Academics
Bright, out-of-the-box thinkers who aren’t thriving don’t need more of the same. So Franklin does academics differently. Everything about this 360-degree program is focused on giving you the skills — academic, social, emotional, and executive functioning to soar. Add in a solid serving of self-advocacy, awareness, and acceptance and you find success.
We start with core classes designed just for these minds. We add to that high-interest subject matter to keep students engaged and interested. And we constantly weave in education about who you are, how you learn, and how you can make decisions that help you learn and grow both now and in the years to come.
As students near the end of their Franklin journey, you are ready to road test your skills. The Franklin Senior Experience is a capstone senior year that simulates the first year of college. Our students then graduate more ready for a variety of postsecondary environments as they recognize their strengths and have immersed themselves in a learning environment designed for lifelong success.
Academic Approach
Franklin believes that in the right setting and with wrap-around support, our students will succeed in traditional academic environments. The Franklin Academy Model includes robust graduation requirements:
- 4 Years of English
- 4 Years of College & Career Readiness
- 4 Years of Physical Education
- 3 Years of History (World & U.S. History)
- 3 Years of Math (Coursework ranging from Pre-Algebra through Calculus)
- 3 Years of Science (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental, & Physics)
- 1 Semester of Civics
- 1 Semester of Financial Literacy
What Makes Us Different
Small class sizes (6-10 students)
Built-in accommodations through 504 Plans
Access to assistive technology
Day and evening structured study halls
Integrated executive functioning support
Differentiated and experiential-based learning environments
- Social/Emotional Learning
These are important skills that not just most of our students, but most people in the world don’t have.
Honors Program, Dual Enrollment, and Signature Academic Programs
Once at Franklin many students soar and benefit from additional challenges that allow them to fully use their gifts and talents.
Honors Program:
Students with demonstrated strengths in academic areas can be invited into Franklin Academy’s Honors Program. The Honors Program challenges students to complete rigorous and advanced work in addition to their general core classes. With rigorous courses in History, English, Science, and Mathematics, these Franklin students can graduate with an Honors diploma.
Some examples of recently offered honors classes include:
- Human Psychological Research (Science)
- Puzzles and Paradoxes (Math)
- History of Arab-Israeli Conflict (History)
- Eurasian Folk Tales (Literature)
Dual Enrollment:
Franklin Academy also offers dual enrollment through the University of Connecticut. Students can take college courses in the following departments delivered by Franklin teachers who are certified as adjunct faculty members at UConn:
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- English
- History
- Human Rights
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Statistics
Signature Academic Programs:
We celebrate the many talents and passions of our students, and we build programs to support student interests. Through our signature programs, students delve deeper into topics of interest and passion.
In the Presence of Animals:
Nearly 40 percent of students are involved in Franklin Academy’s “In The Presence of Animals” program. With a farm on campus, coursework in Anthrozoology (the study of the interaction of humans and other non-human animals), and community partnerships including equine studies, Franklin students can immerse themselves into various academic fields including animal husbandry, conservation, zoology, biology, and ecological sciences.
Fine and Performing Arts:
Each year, nearly a third of Franklin’s community actively participates in fine and performing arts. Through portfolio-based workshops, theatrical studies, and a spring musical (our 2024 musical is Anything Goes!), our students become artists. Franklin Academy encourages students to form bands, practice instruments, and work with our resident art instructor on creating murals. Students share their work with the community and are recognized for their talents. In 2024, our actors won seven awards, including Outstanding Ensemble, at the Connecticut Drama Association One-Act Competition.
Elective Courses
As you master skills in core classes, you also enjoy electives that grab your attention. Offered four days a week, courses are intended to be of high interest, on a variety of topics, and across a range of rigor. Each term there are multiple options in STEM, literature, social studies, art, and general electives.
A recent term included the following:
Introduction to Neuroanatomy
Psychopathology
Introduction to Drawing
Two Centuries of American Presidents
Theater Production
Python for Noobs
Metal Sculpture
Nutrition & Food
Advanced Videography
Collage Portraiture
Home Cooking & Food Science
Art of Playing Cards
Google Suites
Wes Anderson Movies
War, Identity, and Morality: Antigone and Home Fire
World Regional Geography
STEM Fundamentals
Civics: What are your Rights?
Documentary Film Studies
One-Page Game Design
Painting: Light and Color
Geography 101
Building Community through Theater
Animal Husbandry
History of Zero
Cooking in the Caribbean
We want students to have this breadth of exposure. It’s about preparing for a world that's changing in ways that are hard to predict right now. We want them to be as prepared as possible.
