Franklin Academy (Connecticut)

Franklin Academy is a co-ed college preparatory boarding school in East Haddam, Connecticut serving students in grades 8-12 as well as post-graduate students. The school's primary mission is to provide a specialized education to adolescents and young adults with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Students matriculate both domestically and internationally, and both boarding and day school programs are available. Its student to faculty ratio is currently approximately 2:1.[2]

Franklin Academy
Address
140 River Road

East Haddam
,
Connecticut
06423

United States
Coordinates41.4406°N 72.4349°W / 41.4406; -72.4349[1]
Information
TypePrivate boarding secondary
MottoBelong, Grow, Succeed
Established2001
HeadmasterAlbert Frederick Weissbach
Grades8-PG
GenderCo-ed
Enrollment80
Color(s)   Maroon and blue
MascotPhoenix
AccreditationNew England Association of Schools and Colleges
Websitewww.fa-ct.org

The founding headmaster of Franklin Academy is Frederick Weissbach.[3] The school officially opened in September 2003 with 33 students and currently enrolls approximately 80. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges,[4] and is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.[5]

Franklin Academy is designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[6]

School structure

Admissions

Enrollment at Franklin Academy has generally increased with time. Its opening enrollment of 33 students climbed to 57 to start 2005, then 68 in 2006.[7] Since at least 2010, the enrollment total seems to have steadied around 80 students annually, according to statements by both the school and independent organizations.[4][5][8] It accepts students who are diagnosed with non-verbal learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. The students are boys and girls in grades 8-12 as well as some doing a post-graduate program.[9] According to the school's own website, international students from several countries have also attended Franklin.[10]

Tuition at Franklin Academy includes payment for all services at the school, including room and board, counseling, and laundry. As of January 2018, Franklin Academy estimates its total annual tuition to be between $67,000 and $82,000, depending on if a family is granted certain discounts, or whether a student chooses to board or not.[11] These tuition fees have been criticized in the past for being too expensive.[12] Franklin also requires a submission of a recent neuropsychological evaluation during the application process.[13]

Teams

Students at Franklin Academy are divided into "teams," with each team consisting of between 18 and 24 students. Teachers are also assigned to specific teams, and each team is headed by a "leadership" group of faculty.[14] The leadership for each team is made up of a counselor who deals with the team's clinical matters, a learning specialist who oversees academic performance and development in the team's students, and a residential dean who is in charge of the team's dormitory structure and residential life.[15]

Academics and curriculum

Franklin Academy's high school program operates on a five-term structure. These terms are referred to as "quints," and each quint is five weeks long. During quints, core academic classes — mathematics, science, humanities, and Individual & Community — are taught, along with a selection of elective options.[16][17][18] Individual & Community (I&C) is a class unique to Franklin Academy's curriculum. According to Franklin's website, I&C is a class which focuses on self-awareness, self-care, and social pragmatics in order to equip students with important life skills.[18] Two "mini-terms" called "Intersessions" also occur. These are two week periods of all-day study in one subject matter. Course offerings during Intersessions are generally more hands-on, project-based, or practical than core academic classes.[16][18]

Summer Sojourn

In July, the school runs a Summer Sojourn program which focuses on experiential learning.[9]

History
Sketch of Becket Academy circa 1971 showing various campus buildings, roads, and other complexes.[19]

The East Haddam property on which Franklin Academy's campus currently sits was previously home to three other institutions. The first of these was Becket Academy, a residential school for boys aged eight to fifteen established in 1964.[19] The exact year of Becket Academy's closure is unknown, but in 1988 it was merged with the Founders School.[20] The Founders School was a separate residential facility opened in 1992 that closed in 1998 after a brief lifespan due to concerns about its quality of care.[21] Shortly thereafter in 1998, Haddam Hills Academy was incorporated and opened. It served as a residential facility for many students from the Long Lane School of Middletown.[21][22] Throughout its brief lifetime, Haddam Hills Academy saw numerous incidents of abuse, neglect, suicidal behavior, and alleged criminal behavior by both students and staff, all of which raised serious concern from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). In 2001, following an investigation by the DCF as well as significant public attention, Haddam Hills had its license revoked by the DCF and it was closed.[21][23]

In November 2001, Franklin Academy was incorporated.[24][25][26] In 2002, an administrative team was hired and preparations for opening began. The school was granted approval to operate by the Connecticut Department of Education, and $2.5 million was spent on campus facilities. In September 2003, the school opened with an enrollment of 33 students.[24] As of 2016, that number had grown to around 85.[4]

In December 2015, Franklin closed on the purchase of its campus property.[27]

References
  1. "Maps and Directions - Franklin Academy". Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  2. "Teams". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  3. "Franklin Academy Educators for the 2017-18 Academic Year" (PDF). Franklin Academy. August 2, 2017.
  4. "Franklin Academy". Independent, Non-Public K-12 Schools (CIS) / Commission on Independent Schools. December 14, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  5. "NAIS - School". National Association of Independent Schools. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  6. ProPublica, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei. "Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica". ProPublica. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  7. "LD Resources » Blog Archive » Sanford Shapiro looks at Franklin Academy". LD Resources. January 16, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  8. "LD Resources » Blog Archive » Sanford Shapiro looks at Franklin Academy". LD Resources. March 22, 2010. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  9. "Franklin Academy | New England Psychology". directory.nepsy.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  10. "International Student Admissions". Franklin Academy. June 18, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  11. "Tuition and Fees". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  12. "LD Resources » Blog Archive » Sanford Shapiro looks at Franklin Academy". LD Resources. December 12, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  13. "High School Program Admissions". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  14. "Teams". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  15. "Overview". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  16. "Annual Calendar and Daily Schedule". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  17. "Core Classes". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  18. "Intersessions and Electives". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  19. J., Wolter, John (1972). Becket Academy, the first seven years, A case study (Thesis). University of Massachusetts Amherst.
  20. "Business Inquiry". C.O.N.C.O.R.D. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  21. "Report of the attorney general and the child advocate : Department of Children & Families oversight of Haddam Hills Academy". CT State Library. p. 1. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  22. Hendrick, Melissa (2007). "RG 178:002, Long Lane School Inventory of Records". ctstatelibrary.org. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  23. "So Many Questions On Haddam Hill". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  24. "The History of Franklin Academy". Franklin Academy. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  25. "School May Avoid Oversight By State". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  26. "Already, A Shaky Beginning". tribunedigital-thecourant. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  27. "We Did It!". Franklin Academy. December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
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