Franklin Road Academy
Franklin Road Academy (FRA) is a private co-educational Christian school for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 located in Oak Hill, Tennessee.[3] The school was founded in 1971 and originally affiliated with the First Christian Church before it became a separate incorporated organization in 1982. FRA has been described as a segregation academy, like other schools established after a court ordered Nashville public schools to expand desegregation busing.[4]
Not to be confused with Franklin Road Christian School (Tennessee).Franklin Road Academy
Independent coeducational
1971
Sean R. Casey
PreK-12
1,040[1] (2022)
7:1[2]
62 acres (25 ha)
Blue and White
Panthers
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Independent Schools
AdvancED
The Panther Post
The Blueprint
As of 2019, its head of school is Sean Casey and its head of upper school is Jay Salato.[5] In 2016, FRA's enrollment was 795 students with ethnic and racial minority students comprising 18 percent of the student body.[2] As of 2021, the school's enrollment had increased to 925 students.[6] Its enrollment increased to 1,040 students in 2022.[1] FRA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools and AdvancED.[7][8]
Academics[edit]
Following its incorporation, Franklin Road Academy received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is also accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and AdvancED.[7][8]
FRA has pre-kindergarten through grade 12 classes split into Early Childhood (pre-kindergarten), Lower School (kindergarten-grade 4), Middle School (grades 5-8) and Upper School (grades 9-12) divisions. Courses at FRA include AP authorized by the College Board, Art, Music, Performance Arts and World Language. More than 70 percent of the faculty holds advanced degrees and 100 percent of students are accepted at four-year colleges or universities.[27][28]
The school has a kindergarten through grade 12 program known as Heart to Heart for full inclusion and educational opportunities to students with Down syndrome.[29] In 2016, the Heart to Heart program was featured on ESPN when student Robert Lewis hit a 3-pointer in his senior night basketball game.[30]
FRA is a member school of the Global Online Academy. It was the first school in Tennessee to become a member.[31]
Athletics[edit]
Franklin Road Academy is a member of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) and competes in Division II-A. Its athletic programs include cheerleading, cross country, dance, football, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball during the fall, with basketball, bowling, cheerleading, dance, hockey, swimming and wrestling during the winter, and baseball, dance, lacrosse, softball, tennis and track in the spring.[35]
The 2016 Franklin Road Academy baseball team won the DII-A state championship.[36] The baseball team also won state championships in 1984, 1988, and 2000.[36]
The boys basketball team finished second in the State Championship in 2011, 2014 and 2016–2017. The girls basketball team won the State Championship in 2011 and 2013, with second-place finishes in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2018.[37]
The boys cross country team has won eight State Championships titles in 1997, 1999, 2000–2003, 2005, and 2018. The girls cross country team won the State Championship from 1996 to 1998.[37]
The football team won the State Championship in 1991.[37]
The boys golf team won the State Championship in 1993 while the girls golf team won the State Championship ten times in 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017–2020.[37]
The boys soccer team finished second place in 2012 and the girls soccer team has recorded four State Championships in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007.[37]
The boys tennis won the State title in 2011, while girls tennis won the State title in 2004 and 2007 with a second-place finish in 1998.[37]
The boys track and field team has won 23 State Championships in 1981-82, 1986, 1994-95, 1998-2007, 2012, 2014-16, 2018-19 and 2021-22. The girls track and field team has won six State Championships in 1980, 1998-99, 2000, 2018 and 2022.[37]
Boys wrestling won the 1988 State Championship and the Dual State title in 2005 for Division I Small School.[37]