Franklin Academy A

I have just read all reviews on this board, and need more feedback. Our Children will be in Kinder and Second Grade (Boys) in the Fall, and have been accepted into the Cooper CIty Campus. FIrst Year, New Campus. They come from an amazing Montessori School that I love but financially at this moment is not feasible to remain there. I am a very active mom with the boys, and often would drop by speak to teachers, inquire where I could help with their lessons or in class. It seems, just by asking when I dropped off registration this is never possible at Franklin. I need to know what and how my child is learning and the lessons they do, as well as frequently speak to the teacher, Both boys are extremely advanced, and during an extremely critical stage in the learning, I am hoping that our financial difficulty and choice to place them in this school does not impair that passion of knowledge they have. Please enrolled parents help me here as we still have 2 months before school starts and I need to know more about involvement in the school, how they learn and will I ever see how things are going on campus?
—Submitted by a parent

There is NO gifted program currently for Elementary aged children, though this may change the next school year 2014-2015 but nothing has been formally announced. There will be a new program starting for the 2013-24 school year at a very basic advance level with a few courses offered for Middle school not elementary. Unfortunately there is no current benefit for transferring your child to this school if he is advance at this time. It will take a few year for these school to catch up to speed to surrounding public and charter schools. Their main focus at this moment is not education but opening up more school and finding the right teachers which will take 3-5 years. I hope this will help. FYI there is also NO functional PTA or PTO ...
—Submitted by a parent

The gifted program is just begining, and is for middle school only. My child has a tutor a couple times; in order to maintain an A average, because it's a self-study system. You figure it out yourself, or your parents or tutor can explain it to you. Unless your child is lily-white or Latin, a trained bully; and you literally live within walking distance; don't do it unless there are no other A schools around. If you don't live within walking distance, then you need to be a housewife or have a nanny do your pick-ups and drop-offs, because it will take 1/2 day. The school looks nice on the outside, but is always dirty inside. The bathrooms are filthy, no soap, no paper, ever. with mud and filth on the walls and floor, and the janitorial staff doesn't care when told. The cafeteria food is disgusting; and makes the kids throw up. The principal and admin are rude, condescending, and quite frankly not very professional. There is racism, cliques, and bullying. If however, you live near a more established clean, charter or A public school, you may want to look into it instead. No auditorium, gym, stage, so school plays are done in the cafeteria.
—Submitted by a parent

Can anyone shed some light on a gifted child transferring to this school (Cooper City location) for 3rd grade? Do they have gifted/high achieving classes and how do they handle someone transferring in to a new school?
—Submitted by a parent

We are happy to be a part of Franklin Academy since it opened. Don't believe the extreme negative feedbacks. Get a tour of the school and ask around. It is not bad to hire young teachers. They still have the education required to be a teacher. My childs' teacher is a young teacher but she brought in a different kind of energy that my child loves and the curriculum is still followed. With the common core coming in, I think young teachers will easily adapt to the new system. The school knows what it is doing.
—Submitted by a parent

Don't be fooled... this school is not as bad as some describe. There are still some kinks that need to be worked out but that is to be expected, especially in a new school. WHAT WORKS FOR SOME, MAY NOT WORK FOR OTHERS. This is a great school. It is safe, provides for a positive learning environment and offers an enriched academic program. The teachers and staff overall have been very helpful and intuitive to the students' needs. I believe EVERY school has room for improvement, no matter where you go.
—Submitted by a parent

Please take your child out of the school. We did. No experience whatsoever. If you have a child under the ESE program, it is going to be worst. I was expecting a wonderful atmosphere and it is a nightmare. It could be better in an inner city public school than here. We are not the only family not happy with teachers, staff, curriculum, etc. Avoid headaches.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school! My child has been attending this school for 2 years now. I like the single gender and I like the no homework policy - no homework as long as your child is performing well. Homework will still be given if the teacher think it is necessary for your child. Before the school opened in 2011 the principal told us "leave the teaching to us and spend quality time with your kids when they are at home". And this is what we have been doing as a family. We don't have to spend hours at night working on homework. This is a brand new school. It takes time to build your own staff. The school listens. They solved the morning traffic issue immediately at the beginning of the 2nd year. This school works for us but it may not work for others. The wait list is long for families who would like to be at Franklin. If it doesn't work for you feel free to leave. We would love for the school to have parents that would always seek on how to help rather than complain and think that the policies should be bend if it's against them.
—Submitted by a parent

The issues described are NOT due to being a new school, but rather based on the culture that is emerging in the school and due to lack of funding. Culture is based on how they conduct their business day to day.There are good teachers, some terrible, mediocre (they lack in either know how or people skills), many are inexperienced. See evidence of low funding. Don't see all students getting much on all that was advertised which include good civics. Early years are better, but missing many activities found in public schools. Franklin is not organized, a lot of lip service, but no follow through, reactive. Some classes in middle school are out of control, with teachers unable to deliver program because the students are poorly behaved.There is a lot of bullying, harrassment, and everything else that happens in public schools too..but it's not communicated openly. Walk the halls enough times and you will hear bad language, middle schoolers kissing, bouncing balls, skate boarding, texting, vandalism in restrooms. Don't be fooled - it is here too. Charters are funded 50% from public school budget and 50% privately. Weakens public, and both end weak - FL education is not good.
—Submitted by a parent

