with a teaching staff of 45.  Carl Owen served as principal for one year, 1967-68, and it was during his administration that Natchez High School and Franklin High School were combined, with both campuses housing Franklin High School students.  Mr. D.W. Sanders became principal in the fall of 1968, and in 1971 Carl Pike became principal.  During his tenure, another addition was added to the building, and by 1981 the senior class numbered 442.  In 1982 Brentwood High School was opened, pulling most of its student body from the ranks of Franklin High School.  Bob Lawson, formerly an assistant principal and guidance counselor, became principal of FHS in 1987, and during his year of service, another major addition and renovation project was inaugurated.

 In 1988 Doug Crosier was named principal and the 9.5 million dollar renovation and addition was completed.  Franklin High continued its steady growth, so much so that the new Centennial High School opened in 1996 to accommodate the growing Franklin/Williamson County area.  Dr. John Calton was appointed as principal for the 2000-01 school year.  After Dr. Calton resigned in the summer of 2001, Dr. Linda Miller became the principal for one year.   

 In the summer of 2002 Mrs. Willie Dickerson was appointed the current head principal.  Franklin High School's tradition of excellence established over the past 93 years has continued.  Over the past five years, 14 students have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, and test scores have remained well above state and national averages.  In 2000 Franklin High became the first high school in Tennessee to be accepted as an affiliate member of the International Baccalaureate Program.  In July 2004 the IB organization announced that all ten of the first IB graduates were awarded IB diplomas.  Franklin High also excels outside the classroom, with a nationally recognized band program, active forensic and vocal music programs, numerous student clubs and organizations, and competitive athletic programs in every sport sanctioned by the TSSAA, including 10 state championships in women’s soccer in the past 11 years.  Today the school numbers over 1700 students.

 During the summer of 2004 construction for a new 18 million dollar building began in front of the old building built in 1957.  Most of the 400 Hallway was demolished, the building reconfigured for the main entrance in the back, and ten portables positioned behind the Field House to carry on instruction.  Faculty, staff and students moved into the new building in January 2006.

Statistical Data