Franklin Academy A

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

Second year and the school leaves a lot to be desired. The accident waiting to happen and has happen car-line / wait is still incredibly long and dangerous. The wait is not worth it, since the education is still lacking and the teachers still lack large amounts of experience. My child have not received one chess lesson in either grade... The administration can be indifferent to parents concerns and complaints. The school nurse has absolutely no bedside manner and really should not be working with kids or parents. She is often defensive and rude. The main principal also many times has an harsh insincere attitude with both kids and parents. The best this school franchise can do is transfer her to another school and position. Not everyone is cut out to be a principal. Teachers and administration are not interested in parents helping out in the class room and often discourage parent involvement. They only want donations and car line or lunch help.
—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

Our daughter is very happy in her second year at this school and her enthusiasm has produced excellent academic results. This is what counts! True there are several areas for improvement, but overall this is an excellent school. Pros: gender separation on core classes has proven positive, teachers have been really good, car drop off works great now (after a painful year of learning), uniform and discipline enforcement, academic program is good. Cons: chess class is still a promise w/o delivery, pickup is painful, parent involvement limited to lunch help or car line, PE and recess are many times skipped, communication with parents depends on the teacher's communication skills and does not follow a standard.
—Submitted by a parent

I hate that school in would never forget how they treated my child different because of the color of he's skin and last but not least call the police on me because I was 20mins late picking him up from school.
—Submitted by a parent

School promises a lot but doesn't deliver on those promises. Chess not taught in classes. Little to no activities for k-2 grades. Most teachers with less than 3 years of experience. Staff mostly rude and two faced. The has no interest in science and don't report the science scores for lower grades as to promote a false school grade. Car pick up and drop off are nightmares. The school distances themselves from parents and do not promote parent involvement other than volunteering for lunch help or car line. Parents are not allowed to walk children to school . There are no park and walk up options. Franklin Academy is more like a fast food franchise as they are more interested in opening up more Franklin schools than perfecting the first one they open. In other words it is a business.
—Submitted by a parent

We had a great experience at Franklin Academy! People need to realize nothing is perfect from day 1. During the year things continued to get better and I believe will continually work to get better with time and support. I would highly recommend this school!!
—Submitted by a parent