School type Public, Coeducational Established 1912, 105 years ago School district Seattle Public Schools Phone +1 206-252-6150 Feeder school Asa Mercer Middle School | Motto Truth, Unity, Honor Status Open Principal Jennifer Wiley Budget 7.441 million USD Colors Black, Green | |
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Address 3013 S Mt Baker Blvd, Seattle, WA 98144, USA Similar Seattle Public Schools, Garfield High School, Cleveland High School, Rainier Beach High Sch, West Seattle High Sch | ||
Franklin High School is a public high school in the northwest United States, located in Seattle, Washington, and administered by Seattle Public Schools.
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As of the 2014-15 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,315 students and 65.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 20.2:1. There were 676 students (51.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 206 (15.7% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.
History and facilities
Franklin High School was Seattle's second purpose-built high school after Seattle High School. It first opened its doors 105 years ago in September 1912. Designed by architect Edgar Blair in a neo-Classical style, it was constructed of reinforced concrete and sited on 2.2 acres (0.9 ha). Expansions in 1925 by school district architect Floyd Naramore saw the site expanded to 10.6 acres (4.3 ha), in 1942 to 12.7 acres (5.1 ha), and in 1958 with a major addition by architect John W. Maloney that obscured the front facade of the building.
In 1986 the Seattle School Board voted to tear down the building, in part due to the cost of required seismic upgrades, which resulted in major protests by students, alumni, and the public. The Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board designated the school as an official landmark which prevented its demolition.
As part of a major renovation by Bassetti Architects in 1988-90, the 1958 addition was demolished, the school was seismically upgraded and historically restored. New additions and renovations included a new student commons, classrooms and science labs, art studios, vocational tech labs, an auditorium and stage, and a media center. Awards for this renovation included the 2001 Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, Award of Merit; 1991 AIA Seattle, Award of Commendation; and 1991 Association of King County Historical Organization, Project Award.
Academies
Franklin High School's curriculum is divided into 5 academies, the 9th Grade Academy and four Small Learning Communities) for the 10-12th Grade students: Academy of Finance (AOF), and John Stanford Public Service Academy (PSA), Humanities, and CREATE Academy. Each academy specializes in a particular study with their own mission statement and required classes.
The Academy of Finance is an integrated social studies and language arts program supported by the nationally recognized and represented National Academy Foundation. Students study world history and literature from the point of view of trade and economic development. By combining accounting, social studies, and language arts, the Academy of Finance develops skills needed in the business environment. Mastery of technology, knowledge of available resources, and good communication are prioritized.
The John Stanford Public Service and Political Science Academy (PSA), founded in 2000, is a college preparatory small learning community (SLC) that offers students a rigorous 3 year academic program that meets and exceeds state standards for Language Arts and Social Studies. State standards in LA and Social Studies are overlaid with an emphasis on the role of the public sector in societies, past and present. PSA students are challenged to develop their critical thinking skills and to develop their own vision of the role that they and their government should take in confronting the opportunities and problems of their local, national, and international communities. The PSA combines Public Service and Political Science (the study of law, government and NGOs, history, political systems, etc.).
The Humanities is also a college preparatory academy. This academy is considered the best academy in Franklin High School's history. The classes consist of integrated Language Arts and Social Studies classes with special emphasis on project-based learning, the history of art and culture, and rigorous skills and content development. The Humanities program covers history through the lens of humanism starting in the Italian Renaissance and following through to modern times.
The CREATE Academy focuses on three subject: math, language arts, and woodshop. The approach is to relate these subjects to the different aspects of the building trades to prepare students for both university studies and work in the trades.