Franklin County High School
Address
1100 East Main Street (US 60)

Frankfort
,
KY
40601

United States
Coordinates38°12′39″N 84°49′37″W / 38.21087°N 84.82690°W / 38.21087; -84.82690
Information
TypePublic
Established1958
School districtFranklin County Public Schools
PrincipalChris Tracy
Teaching staff54.00 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12[1]
Enrollment942 (2019–20)[1]
Student to teacher ratio17.44[1]
CampusSmall city
Color(s)     
MascotFlyer
NicknameFlyers
Websitewww.franklin.kyschools.us/fchs/home

Franklin County High School is the largest of three public high schools in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, and is one of two high schools operated by Franklin County Public Schools.[2] The campus also houses the Franklin County Career & Technical Center, which offers vocational training. The principal of the school is Chris Tracy.

History

Franklin County High was opened in the fall of 1958 and dedicated on November 30 of that year. It consolidated Elkhorn, Bridgeport, Bald Knob, and Peaks Mill High Schools.[3] Franklin County is named for Benjamin Franklin, and the high school's mascot, the Flyer, was chosen in honor of Franklin's kite experiment. The mascot itself is a bird named "Freddie Falcon".[4]

In 1981, the Franklin County district was split into two high school attendance zones with the opening of Western Hills High School, with Franklin County High now serving primarily the eastern half of the county, including eastern portions of the city of Frankfort. The central part of the city is served by a separate district, Frankfort Independent Schools, which operates the other public high school in the county, Frankfort High School.

In 1990, science classrooms and some math classrooms were enlarged, two computer labs were added, and the library was expanded. A more extensive renovation project began in the summer of 1997 and continued uninterrupted through the summer of 2001. The facade was updated, the original band room and administrative offices were torn down, and the original bus circle was removed. New music classrooms, practice rooms, business classrooms, and offices were constructed. Also added was a new center hallway on both the first and second floors; the second-floor hallway connects the original front wing with the back foyer. The cafeteria, auditorium, and gymnasium also were updated, and the library and the remaining original classrooms were enlarged.[5]

In late 2015 Franklin County High School was featured in a national OxiClean commercial. The first of the two 30-second commercials is called "Pride", and it features the team's members and equipment manager sharing their enthusiasm for OxiClean and how clean the team's uniforms look.[6]

Head Principals

  • Clyde Orr (1958-1959)
  • Garland Kemper (1959-1960)
  • Ronald Connelly (1960-1963)
  • Elmer Moore (1963-1966)
  • John Underwood (1966-1967)
  • Robert Hoagland (1967-1991)
  • Jim Shrock (1991-1999)
  • Mike Henderson (1999)
  • Sharon Collett (1999-2012)
  • Stirling "Buddy" Sampson (2012-2017)
  • Charles Lewis (2017-2021)
  • Chris Tracy (2022-Present)

Academics

FCHS offers two diploma choices for students: Enrichment and Academic diplomas. The Enrichment Diploma requires 15.5 core units and 11.5 elective units. The Academic option requires 18.5 core units and 10.5 elective units. Students are graded on a 4-point GPA scale.[7]

JROTC

There is an Air Force Junior ROTC Wing at the school. KY-20021 supports the school by providing Color Guards for home football and basketball games. The Color Guard has presented flags flown over the capital for former congressman Ben Chandler at Hearn Elementary, and also participated in the 2007 Inauguration Parade for the former Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear and the 2015 Inauguration Parade for the former Governor Matt Bevin

The rifle exhibition team started in 2005, has performed for the school, a Kentucky State University football game at halftime, and various elementary schools in the area. A Kitty Hawk Air Society chapter, named the William H. Cornish Chapter, is also in place.

Along with color guard, drill, and rifle exhibition, the unit also has a Raiders team.

AFJROTC Unit KY-20021 has attended multiple summer leadership schools, and the cadets have won numerous awards.

Athletics

The school is a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA). FCHS offers its students the opportunity to participate in multiple sports:

The school's gymnasium, tennis court, football stadium/track, baseball, softball and soccer fields are located behind the school. A training facility with locker rooms and a weight room is found beside the football stadium.

The Flyers' main rivals are the Western Hills Wolverines and the Frankfort Panthers.

