Franklin Academy

"I wrote my first review when I was a minor. It left out important details and events. After visiting friends and their families who share my experience, I think it's time to update. I have been going to this school for a longer time than any high school. I went because it was supposed to help out with people who had minor troubles regarding social life. While it had its benefits, it had many glaring problems that disturb the experience. I was physically assaulted in an unprovoked attack by another student. The staff did nothing about it, never even had the student apologize. The other student finally left a year later after abusing another student. Tuition is super expensive, higher than Ivy League colleges. Athletics are poor and there is no good gym. When my friends and I noticed, we discussed it with staff. But instead of them trying to mend the problems, they dismissed as us being 'negative' and that a solution could be us just being “positive." This underlines a problem that causes many staff and students to leave after only being there for a short time. In fact, many of the well-liked staff leave after only working there for a few years. Despite them preaching social skills, the staff have acted rudely to students and clearly broke their own code. Often they invalidate students' feelings and experiences. One of them mocked my good friend for his political views in supporting a less-popular presidential candidate.  Some staff tolerate students who engage in harassment and abuse, while condemning the students who speak out. This is something that people should know about. One major problem, which was the nail in the coffin for my family, is the fact that the staff report many things to parents that often aren’t true.  After sending home the report, they later backtrack and say it was a misunderstanding, but only after telling parents. This has happened to me and my friends before, which makes us justifiably not trust the school. Again, this school has a few good aspects. It provides a somewhat safe community where people can gain more friends from both other students and teachers. The food is amazing. Even some of the staff are fantastic people. Every experience at Franklin is different yet everyone experiences glaring problems."

"Pretty good school. People are friendly and there are things to do after school. But if you are republican I would warn you not to talk politics here as I made that mistake. Also making friends is really easy at Franklin. The main reason for 4 stars and not 5 is the never ending mask mandates there that are not as strict or in place at all at other schools. But overall good place."

"I was in a difficult position in high school. I didnt have any understanding of any difficulties and how to manage such difficulties. Looking back at Franklin academy I recognize my own short comings in me putting forth a full effort in my time there but also in retrospect I did not receive any meaningful help into understanding myself and recognizing any of my core strengths and how to cope with my struggles with my own mental health. I understand that for some it does work but I find that was mostly due to the kids and social environment they were in rather than the support or education received at Franklin. Most of the staff seemed overwhelmed when kids had meltdowns and couldn't spare the attention to manage such situations appropriately. I hope one day this institution finds away to help kids more than it does just take in money."

"Franklin is a great school! The only thing is that the program won’t work if the student thinks that they do not need to change or are unwilling to accept feedback or make changes. A lot of people that end up hating it only hate it because they have to change behaviors and/or do challengeing things they have not had to do in the past. A lot of kids come into the school with a “poor me” attitude which can come from being very spoiled, and at franklin they are not going to get their way all the time. I never thought I would say I love learning, homework, and school but I was proved wrong."

"Franklin Academy is a wonderful place for students with a learning disability like myself. Franklin Academy has a tight knit and friendly community of staff and students and has helped me grow in many ways since I first started here and it has prepared me socially and academically and in other ways for life after Franklin including college and what may come after. If you are looking for a place that specializes with kids who have learning disabilities and who are on the spectrum I would highly recommend Franklin Academy."