PLEASE PARENTS KEEP YOUR CHILD AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL, THIS YEAR WAS A NIGHTMARE FOR OUR FAMILY, VERY FEW GOOD TEACHERS AND VERY SELECTIVE WITH STUDENTS, THE ADMINISTRATION STAFF VERY RUDE, A LOT OF PROMISES AND NO RESULT 2 YEARS IS ENOUGHT
—Submitted by a parent

This is my daughter's second year with Franklin Academy. I have to say last year was a little nerve racking for us. But keeping in mind this is a new school and everyone was adjusting, we stuck through it. Agreeing with some parents that Franklin needs to sharpen up their Administration a little bit. I find some to rude, but than they have some who are very professional and polite. I personally have not dealt with the principal, but always seem pleasant when I was near. I have heard bad things about the public schools in South Florida, and parents need to realize, that ALL cannot be prevented, however I believe Franklins staff needs to learn to better communicate with parents, and just not through email. Overall Franklin is a great school. Every school has room for improvement and I believe Franklin will do just that. The one policy I wish would change is the policy of parents not allowed on premises during certain hours, or you have to pick up your child before 2pm for early release, or else you have to wait in car-line. Thats a bit extreme. But besides thats "Good Job Franklin Academy"! Looking forward to more great years!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is overall a good school with a few flaws but people have to realize this school is only on its second year. Good academics with a few really good experienced teachers while some are lazy,rude and yell at the students. Lunch is terrible and car pick up is a nightmare, but there are good after school care programs and clubs. The kids here are alot better than most schools and Franklin is a beautiful campus. Although, I do agree with saying they should stop worrying about building more schools, but perfecting the first one.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Franklin Academy, I have one child in Kindergarten and another one in First grade. So far the teachers have been great and very involved with the kids. It's a new school and there some areas for improvements. Those of you who do not like it, I hope you move on to another school that serves your needs. There are a lot of people waiting to get their children accepted in the school. We need positive parents that do not expect the school to do everything for them but instead, feel that is their responsibility to educate their kids at home too. I would recommend Franklin to any parent.
—Submitted by a parent

On an early release day; when picking up my child a few minutes late, there were at least a dozen people also getting their kids, when I witnessed the principal coming outside and literally screaming repeatedly to another staff member that she is going to start charging money to parents that pick their children up late! She kept repeating it over and over so that everyone outside would hear her. Very unprofessional. So sorry that she had to work a tad over a half day, once again. Yes, occasionally people are late; especially with these monthly early releases during work-weeks. The traffic is horrible during the lunch-hours in that area and when you are coming from east to west, it takes 15 minutes for the officer to let you turn left into the parking lot. Keep trying Franklin. Hopefully your 2nd location will be better.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my son s second year and we've had a great experience overall. We went thru the growing pains of the first year and yes the pickup and drop offs are still longer than desired but the benefits do outweigh these inconveniences. For an involved parent these are minor tradeoffs for a great education. I compare with my daughter s public school and the communication between parents and teachers is superior. The technology is available to all parents and allows you to check for the students progress daily or whenever needed, up to the parent to use it. My son s teachers have been very much involved and genuinely concerned for his progress. Last year he received chess classes both as an after school club and as with his regular curriculum. Hopefully the bad reviews which all seem to have the same arguments will find a more convenient school option, and that will lead to some more open spots for my daughter to get in ;-). A stage is a great to have but not really in my priority list.
—Submitted by a parent

To correct my prior post ,the gymnasium is to be finished for the 2015 school year. Here is the last update we received on Dec of 2012... Pembroke Pines (K-8) - We are pleased to announce the acquisition of 4 acres immediately east/adjacent to our K-8 campus. This site will be the location of our new Gymnasium. We are currently planning facility completion by 2015 school year. This gym facility will include: full basketball and volleyball courts; locker rooms; resources for dance and wrestling; and, potentially theater amenities.
—Submitted by a parent

As a proud parent of Franklin Academy, this charter school has successfully acheived, in a short period of time, my high expectations regarding my children's academic paths! Our teachers, have one goal in mind, to educate our children to achieve to their highest academic abilities. Administration works endlessly to provide our children with a safe school environment. The best education for my child? Is only Franklin Academy Charter Schools!
—Submitted by a parent

THIS SCHOOL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE BETTER... PLEASE PUT MORE EFFORT.The administration and many of the under experience teachers are the main problems with this school. Beautiful on the outside but highly dysfunctional on the inside . Going on its second year and little improvement. I would not recommend this school to any one.
—Submitted by a parent

Very dissapointed, for the second year in a row. The Xmas pageant was a joke. Such hoopla about this school being so new and great.... and they don't even have a gymansium with a stage? The band played in the cafeteria, on ground level, with bright lights. Nobody in the audience could see A THING. Not even enough sense to rent a platform, to elevate the band so that the parents could see their child? Bullying is rampant; racism is ridiculous. The teachers are illiterate and lazy. If you can't afford a tutor or if your child isn't naturally bright; forget it. Nice on the outside, but that swamp is still out there, with no parking.
—Submitted by a parent

It seems that the online brochure for this school is misleading by the comments made about the specials offered. Lot of fluff!
—Submitted by a parent