Time to Explore: Intersession
Franklin students are passionate about their special interests. Intersession gives them a chance to go all in, six hours a day for two weeks on a topic (similar to a January term in college). Intersession courses have included Art of the Mural, Fitness and Wellness, Native American Culture, Film Studies, Radio Journalism, Birdhouse Design, Moments from Broadway, Conservation Biology, Forensic Science, World War II, Landscaping, Social Issues, Performance Poetry, Digital Microscopy, Silkscreen and Design, and Folk Culture.
Intersession mixes things up. A different schedule. New teachers. Students who aren’t on their normal team. It’s a chance to stretch, have fun, and find people who share their passion.
The Senior Year Experience
You are almost there. You are a Franklin senior. This is the time for a smidge more fine-tuning, a bit more practice. You are ready for the Franklin Senior Experience.
Senior Experience is like a year-long boot camp for life. Your classes and schedule will more closely mimic those of a college student. Course offerings include practical choices, such as statistics and financial literacy. You get to practice things you will experience in college in a safe, supportive environment. You will know better what to expect – academically, residentially, and socially – before stepping foot on a college campus. Our goal is for you to grow to be independent and confident for what comes next.
Beyond classes, Senior Experience also features seminars, a capstone experience, and work opportunities unique to your needs. You will learn about the nuances of dating, how to make social connections, and what about your diagnosis (and when!) to share with others. You can also do an off-campus internship in a government agency, a business, or a non-profit, learning valuable employment skills.
Capstone Project
At Franklin we value giving back. Seniors and postgraduates spend a week serving at local non-profits. These efforts have included constructing a 1,600-foot wetlands walkway, designing and delivering after-school programs for elementary school children, initiating animal husbandry projects, and constructing foot bridges. It also provides a chance to apply social/emotional intelligence and communication skills, and to practice “soft skills” valued by future employers.
College and Career Readiness Program
At Franklin Academy, we understand that the journey from high school to post-secondary life can be particularly complex for neurodivergent students. That’s why our College and Career Readiness Program is uniquely designed to begin in a student’s very first year. We believe that a holistic approach—one that combines direct skill instruction with personalized support—is essential for empowering our students to thrive beyond their time at Franklin.
Dedicated Support from Our Associate Dean of College & Career Readiness
Our committed Associate Dean of College & Career Readiness is at the heart of our program, providing individualized attention through both one-on-one and group-based workshops. Students benefit from tailored application searches and support, ensuring they find the best-fit post-secondary options. To involve families in this critical process, we offer educational programming that keeps everyone informed and engaged. Each fall, we enhance our program with an exciting college trip, visiting 10 different institutions, allowing students to experience diverse campus environments firsthand. Additionally, our yearly college and career fair, along with an alumni panel, connects students with industry professionals and successful graduates, providing invaluable insights and networking opportunities.
A Unique Four-Year Model for Success
Franklin Academy’s distinctive four-year college and career curriculum is built on a theoretical framework that enhances students’ abilities to adapt to various post-secondary options. To graduate from Franklin Academy, students need to take all four of the courses that focus on these key domains:
- Self-Awareness: Helping students understand their strengths, interests, and values.
- Executive Functioning: Teaching essential skills for planning, organization, and time management.
- Problem-Solving: Equipping students with strategies to tackle challenges creatively and effectively.
- Advocacy: Empowering students to advocate for their needs and goals confidently.
Through this comprehensive approach, we ensure that our students are not only ready for college but are also equipped to succeed in any path they choose.
Exceptional Outcomes for Our Students
Our commitment to preparing neurodivergent students for the future goes beyond traditional readiness metrics. At Franklin Academy, our students achieve stronger post-secondary outcomes, including notably higher college graduation rates compared to their peers. With our focused instruction and supportive environment, we pride ourselves on equipping students with the skills and confidence they need to excel in their post-secondary endeavors.
Join us at Franklin Academy, where we prepare neurodivergent students not just for the next step, but for a lifetime of success!
College & Career Readiness Course Descriptions
College & Career Readiness 1: Self-Awareness
Understanding your strengths, goals, areas of continued growth, and long-term aspirations are critical first steps in post-secondary planning. For neurodivergent learners, these essential skills help curate a transition plan that is person-centered and passion-oriented. The first of four required courses in College and Career Readiness will support students as they develop an understanding of their learning profile, what current accommodations and modifications they may be receiving, and how their educational program relates to various post-secondary environments including college, career, certification programs, transition programs, or a post-graduate year.