The Flyers' football stadium, Benny Watkins Field, also hosts the sprint football team of nearby Midway University. Sprint football is a variant of American football which restricts player weights to 178 pounds (81 kg). Midway began play in that sport in 2022.[8]

Team records

Team Year Achievement
Girls' Basketball 2021 Sweet Sixteen Appearance [9]
Football 2020 Class 4A State Championship Runner-Up [10]
Girls' Basketball 2020 Sweet Sixteen Appearance[11]
Girls' Basketball 2017 State Runners Up[12]
Girls' Basketball 2016 State Runners Up[13]
Girls' Basketball 2015 Sweet Sixteen Appearance[14]
Chess Club 2007 Most Checkmates
Dance Team 2004 National Champions (beat 3 teams in division)
Softball 1995–2006 11th Most Wins (200)[15]
Baseball 2001 State Final Four[16]
Girls' Basketball 1998 5th Most Rebounds in a Season (1,355)[17]
Girls' Golf 1996 State Champions[18]
Boys' Basketball 1995 Sweet Sixteen Appearance
Girls' Golf 1995 State Champions[18]
Boys' Golf 1991 State Champions[19]
Boys' Golf 1990 State Champions[19]
Boys' Cross Country 1986 AA State Champions[20]
Girls' Cross Country 1986 AA State Runners Up[21]
Girls' Cross Country 1983 AA State Runners Up[21]
Girls' Basketball 1980 State Runners Up[22][23]
Football 1979 Undefeated Regular Season
Football 1978 AAAA State At Large Runners Up
Girls' Cross Country 1977 AA State Runners Up[21]
Girls' Cross Country 1975 AA State Champions[24]
Girls' Track and Field 1972 AA State Champions[25]
Girls' Track and Field 1972 AA State Champions[25]
Girls' Track and Field 1971 AA State Champions[25]

Fight song

The Franklin County High Fight Song is mostly played at sporting events where the school's band is present, mainly football and basketball games. As the band begins to play the song, fans stand up, clap and sing along with the music.[26]

Alma mater

The school's Alma Mater is not as widely known as the fight song and is mainly played at graduation and other scholarly events. The "Avenue of Trees" referenced in the song describes the tall oak trees lining the shared driveway between the school and Elkhorn Middle School from the entrance at East Main Street. However, this entrance was closed and no longer exists because of traffic re-routing. Both schools now have separate entrances to alleviate traffic.

Many high schools in Kentucky use re-written lyrics to popular college songs, both Franklin County's Fight Song and Alma Mater are original works by the school's first band director, David Livingston, written specifically for Franklin County High School.[26]

Alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Franklin County High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "School Contact Information". Franklin County Public Schools. Archived from the original on 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  3. ↑ Younkin, Linda (March 9, 2018). "A way with words: Don Dampier's latest book a tribute to high school basketball". The State Journal.
  4. ↑ Report, State Journal Staff (December 12, 2011). "More to mascot than meets the eye". The State Journal.
  5. ↑ Franklin County High School Yearbooks 1998-2002
  6. ↑ "Kentucky High School Featured In National OxiClean Campaign". www.lex18.com. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  7. ↑ "Grading Scale". Franklin County High School. Archived from the original on 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  8. ↑ "Midway Sprint Football releases schedule for inaugural season" (Press release). Midway Eagles. September 9, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ VENO, CHANDA. "Lady Flyers to open Sweet 16 against South Laurel". The State Journal. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  10. ↑ Younkin, Linda (December 19, 2020) [December 18, 2020]. "Boyle County edges Franklin County for state championship". www.state-journal.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  11. ↑ Younkin, Linda (March 11, 2020). "Lady Flyers come up short at Sweet 16, fall to Anderson County 40-37". The State Journal.
  12. ↑ Fields, Mike (March 12, 2017). "Kentucky High School Athletic Association". khsaa.org.
  13. ↑ "Butler beats Franklin Co. for KHSAA title". The Enquirer. Highland Heights. Associated Press. March 13, 2016.
  14. ↑ Maloney, Mark (November 12, 2015). "Girls' Sweet Sixteen: Allen-County Scottsville dominates Franklin County 52-32". Lexington Herald Leader.
  15. ↑ "KHSAA FAST PITCH SOFTBALL STATE RECORDS" (PDF). KHSAA.
  16. ↑ "2001 KHSAA State Baseball Tournament" (PDF). KHSAA.
  17. ↑ "KHSAA Girls' Basketball - State Records" (PDF). KHSAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  18. 1 2 "KHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AND RECORDS" (PDF). KHSAA.
  19. 1 2 "KHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AND RECORDS" (PDF). KHSAA.
  20. ↑ "KHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AND RECORDS" (PDF). KHSAA.
  21. 1 2 3 "Team Score Records" (PDF). KHSAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  22. ↑ "Butler beats Franklin Co. for KHSAA title".
  23. ↑ "Mercer County beats Franklin County 85-71, earns girls title - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports". www.wave3.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "KHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AND RECORDS" (PDF). KHSAA.
  25. 1 2 3 "Girls Track Compiled Team Champions Listing" (PDF). KHSAA.
  26. 1 2 "Special Requirements". Franklin County High School.
  27. ↑ Moore, Josh; Varney, Dennis (April 28, 2018). "NFL Draft: Former Franklin County star Logan Woodside selected by Bengals". Lexington Herald Leader.
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