This week, The Franklin School, a high quality child development center, opened its doors to over 100 children ages six weeks to five.  This exciting event has been years in the making and is the result of a tremendous collaborative effort.

In December 2013, the Mary Black Foundation announced a lead gift to build a build a model, high quality early learning center to serve our youngest residents.  A committee of dedicated volunteers then researched best practices in early learning to create a center that would offer the best opportunities for Spartanburg’s children. When the plans for The Franklin School were announced in 2017, the Spartanburg community stepped forward to help raise over $10 million for the state-of-the-art facility.

The Franklin School is a child development center unlike anything in this area.  Obviously, the facility itself is special.  Every inch of the building was designed and constructed with a young child’s learning in mind – from the large classrooms with access to outdoor play to the use of lighting and natural landscapes.

But, what really matters is what happens inside the walls of The Franklin School.  A unique partnership among Northside Development Group, Piedmont Community Action, Spartanburg County First Steps, School District 7, and USC Upstate will ensure high quality teachers and curriculum.  This partnership brings together private child care and programs that support families with the high costs of child care, like Early Head Start, Head Start, and School District 7’s 4K program.  Sliding scale tuition is also offered to families based on income.  Eligible families living in the City’s Northside will receive priority enrollment for open slots.

The Franklin School is another example of how Spartanburg works together for the benefit of our community without the need for credit or ownership.  Spartanburg’s collaborative spirit makes a vision like The Franklin School become a reality.