Falcons Soar!

10 Reasons Franklin Stands Out

Falcons CARE

Our Falcons CARE matrix recognizes students for being Connected, Accountable, Responsible, and Empathetic.  Teachers recognize students with CARE cards and students are entered into a weekly raffle to win prizes and be in our weekly community newsletter.

Theater Program

Franklin’s Theatre Arts program provides opportunities for students to participate in the process of creating a musical. Students take leadership roles both on and off stage, and grow into thriving young theatre artists, who continue their theatre education at Oakton, Chantilly, and the Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts. Franklin produces 2 high-quality musicals each year, and we are often invited to perform at community events. Franklin Theatre Arts students uphold a standard of excellence and take pride in their work. 

Commitment to a Green Campus

Franklin has a rich history of nurturing green spaces and fostering environmental awareness.  Our Get2Green Eco Club has transformed the front of the school by installing five metal raised garden beds, planting bulbs and mums around the flagpole, and planting trees near our retention pond.  Additionally, Franklin students in our Eco Club maintain a pollinator’s garden, rain garden, and two vertical garden walls near the front entrance.  These improvements to our campus represent a commitment to nature and instilling an appreciation to the environment in our students.

Students as Leaders

At Franklin MS, we see students as important leaders of our school.  The Leadership Class and Principal’s Advisory Committee help to guide school initiatives and events.  The Student Ambassador program trains students to be tutors and help out their peers during advisory.  Students also take part in designing advisory lessons that every student in the school participates in.

Strong Student Services Department

Franklin MS Counselors pride themselves on being a connected and trusted adult in our students’ lives. Last year, our counseling team was recognized as one of the top 5 middle schools in Virginia to have students identify their counselor as a trusted adult through the School Survey of Climate! Our team of 3 counselors work with all students through classroom lessons, support groups of students in developing specific social, emotional, and/or academic skills through small group lessons, and work with students 1:1 as needed to ensure all students are finding success and reaching their potential when here at Franklin MS.

Annual Author Visits

At Franklin Middle School, students can meet some of their favorite authors!  FMS hosts an annual author visit, where authors such as Stuart Gibbs and Jennifer Nielsen give school-wide presentations that inspire our students to imagine where their own reading and writing can take them.  Additionally, students have the opportunity to speak with authors in small group workshops or book clubs, and to connect with authors one-on-one while having their book signed.

Music Program

The Franklin Music Program has grown by more than 50% over the past three years.  All performing groups consistently receive superior and excellent ratings during their Virginia Middle School Assessment performances.  Additionally, each year Franklin is represented by students participating in All-District Band, All-District Orchestra, All-District and All-State Chorus, and solo and ensemble festivals.  Students in the music program also participate in the annual performance and amusement park field trip every spring!

Level IV Cluster School

The Full-Time AAP students who opt to stay at Franklin are placed together in specially coded sections of honors English, science, and social studies classes with AAP endorsed teachers. These teachers recognize that gifted learners have individualized learning needs and often need different ways to demonstrate their understanding. At the core of our program is our problem-based learning activities like Schools of the Future, Imperialism Simulation, and the Independent Research Project which allow the students to explore the connection among the content areas while building their critical thinking skills and develop their writing abilities. Some of the reasons parents report for sending their full-time eligible students to Franklin is that the smaller program:

• provides students more opportunities to shine,
• reduces the academic pressure and associated anxiety,
• enables students to stay with their neighborhood peers, and
• curtails competition for allotted TJ spaces.

After School Program

Our after-school program provides additional support of structured academic and non-academic activities, so that students can be an engaged and productive member of our school and our community. The Franklin After-School Program offers a wide range of clubs and activities for all students. There is Lego and Vex Robotics, Basketball, Ping Pong Club, Cupcake Wars, MathCounts, STEM Bootcamp, Volleyball and more being added throughout the school year. Our highlights this fall have been our 8 Week-STEM Bootcamp and our Ping Pong Tournament that has the buzz going in the After-School Program. The program runs 5 days a week with Late Buses running Monday-Thursday.

Expanding HS Credit Math Course Access

Franklin is committed to supporting the FCPS goal of increased enrollment in high school credit Math Classes by 8th grade.  We participate in the Algebra Access Network Improvement Community and this year we have over 75% of 8th grade students enrolled in a high school credit math class.