Framingham Public School District

Framingham, Massachusetts
Town

Seal

Location in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°16′45″N 71°25′00″W / 42.27917°N 71.41667°W / 42.27917; -71.41667Coordinates: 42°16′45″N 71°25′00″W / 42.27917°N 71.41667°W / 42.27917; -71.41667
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Middlesex County
Settled 1650
Incorporated 1700
Government
  Type Representative town meeting
Area
  Total 26.4 sq mi (68.5 km2)
  Land 25.1 sq mi (65.1 km2)
  Water 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
Elevation 165 ft (50 m)
Population (2000)
  Total 66,910
  Density 2,663.6/sq mi (1,028.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 01701, 01702, 01703, 01704, 01705
Area code(s) 508 / 774
Website http://www.framinghamma.gov/

The Framingham Public School District or Framingham Public Schools (FPS) comprises thirteen public schools in the town of Framingham, Massachusetts.[1] It is classified as one of the state's 24 urban school districts,[2] while the district generally describes itself as urban/suburban. The school district's main offices are located in the Fuller Administration Building on Flagg Drive[3] with additional offices at the George P. King Building on Water Street.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s Framingham upgraded its schools, replacing the former Cameron school with a completely new school and performed major renovations to the Wilson elementary school, the McCarthy elementary school and the high school. Two public school buildings that were mothballed due to financial issues or population drops were leased to the Metrowest Jewish Day School (at the former Juniper Hill Elementary) and Mass Bay Community College (at the former Farley Middle school). At some point in the 1980s, the district sold off some of its older, smaller schools that were no longer being used, including Lincoln, Roosevelt and Washington. These schools were originally constructed in the 1930s as part of several WPA buildings. Additionally, the former Memorial school on Hollis street was closed when high levels of asbestos was found in the building. The Lincoln school is now a medical office building, Memorial and Roosevelt are now senior citizen housing and Washington demolished and replaced with a park.

The Framingham School Department can trace its roots back to 1706 when the town hired its first school master, Deacon Joshua Hemenway. While Framingham had its first school master, it did not get its own public school building until 1716. The first high school, the Framingham Academy, opened its doors in 1792; however that school was eventually closed due to financing issues and the legality of the town providing funds for a private school. The first town-operated high school opened in 1852 and has been in operation continuously in numerous locations throughout the town.[4]

The Superintendent of Schools is Dr. Stacy Scott.

Public schools

Preschool

BLOCKS in an acronym for Building Learning Opportunities for Children's Kindergarten Success. The B.L.O.C.K.S. Preschool is a preschool that offers half-day, full-day, and extended-day sessions at the King Building and the Framingham High School.

Elementary schools

All Framingham elementary schools feature kindergarten through grade five.

Facilities:
  • 30 classrooms on four floors
  • Cafeteria
  • Auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • Olympic sized pool (closed)
  • In-school library
  • 7 baseball fields (in adjacent athletic facility)
  • Outdoor basketball court (in adjacent athletic facility)
  • 1 multi-use athletic field (football/soccer/lacrosse)
Facilities:
  • 36 classrooms on two floors
  • Shared cafeteria/auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • In-school library
  • Central courtyard
  • Community playground
  • 2 multi-use athletic fields (football/soccer/lacrosse)
Facilities:
  • 30 classrooms
  • Shared cafeteria/auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • In-school library
  • Central courtyard
  • Community playground
  • 2 baseball fields (shared with Walsh Middle School)
  • 1 multi-use athletic field (football/soccer/lacrosse/track & field, shared with Walsh Middle School)
  • 1 outdoor basketball court (shared with Walsh Middle School)
  • 4 outdoor asphalt tennis courts (shared with Walsh Middle School)
Facilities:
  • 30 classrooms, 2 temporary classroom facilities
  • Shared cafeteria/auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • In-school library
  • Central courtyard
  • Community playground
  • 1 baseball field
Facilities:
  • 30 classrooms
  • Shared cafeteria/auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • In-school library and computer lab
  • Community playground
  • 1 baseball field (shared with Fuller Middle School)
  • 2 baseball fields (in adjacent athletic facility)
  • 2 multi-use athletic fields (football/soccer/lacrosse, in adjacent athletic facility)
Facilities:
  • 36 classrooms on two floors
  • Shared cafeteria/auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • In-school library and computer lab
  • Central courtyard
  • Community playground
  • 2 baseball fields
  • 1 multi-use athletic field (football/soccer/lacrosse)
  • 1 outdoor basketball court
Facilities
  • 30 classrooms on two floors
  • Shared cafeteria/auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • In-school library and computer lab
  • Community playground
Facilities
  • 44 classrooms on two floors
  • Shared cafeteria/auditorium
  • Gymnasium
  • In-school library and computer lab
  • Community playground

Middle schools

All Framingham middle schools feature grades six through eight.

High school

From 1963 until 1990, the town operated two independent high schools; Framingham North High School and Framingham South High School. The two separate high schools often competed with each other in sports, causing a friendly rivalry. Due to falling population, the two schools were combined at the campus of Framingham North, which was renamed Framingham High School. (The Framingham South High school building was made into the Fuller Middle School.)
The two high schools were distinguished by their colors and mascots: North had the Spartans in yellow and green while South had the Flyers in blue and white. When the time for the merger of the schools came, the district held an election to determine the fate of the colors and mascots. The winning combination was to be the Spartans in blue and white, however alumni of the original Framingham High raised a protest that the town should revert to the original mascot and colors which happened to be used by Framingham South. The School Committee agreed with the alumni and overrode the students choice.

References

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