Franklin High School (Los Angeles, California)

Infobox High School
name= Franklin High School


headmaster=
principal=
motto=
established= 1916
type= Public
location= Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA
enrollment= 2600
campus= Suburban
colors= Blue, Gold
nicknames=Panthers
conference=
website= [http://www.franklinhs.org/ Official website] |

Franklin High School The official name is Benjamin Franklin High School (FHS) is situated in the Highland Park neighborhood, approximately three miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, California, United States.

First established in 1916 with an enrollment of 225 students, the school currently educates approximately 2,600 students within the facility. [The Early Years [http://www.franklinhs.org/the_early_years.jsp?rn=7396014] ] Enrollment has dropped from 3,500 since 2005. Its buildings can be found on both sides of Avenue 54, in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park. This high school, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), is actually rather large compared to others in the district. The students body is made up mostly of Latino and Asian students and reflects the makeup of the working class neighborhood of Highland Park. The school is named after statesman Benjamin Franklin. School colors are navy blue and gold and the mascot is the panther.

Highland Park and other neighborhoods are assigned to Franklin. Cypress Park residents may choose between Franklin and Lincoln High School.

As of the 2006-2007 school year, Franklin runs on a year-round schedule which composes of an A-Track, B-Track and a C-Track. It has been stated that, as of the 2008-2009 school year, Franklin will run on a traditional schedule, because of the drop in enrollment.

Currently Franklin offers SLCs (small learning communities) to its students which includes: Health & Human Services, Arroyo Seco (formerly Transportation Academy), Academy of American Studies, Media & Graphic Arts (aka MEGA), Business & Technology (aka BEST), Business & Sports Science (aka ABSS), Cultural Discoveries, Math & Science Magnet and the 9th Grade House.

As of the 2007-2008 school year, Franklin will add an Advisory class to every students' schedule in place of homeroom. Each class meets up every Tuesday during the middle of the day and offers school credit just like any other course.

As of the 2008-2009 school year, Franklin will have a traditional schedule. In the transition from a year round school, several small learning communities were eliminated. There will no longer be a ninth grade house, Business & Technology (BEST) or Cultural Discoveries. The faculty also voted overwhelmingly to suspend the advisory program.

History

Franklin opened in 1916 with 225 students.

The school will be relieved by Central Region High School 13 when the school opens in 2011 [http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=56.40007] .

Notable alumni

*Alan Arkin, actor.
*Lee Baca '60, Sheriff of Los Angeles County.
*Joey Castro, Top national jockey; graduated in 1981.
*Kalvin Cressel, current defensive tackle for the San Jose State Spartans; graduated in 2005.
*Rocky Delgadillo, Harvard graduate and attorney; now Los Angeles City Attorney. Graduated in 1978.
*Daryl F. Gates, a 1944 graduate, Los Angeles Police Department's Chief of Police from 1978 to 1992.
*Armando Gonzalez, Los Angeles' most successful football coach, graduated in 1969. [(2007) [http://www.danahillsfootball.com/coaching/armando_gonzalez.php|Head Coach Gonzalez: Bio] , Dana Hills Prep. Accessed August 24, 2007.]
*Sammy Lee, Class of 1938; Olympic Diver with 2 Gold Medals; coached the likes of Pat McCormick and Greg Louganis.
*Ronnie Lopez, Utah State quarterback, went on to play in Oklahoma Arena League football. Graduated in 1986.
*Fili Martinez, Drafted as a pitcher; graduated from Cal-State Northridge; graduated in 1985.
*Ramón Martínez, SS-Drafted by the California Angels; graduated in 1987.
*Meredith B. Mitchell, Ph.D.(Psychology) 1945 graduate, became a Jungian analyst after receiving a B.S. in electrical engineering from Caltech and a Ph.D. in psychology from Claremont Graduate University. He is author of "Hero or Victim?"
*Rich Perez, 1982 Athlete of the year, Won the Peter Clentzos FHS award as top athlete, now a sports announcer and Las Vegas Hotel Executive, creator of Fox Sports "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" Harlem Globetrotters announcer, University of Hawaii Football announcer & minor league baseball player picked up in the 1983 supplemental draft by the Cincinnati Reds who traded his rights to the Houston Astros, Spent many years bouncing to San Francisco Giants,Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles. Rich between baseball stints, also coached at FHS from 1983-1989 and won the City Title in Baseball along with head coach Rick Campbell in 1989. Perez is also the Father of an American Hero, United States Marine, lost in Iraq LCpl Richard A. Perez Jr. 2/05. An Associates graduate of Notre Dame's Mendoza Campus in South Bend, Indiana and Undergraduate at University of Phoenix with a BSB/C in Communications.
*Brandon Powers, wide receiver for the Oregon State Beavers.
*Bobby Riggs, Challenged Billie Jean King at the Houston Astrodome in The Battle of the Sexes.
*Gene Roddenberry, creator of the television show Star Trek. His influence can be seen on some classroom walls, where murals depicting Star Trek-style spacecraft are seen.
*Gilbert von Studnitz, genealogist and author; graduated in 1968.
*Porntip Nakhirunkanok, Winner of the 1988 Miss Universe Pageant, Actress, whom Married the Owner of the Indiana Pacers.
*Lamont Lovitt, At the time the Record Breaking Franklin Running Back went on to the University of Arizona where he is now a Sportscaster for UA.
*Peter Clentzos, Franklin's lone Olympian Athlete. Pete was an outstanding Athlete who characterized as a role model for most of the above. Pete was also a great teacher at FHS and most likely taught all of the above. The highest honor an athlete can get is the Peter Clentzos award at FHS.

Notes

Prontip Nakhirunkanok- Winner of the Miss Universe Pageant 1988, Married the Owner of the Indiana Pacers.

External links

* [http://www.franklinhs.org Official FHS site]