Franklin

The Franklin school district in Florida serves four schools, including a large comprehensive school, a charter school, and two small alternative programs, covering grades PK-12 in a rural coastal area. The Apalachicola Bay Charter School stands out as the district's top performer, consistently exceeding state and district averages across subjects and earning a 3-star rating, while the larger Franklin County School shows mixed results with bright spots in subjects like Geometry and Biology but struggles in lower-grade math and English. The two smallest schools, Franklin Virtual Franchise-Paec Flvs and Franklin County Learning Center, serve specialized populations with very different outcomes.

Chronic absenteeism is a critical district-wide issue, with an average rate of 50.2%—far above the state average of 31.4%. The Franklin County Learning Center has the highest rate at 90.9%, while the Franklin Virtual Franchise-Paec Flvs boasts the lowest at just 10%, showing that virtual learning can effectively engage students. Economic need varies widely, with the Franklin County Learning Center having 90% of students on free/reduced lunch compared to 50.56% at Apalachicola Bay Charter School.

Spending per student is dramatically uneven, with the Franklin County Learning Center spending nearly $60,000 per student—four times more than Franklin County School—yet this high investment does not translate into strong academic outcomes, highlighting that addressing attendance and engagement is key. The Franklin County School reports a graduation rate of 89%, slightly above the district average but below the state's 92.2%, while the charter school's consistent outperformance suggests it is the district's academic engine.