Benjamin Franklin High School, also referred to as Franklin High School, Livonia Franklin and FHS, is a public high school located in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb west of Detroit.
History
Established in September 1961 a sophomore class attended classes at nearby Bentley High School during the 1961-62 school year. Classes were then taught at FHS when that building opened in September 1962. The school celebrated its first graduating class in June 1964. During the 1968-69 school year, a sophomore class from Churchill High School attended classes at Franklin High School as construction commenced on that school building.
International Baccalaureate Program
The International Baccalaureate Program is a rigorous academic program which promotes intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to a sense of cultural and national identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21st century. The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. This program encourages students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
The IB program allows selected 11th and 12th grade students to earn an IB diploma in addition to their regular high school diploma. The IB curriculum is recognized for its academic rigor and its ‘international mindedness' exposure. Students working for an IB diploma will be required to take a full IB schedule that includes courses in Language 1 (English), Language 2 (Spanish), Individuals and Society (Social Studies), Mathematics, Experimental Science, and Visual Arts. Students will also take end-of-course exams that will be assessed using international standards. The IB program has additional requirements of an extended essay, a Theory of Knowledge course, and 150 hours of documented creativity, action, and service.
Franklin High School is the first public school in Wayne County to offer the IB Diploma program. Faculty members have been trained in the areas of Administration, Coordination, Visual Arts, History of the Americas, Spanish, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, English and Theory of Knowledge. At the training sessions, teachers spend 3â€"5 days learning about international perspectives regarding pedagogy, curricular requirements, and standards of assessment.
Livonia Career Technical Center
The Livonia Public School system offers classes at the Livonia Career Technical Center. The Career Center hosts state approved career technical programs to students of Churchill, Franklin, and Stevenson High Schools. Their mission is to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing technological society, as well as develop a foundation for future learning. This offers students the opportunity to explore classes in their future career choice. Along with classroom experience, students have opportunities for field trips, guest speakers, interactive distance learning, on-line instruction, technology representative of the industry, internships, leadership and service learning projects. The Career Center offers students to gain quality experience while in high school.
Athletics
State championships
- Football: 1975
- Girls Softball: 1986
- Pom-Pom: 1995, 2013
- Pom-Pom High Kick: 2004, 2007, 2008
State runners-up
- Girls Basketball: 2009
- Pom-Pon: 2009, 2012
- Girls Softball: 1985
Notable alumni
- Bernie Carbo: MLB OF/DH (Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates (Class of 1965)
- Charlie Collins, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives since 2010.
- Jim Kenner: A pioneering disc golf, freestyle and ultimate player, CEO/Founder of Discraft (Class of 1965)
- Ken Westerfield: A pioneering Frisbee player (disc sports), promoter, showman. Hall of Fame (disc golf, freestyle and ultimate) (Class of 1965).
- Art Regner: Detroit sports radio personality, WDFN, WXYT, Fox Sports Detroit (Class of 1975)
- Jim Wilson: MLB FB/DH (Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners) (Class of 1978)
- Amy Roloff: Mother of family featured in Little People, Big World (Class of 1980)
- Mike Donnelly: NHL (New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, New York Islanders) (Class of 1982)
- Mike Modano: NHL: (Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings) (Class of 1988)
References
External links
- Franklin High School
- Fortin runs Franklin to first district title The Detroit News.
- Woolfork speaks on commitment to Grand Valley State