About Us

You can see and experience Franklin's history by exploring the area. However, beginning in 2017, city and community leaders met to ensure a "fuller story" could be told about the proud heritage of the area's African American community. Because of their work, as well as support from the larger community,  five educational markers have been placed near the city's Confederate soldier monument and around the square depicting the African American experience before and after the Battle of Franklin. 

Franklin is a unique blend of history and progress. You’ll find the best of both worlds here: small-town charm and big-city sophistication. There are fascinating historical sites and museums, magnificent Antebellum and Victorian homes – plus our thriving downtown shopping area and the Cool Springs Galleria, unique dining and entertainment, and wonderful festivals. Franklin has grown from a very small, agricultural community into a strong blend of residential, commercial and corporate citizens. Franklin has spent millions to maintain the town’s Main Street so it reflects its historical surroundings and has garnered the prestigious “Great American Main Street Award” from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1995. More recently, the City is a 2020 All-America City winner from the National Civic League. 

• FSSD’s state achievement scores consistently rank it among the Top 10 of all 147 public school systems in Tennessee. The last reported scores ( Fall 2022) indicated that the FSSD was one of the top 10 districts for Overall Performance, which includes achievement and subgroup performance! 
• The district maintains a long history of outperforming the state in every grade level and subject area. In 2023, the district as a whole outperformed the proficiency percentage of the state by double digits in every core content area.
• The FSSD received the "Advancing" designation by the state based on its Fall 2022 TCAP data.
• The district has 3 Reward Schools, a designation given based on a calculation that includes TCAP scores, student growth, and chronically absent percentages.
• Liberty Elementary School is a National Blue Ribbon School, a five-year designation for achievement as designated by the U.S. Department of Education (2021-2026).
• The FSSD places a deliberate focus on personalized instruction tailored to meet each student’s individual needs.
• The FSSD is #1 in the state for pupil-teacher ratio (10:1) (2021-22 TN Report Card). 
• Student to Support Services Personnel is ranked #1 in the state (2021-22 TN Report Card).
• Students in grades 7 and 8 may take high school credited courses in Algebra I, Geometry, French I, Spanish I, and Computer Science, enabling them to earn as many as 3 high school credits.
• Each school has a fully staffed clinic to meet the health needs of all children. A District Nursing Coordinator supervises eight full-time licensed school nurses.
• The FSSD and all schools are Heart Safe accredited by Project ADAM of Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with every site trained and prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency. Every school and central office has an AED.
• The School Board is an eight-time Board of Distinction recipient from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) and the 2015 Tennessee School Board of the Year.
• Four of the six Board of Education members have received Master School Board Member status by achieving Level V accreditation from the TSBA. 
• The average salary of instructional personnel in the FSSD is consistently in the top 10 in the state in most salary lanes. In 2022, the FSSD was #2 in the state for average bachelor's salary and #5 in the state for average master’s salary.
• Approximately 70% percent of the district’s faculty holds a master’s degree or higher (2022).
• FSSD was named the 2022 Winner of the Best of the Best of Williamson in the category of Best Employer (over 500 employees) by The Tennessean.
• The FSSD is #1 in the state for per-pupil expenditures at $17,643. This figure is a standard of quality that illustrates the district’s commitment to providing high-quality instruction and resources for its students (2022-23 TN Report Card).
• The FSSD holds an Aa1 (Exceptional) Financial Strength Rating classification by Moody’s, signifying the district’s commitment to responsible spending.
• FSSD students have unique opportunities to use and develop their talents in the visual and performing arts. The FSSD provides extraordinary funding for programs such as art, theater, vocal and instrumental music as part of the student’s academic day.
• A brand new Performing Arts Center for use by all FSSD schools was completed in 2022 to provide students in the performing and visual arts a place to showcase their talents. In addition, the PAC is an event venue for major district events.
• The FSSD physical education program is recognized on both the state and national levels as a model. One school is a state demonstration center and a second school is a national award winner for physical education. Students in grades K-4 receive daily physical education instruction.
• Special academic programs include the Honors program for high-ability learners in grades 5-8 as well as a program of services for gifted and talented students. Each school has an accelerated learning teacher who provides direct instruction to eligible students.
• The district is committed to early childhood education and has pre-kindergarten classes and a special education preschool in all of the elementary schools.
• The FSSD integrates technology at all grade levels and has two Instructional Technology Specialists as well as eight building-level technology specialists.
• All students in grades K-8 have a 1:1 device-to-student ratio with access to a district laptop or tablet.
• The FSSD operates a low-cost Morning and Afternoon Care (MAC) program for children five days a week and during most holidays and summer break. MAC is a self-sustaining program that provides enrichment, tutoring, and extra-curricular activities for its students.
• The FSSD operates an employee childcare education center for children of working parents. The MAC program oversees the center, called WeeMAC, which serves children ages 6 weeks through preschool and is self-sustaining.
• The FSSD is committed to student safety and all schools have secure access through an office vestibule, monitored at all times by district staff. Cameras monitored by office staff are also present in all buildings and doors and windows are equipped with bullet-resistant film.
• The district has made a priority of not charging academic fees for supplies students need for core classes or related arts. No supplemental fees are required of parents.
• The district believes that summer instruction can be beneficial to both high-ability and low-ability learners. The district offers the Young Scholars Institute for students who choose enrichment activities and Summer Learning Camp for those who benefit from extra support over the summer. In addition, the district helps support Gentry Educational Foundation for youth in the community to receive academic remediation and/or enrichment, as well as instruction in many fun and diverse extra-curricular classes.