Franklin vs. Franklin Special School District? (houses, neighborhoods, property taxes)

[TexasToTN]

We are moving to the Franklin area in a couple of months. Some houses we have found are zoned to Franklin Special School District. Are these considered better schools than Franklin schools are? Can someone give me some pros/cons?

Thanks!

[the_commuter]

The city of Franklin is served (for the most part) by the Franklin Special School District. In Tennessee, a 'special school district' is typically one that serves a certain municipality that wants its own school system -- as opposed to being served by the county school system. Franklin is a weird situation because some kids (in high school, I think) are actually zoned for Williamson County Schools, while others are zoned for FSSD schools. Either way, as far as schools in TN go, both Williamson Co. and FSSD are very, very good districts with very, very good schools.

[BirdieBelle]

They both are good. FSSD does not have high schools. FSSD schools all attend WCS high schools. The one problem some people have with it is that if you live in the Freedom Middle zone, you attend an intermediate school and a middle school, so you attend elementary, then transition to a different school for 5-6, then a totally different school for 7-8. Then a new high school. For some, that is too many transitions.

There are a couple of good choices in FSSD. Some of the schools have much more diverse demographics, racially and economically, than the WCS schools.

The other difference I can think of is that, because of the school system, property taxes are slightly higher in FSSD than WCS-zoned neighborhoods. But since property taxes are low in TN, the difference is negligible.

[septimus]

I think it terms of quality of education they are both considered among the best in the state. The one thing I would say is I thought FSSD was much better with special needs services than WCS.