Franklin Regional Senior High School

My son graduated from FRHS and my daughter is currently a junior. I understand the view of many reviewers here that the community is predominantly wealthy, and some of the kids can be very classist in how they treat others. There's a history here that's important to understand: The county income tax in Westmoreland County is 0.5%, but in Allegheny County it's 1%. Murrysville is the closest town to Pittsburgh on a highway, and outside of Allegheny County. Highly paid engineers and professionals who work in Pittsburgh move to Murrysville to reduce their tax exposure. Export is an old coal-town. Coal operations here have long since wound down, but there are still many families of lesser means living in Export. Kids from both towns go to Franklin Regional schools. The Export families are more socially and environmentally conservative, the Murrysville families are more economically conservative. They all go to the same churches. They almost all vote Republican, but they are animated by different issues... and the rich kids can be a little snobby.Our experience has been largely affected by the Band program. Franklin Regional, starting in the 5th grade, has an amazing band program. Really one of the best in the state. They perform regularly in the biggest parades in the country. My kids have marched in the Rose Parade, the Macy's Parade and the Inaugural Parade. Within the band program, the kids are very supportive of each other regardless of income level, and treat each other respectfully as musicians. The kids generally supply their own instruments, but the schools have a lot of instruments to lend (an advantage of living in a wealthy community), so it's very accessible to lower income families. Another observation is that FR is very accepting and welcoming to LGBTQ students and families. Despite the general "red-state" lean of the community, there seems to be strong support for gay rights.It's an interesting place, not a bad place to live, and if a kid shows a predilection towards making music, FR is a great district to help nurture that talent.

I am both a parent of a child currently in the Franklin Regional School District, and a graduate myself. After reading the reviews, I felt I had to add my thoughts as well. I came into the district in 8th grade, and it is difficult to fit in when you didn't grow up around here and/or if your parents aren't rich, as a few people have noted. The community is primarily: rich, privileged, white people that have a way of making anyone that is different feel unworthy, and therefore excluded. That being said, the education, and then in turn the future opportunities provided by the district is excellent. So ultimately, we are forced to make a choice for our children. Is the education worth it? Initially when my daughter was in kindergarten, I thought it wasn't, and she started school in another district. Before the end of the year I changed my mind and moved back to the district before she started 1st grade. I overcame the difficulties as a child, and I think she can also. It's not easy, but a quality education is hard to find and something she will be able to benefit from her entire life. I have made sure we have an open relationship, and discuss any problems she may encounter at school.

I am not only a former graduate of FR, my 4 kids are in this district as well. I have two in younger grades and two in the high school. I am very happy with the district. The education I received has taken me very far and I am very happy with the education my children are receiving. I have heard the below comments a few times, and while that may be their experience, it is certainly not everyone's. We recently had a national tragedy occur at our school and the community, and district and students really came together. I would want to live no where else and I would not want my kids to attend any other school. There are bullies at FR. But...find one school where there are not. I am teaching my kids how to handle bullies because they will be everywhere throughout their lives. I cannot just move every time my child is picked on. My kids have friends in ALL economic and social divisions and that seems to be the norm. It is an extremely economically diverse (though not racially diverse unfortunately) district.

Two of my sons went to Franklin Regional all four years; my third son is set to start their next year. It is definitely a rich white school culture, but its academics are disappointing to say the least. The primary focus of the curriculum is to standardized tests so the students will get high marks on them. My oldest son was in all of the honors programs, and none of my sons hardly ever have any homework. When we moved here from the State College school district, both of my sons said it was about a year and a half before they saw any new subject material in any class. In college now, my oldest son was not well-prepared even though he got high marks all years at FR. I would rank the entire school system here as poor for the academic challenge and growth opportunities it offers its students. Additionally the snobbish over-emphasis upon parental income among the students is something I often hear negatively commented on by former students, even years later. I'm sorry, but giving a 16 year old a new Acura SUV to drive to school does nothing whatsoever to build his or her character. It just reinforces the sense of entitlement transfused directly from parent to child.