College & Career Readiness 2: Executive Functioning
Increasing self-reliance is crucial when managing the multiple demands of life after high school. Many students have developed a reliance on a school’s technology, a teacher, or a parent to help maintain an organizational system. Once they leave high school, however, the student is expected to self-manage. The second of four required courses in College and Career Readiness will help students develop fundamental tools in planning, prioritizing demands, organizing materials, and initiating tasks in various post-secondary environments including college, career, certification programs, transition programs, or a post-graduate year.
College & Career Readiness 3: Problem-Solving
Seeking out services and resources is a critical component of what makes a person “independent.” In high school, students learn how to problem-solve in their environment, and develop independence by utilizing resources when needed and applying the strategies learned in the moment. When students depart high school, they have to relearn the steps and processes of problem-solving, requiring them to understand resources, regulate emotions, and recognize the boundaries of support services. The third of four required courses in College and Career Readiness will identify practical dilemmas and steps students can take when entering various post-secondary environments including college, career, certification programs, transition programs, or a post-graduate year. Additionally, each environment will be carefully dissected so students understand the roles and responsibilities of offices and resources to maximize problem-solving skills.
College & Career Readiness 4: Self-Advocacy
When students depart high school, they leave behind the protection of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Often, students are not aware of the legal and practical changes that take place which impacts their ability to self-advocate for their fundamental rights. The final required course in College and Career Readiness will focus on student self-determination through an analysis of the Americans with Disabilities Act and how coverage applies to students and professionals across various post-secondary environments including college, career, certification programs, transition programs, or a post-graduate year.
College Advising
At Franklin our Associate Dean of College and Career Counseling is focused on helping you find colleges with the right programs, location, atmosphere, and resources (including accommodations and support). This might mean an academically “elite” school, a specialized college with more support, or any of the fine colleges and universities in between those. Parents are invited to participate in seminars to learn more about the process. Students can meet with admissions representatives who visit campus, and each fall, we host a college counselor panel for the community.
The Fall College Trip
To give students a sense of options, we visit colleges! During Franklin’s mid-fall break, faculty and students take a trip through the Northeast. You can see large universities, small liberal arts colleges, schools that specifically serve students who need accommodations, and highly selective colleges. If one of our alumni is attending we enjoy the “insiders” tour.
Franklin Academy Students’ College Acceptances 2019-2024
Adelphi University (NY)
Alfred State College of Technology (NY)
American University (DC)
Appalachian State University (NC)
Arizona State University (M)
Bay Path University (MA)
Beacon College (FL)
Bennington College (VT)
Berklee College of Music (MA)
Bridgewater State University (MA)
Bryn Mawr College (PA)
Central Connecticut State University
Champlain College (VT)
Chapman University (CA)
Chestnut Hill College (PA)
Christopher Newport University (VA)
Clark University (MA)
Clarkson University (NY)
Colby College (ME)
Colby-Sawyer College (NH)
Colorado School of Mines
Connecticut College
Curry College (MA)
Daemen University (NY)
Dean College (MA)
Denison University (OH)
DePaul University (lL)
DeSales University (PA)
Drew University (NJ)
Drexel University (PA)
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Illinois University
Eckerd College (FL)
Elizabethtown College (PA)
Elmira College (NY)
Elon University (NC)
Evergreen State College (WA)
Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ)
Florida Institute of Technology
Fordham University (NY)
Fort Lewis College (CO)
Franklin & Marshall College (PA)
Full Sail University (FL)
Furman University (SC)
George Mason University (VA)
Goucher College (MD)
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)
Hampshire College (MA)
Hartwick College (NY)
High Point University (NC)
Hofstra University (NY)
Illinois State University
Iona University (NY)
Ithaca College (NY)
James Madison University (VA)
Johnson & Wales University (RI)
John Jay College of Criminal Justice (NY)
John Tyler Community College (VA)
Juniata College (PA)
Kutztown University (PA)
Lafayette College (PA)
Landmark College (VT)
Lasell College (MA)
Lawrence University (WI)
Lehigh University (PA)
Lesley University (MA)
Longwood University (VA)
Lynn University (FL)
Manhattanville College (NY)
Marist College (NY)
Merrimack College (MA)
Marshall University (WV)
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
McDaniel College (MD)
Mercy College (NY)
Merrimack College (MA)
