Franklin Learning Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Franklin Learning Center (formerly Williams Penn High School for Girls)
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Franklin Learning Center, August 2010
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1501 Mount Vernon St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1908–1909 |
| Architect | Henry deCoursey Richards |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Philadelphia Public Schools TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003316 |
| Added to NRHP | December 1, 1986 |
The Franklin Learning Center is a special high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It used to be called William Penn High School for Girls. This historic building is located in the Spring Garden neighborhood. It is part of the School District of Philadelphia. The school building was designed by Henry deCoursey Richards and built over 100 years ago, from 1908 to 1909.
When it first opened, it was a school only for girls. It was also one of the first schools in Philadelphia to welcome students of all races. The building is four stories tall and made of brick and limestone. It has a beautiful Classical Revival style, which looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The school was named after William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania.
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A New Direction for the School
In 1970, the School District of Philadelphia planned to update William Penn High School. They also planned to update Benjamin Franklin High School, which was an all-boys school nearby. The idea was to make both schools open to both boys and girls. The district decided to build a brand new campus for William Penn High School. This new campus opened in the 1974-1975 school year.
A New Learning Program
At Benjamin Franklin High School, a science teacher named Frank Guido had a different idea. He wanted his school to become co-ed too. Mr. Guido suggested a new way of learning called a "competency-based program." In this program, students could learn at their own speed. They earned credits based on what they learned, not just how much time they spent in class. This meant that students who worked hard could finish high school faster. For example, a student could finish in three years instead of the usual four.
The school district liked Mr. Guido's idea. However, they decided to move this new program to the old William Penn facility.
Franklin Learning Center is Born
During the 1974-1975 school year, the old William Penn school building became co-ed. It was also renamed the Franklin Learning Center (FLC). For its first year, FLC was connected to Franklin High School. Frank Guido was the director of the new program.
The next school year, FLC became its own magnet school. A magnet school is a special public school that focuses on certain subjects. Mr. Guido became the school's first principal. He was later promoted by the school district in 1992. Mr. Guido retired in 1993 and passed away in 2006.
What FLC Offers Today
Today, the Franklin Learning Center offers many different subjects or "majors" for its students. These include health, business, music (singing and instruments), visual arts, dance, and computer science. The school has been recognized for its excellence. It was named a National Blue Ribbon School in both 1992 and 2010. The special credit program from before has changed. Now, FLC uses a traditional grading system, like most schools.
The historic building itself was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it is an important place that is protected for its history.
