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Franklin Middle School
Franklin Middle School opened it's doors on August 27, 1984. The school was designed by architect Semon S. Samaha of
Annandale, VA. Since that time Franklin has had five principals, R.C. Bosley, Doug
Rice, Johnnie Hamilton, Dr. Michelle Peyser, and Sharon
Eisenberg.
Franklin Middle School opened with 690 students and, within the year, the student population had grown to 734. As of the 2006-2007 school year Franklin has approximately 1000 students. Currently, Franklin has 3 state of the art computer labs and three mobile labs for English and Science.
One of the more unusual events to take place in the school was the wedding of a staff member who decided that the central staircase would make a splendid wedding backdrop.
Who Was Ben Franklin?
Our school was named after Benjamin Franklin. He was born on January 17, 1706. He invented the Franklin stove, the lightening rod, and bifocal eyeglasses. Benjamin Franklin is probably best remembered for the electricity experiment in which he flew a kite during a thunderstorm. Franklin was also a notable statesman. He served as a representative to France during the Revolutionary War and helped to draft the Declaration of Independence. His other literary accomplishments include publishing a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, and writing Poor Richard's Almanac.
How We Got Our Name
In 1984, parents and administrators met to discuss a name for the new school.
Possible names included Carl Sandburg, John Foster Dulles, Sully, Louisa May
Alcott,
Benjamin Franklin, and Clara Barton. It has been somewhat of a tradition in Fairfax County
to name middle schools after American authors, though this doesn't happen 100% of
the time. Benjamin Franklin was chosen even after it was acknowledged that there might be some
confusion with the name of a nearby development, Franklin Farms. Benjamin Franklin
Intermediate School was dedicated on November 4, 1984, after its August, 1984 opening. Our
name became Benjamin Franklin Middle School in the early 1990's.