Messiah University (PA)
Millersville University(PA)
Misericordia University (PA)
Mitchell College (CT)
Muhlenberg College (PA)
Muskingum University (OH)
New England Institute of Technology (RI)
Northeastern University (MA)
Northern Vermont University
Norwich University (VT)
Pace University (NY )
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Point Park University (PA)
Quinnipiac University (CT)
Quinsigamond Community College (MA)
Reed College (OR)
Regis University (CO)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
Roger Williams University (RI)
Rutgers University (NJ)
Sacred Heart University (CT)
Saint Joseph’s University (PA)
Sarah Lawrence College (NY)
Salem State University (MA)
Savannah College of Art and Design (GA)
School of the Visual Arts (NY)
Seton Hall University (NJ)
Simmons University (MA)
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Maine Community College
Southern Oregon University
Springfield College (MA)
St. Bonaventure University (NY)
St. Joseph’s University (PA)
St. Thomas University (Canada)
Stevens Institute ofTechnology (NJ)
SUNY Binghamton University (NY)
SUNY Oswego (NY)
SUNY Cobleskill (NY)
SUNY Fredonia (NY)
Susquehanna University (PA)
Syracuse University (NY)
Temple University (PA)
Texas Tech University
Thomas Jefferson University (PA)
Tunxis Community College (CT)
University of Arizona
University of Cincinnati (OH)
University of Colorado
University of Connecticut
University of Dayton (OH)
University of Denver (CO)
University of Hartford (CT)
University of Hawaii
University of Indianapolis (IN)
University of Kansas
University of Maine
University of Maryland
University of Mary Washington (VA)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of New England
University of New Haven (CT)
University of New Hampshire
University of New Haven (CT)
University of North Dakota
University of North Texas
University of Oklahoma
University of Puget Sound (WA)
University of Redlands (CA)
University of Rhode Island
University of Rochester (NY)
University of Saint Joseph (CT)
University of Southern Maine
University of Texas
University of Vermont
University of Washington
Vermont Technical College
Webster University (MO)
Westchester University (PA)
Western Connecticut State University (CT)
Western New England University (MA)
Westfield State University (MA)
Wheaton College (MA)
Whitman College (WA)
William and Mary College (VA)
Wilson College (PA)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA)
York College (PA)
Franklin Academy in the Workforce
This is a place where you will find confidence, embrace passions, and think about what to do with your independent adult life. Our alumni work in a range of professions including:
Social worker
Physician
Banker
Commercial airline pilot
Rodeo rider
School counselor
U.S. Senator’s aide
Cartoonist
Software developer
Science lab technician
Librarian
Soldier
Veterinary assistant
Nurse
Writer
Chef
Accountant
Teacher
Musician
Paramedic
Peace Corps volunteer
Hotel manager
Legal assistant
Marine biologist
Computer game designer
Farmer
Campaign manager
And many more!
Franklin College Connections: Empowering Pathways to Success
Franklin College Connections is our innovative post-graduate program designed specifically for neurodivergent students, providing them with a tailored pathway toward success after graduation. Whether through enrolling in college courses or interning with local organizations, the program offers both current Franklin students and new participants a personalized transition plan that aligns with their unique goals and aspirations. This thoughtful approach ensures that every student is equipped to navigate their post-secondary journey confidently.
At the heart of Franklin College Connections is a commitment to holistic skill development. We focus on essential areas such as executive functioning, academic readiness, social integration, emotional regulation, and independent living. Our program actively scaffolds the introduction to the realities of post-secondary life, fostering an environment where students can build the skills they need to thrive. By addressing both the academic and social dimensions of their futures, we empower our students to take meaningful steps toward their independence and success.
Academic Support
While many schools offer fee-based academic services, Franklin Academy provides integrated support through the Academic Development Center. Students who need additional guidance in reading and writing can enroll in individual remediated courses or receive individualized instruction to enhance their reading comprehension, decoding, and writing skills. In the evenings, the Academic Development Center provides content-based tutoring in Math, Science, English, and History from Department Chairs and peer tutors.
Besides tutoring, the Academic Development Center can support students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and other related specific learning disabilities. Specifically, the Center can support strategy and skill development in the following areas:
- Reading Comprehension
- Fluency
- Decoding
- Organization of Writing (Paragraph structure, sentence fluency)
- Research-Based Writing
- Writing Conventions
- Study Skills
- Number Concepts
- Basic Operations
- Interpreting Word Problems
- Time Management
- Planning and Prioritizing Work & Deadlines
- Breaking Down Large Assignments into Manageable Chunks
