Franklin High School (FHS) is a comprehensive four-year public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades, located in the Somerset section of Franklin Township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Franklin Township Public Schools.
As of the 2024–25 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,134 students and 180.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1. There were 905 students (42.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 166 (7.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for Franklin High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 15, 2026.
Awards, recognition and rankings The school was the 203rd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014. The school had been ranked 263rd in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 201st in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed December 1, 2012. The magazine ranked the school 150th out of 316 schools in 2008."Top New Jersey High Schools 2010: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2010, Accessed January 1, 2011
History The original Franklin High School, now Franklin Middle School, was opened in 1961. Prior to that, the district sent its high school students to Princeton High School, Bound Brook High School, Highland Park High School, and New Brunswick High School among others. The original Franklin High School was designed to accommodate 1,600 students. By the mid 1990s, the student population had grown to over 2,000 making overcrowding a serious issue. In 2001, the residents of Franklin Township voted for the construction of a new High School. Construction began in 2002 and finished in September 2005. In that same month, the new Franklin High School opened its doors.
Among the persons who have served as Principal of Franklin High School are Orville Wilson, Dr. Howard Lucks, Dr. Neely Hackett, James Bevere, Thomas DiGanci (as interim principal from September 2014 to June 2016) and Cheryl A. Clark. DiGanci was the former principal of Watchung Hills Regional High School, where he was employed as principal for forty years before retiring in 2012.Bowman, Bill. "Franklin High School Gets New Interim Principal; DiGanci was principal at Watchung Hills Regional High School", Franklin Reporter & Advocate, August 1, 2014. Accessed July 22, 2019. "Thomas DiGanci, former principal at Watching Hills Regional High School, was named Franklin High School's interim principal at the July 31 Board of Education meeting." Ron Brundidge also served as an interim principal. Cheryl A. Clark previously served as the principal of Irvington's University Elementary School in Irvington, NJ.Bowman, Bill. "New FHS Principal Appointed By Board Of Education", Franklin Reporter & Advocate, April 29, 2016. Accessed July 22, 2019. "A 19-year education veteran from the Irvington school district was named the new principal of Franklin High School at the April 28 Board of Education meeting. Cheryl A. Clark, most recently the principal of Irvington's University Elementary School, was unanimously approved by the school board." In 2018, Frank Chmiel, who previously served as the school's vice principal was selected to be the new principal, serving until April 2021, when he accepted the position to become the educational leader of Princeton High School.Bowman, Bill. "Franklin High School Principal to be New Leader of Princeton High", Planet Princeton, April 22, 2021. At the time of his departure, his administration team included four vice principals and the athletic director.Staff Directory, Franklin High School. Accessed November 23, 2020. Dr. Nicholas Solomon, the principal of Franklin Middle School, was selected at the Board of Education's June 16, 2021 meeting to succeed Chimel.Bowman, Bill. "Nicholas Solomon Named New Franklin High School Principal", Franklin Reporter & Advocate, June 17, 2021. In 2025, Genesi Miles became principal of Franklin High school, succeeding Dr. Nicholas Solomon.
Academics
Courses FHS offers a wide selection of courses to meet the needs of all students, including honors-level classes in core subjects, Fine and Performing Arts, and Technology. The school provides business and vocational programs that offer hands-on training and practical experience in real-world settings. Students can earn certifications through Cisco Systems, gain experience in television production and studio recording, and participate in internships and co-op programs with local businesses. Additionally, students have the option to attend Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School either part-time or full-time, where they can learn core subjects along with vocational skills such as auto mechanics and culinary arts.
The school offers open enrollment for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, allowing any student to register as long as they have completed the necessary prerequisites. It is not uncommon for sophomores to take AP United States History as part of their academic journey. In the 2024–25 school year, AP courses offered at FHS include:Student Handbook 2024–2025, Franklin High School. Accessed February 20, 2025.
AP Art History AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Calculus AB/BC AP Comparative Government and Politics AP Computer Science A AP Computer Science Principles AP English Language and Composition AP English Literature and Composition AP Environmental Science AP French Language and Culture AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics AP Music Theory AP Physics 1 AP Physics C: Mechanics AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism AP Psychology AP Spanish Language and Culture AP Spanish Literature and Culture AP Statistics AP United States Government and Politics AP United States History AP World History
Certain students who have completed the majority of courses in a department have a chance to take college courses in local colleges. In many cases, these courses will earn the student college credit that can be transferred to their college at the school's discretion. In the past, seniors have taken courses in Princeton University, Rutgers University, and Raritan Valley Community College.
Curriculum Franklin High School students need to earn a total of 120 credits to be eligible for graduation. The vast majority of the year-long courses give 5 credits each while a half-year course offers 2.5 credits. The exceptions to this rule are the science classes with labs. An extra credit is given for each lab day in the 4-day cycle. AP sciences classes with a lab (AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, & AP Physics C) give the students 6 credits. The credit spread for incoming classes is as follows:Course of Study , Franklin High School. Accessed September 11, 2006.
DepartmentMinimum CreditsEnglish20 creditsMathematics15 credits, including content equivalent to Algebra I and GeometryScience15 credits, including content equivalent to Biology, and 2 additional laboratory/inquiry-based science coursesUnited States History10 credits World History5 creditsWorld Languages5 credits or pupil demonstration of proficiency Physical Education and Health and Safety5 credits for each year of public high school enrollment in New JerseyVisual, Fine, and Performing Arts5 credits21st Century Life & Careers or Technical5 creditsFinancial, Economic & Business Literacy2.5 creditsElective Courses17.5 creditsTotal minimum credits120
Athletics The Franklin High School WarriorsFranklin High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 17, 2015. compete in the Skyland Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties in west Central Jersey and operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020–2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. With 1,659 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The football team competes in Division 5B of the Big Central Football Conference, which includes 60 public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, which are broken down into 10 divisions by size and location.Kinney, Mike. "Big Central revises 2020 football schedule for its shortened inaugural season", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 12, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2021. "The newly formed Big Central Football Conference has released a revised 2020 schedule for its inaugural season.... the BCFC is comprised of schools from Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties." The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 1,333 to 2,324 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
Sports offered by the Franklin High School Warriors athletic department include: baseball, basketball (boys and girls), bowling (boys and girls), cheerleading, cross country (boys and girls), field hockey, football, indoor track (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), softball, spring track (boys and girls), swimming (boys and girls), tennis (boys and girls) and wrestling.Athletics Directory, Franklin High School. Accessed July 22, 2019.
The boys' bowling team won the overall state championship in 1975 and 1977.History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 1, 2022.
The field hockey team won the North I Group I state sectional championship in 1977, 1980 and 1981.History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
The boys tennis team won the Group III state championship in 1982, defeating Millburn High School 3–2 in the final match of the tournament.History of Boys Team Tennis Championship Tournament, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020."Franklin repeats as tennis champ", The Home News, June 1, 1982. Accessed March 11, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Franklin won its second consecutive NJSIAA Group III state tennis title by edging Millburn (29–7) yesterday, 3–2. The Warriors advance to the All-Group tournament which begins today at 4 p.m. with a match against Group I champion Bernards."