In the fall of 1992, celebrated author, historian, and pastor Dr. George Grant began teaching one course to a small group of homeschool students. By the spring of 1993, this small group had grown to 55 homeschool parents and teens attending his evening course, “The Impact of Christianity on Western Culture.” By the end of the popular course, students requested that he continue and expand his teaching and class offerings.
By August 1993, Dr. Grant and his wife Karen partnered with publishing executive David Dunham and his wife Debbie to create a fledging homeschool cooperative they called Franklin Classical School. Dr. George Grant began teaching an American Culture Humanities course for 7th through 10th grade students, and David Dunham taught music 2 days a week, meeting at their publishing office in Franklin.
That was the first of many locations for the school, whose exponential growth gave Franklin Classical a somewhat nomadic existence for a number of years as it outgrew site after site. Soon FCS added Latin, math courses, and basic life science, moving to Franklin Fellowship Church to add more space for their students. By 1995, Franklin Classical School had its first headmaster, Robert Fulcher, as well as its first basketball team and first commencement exercises.
As the course offering continued to expand, FCS began to function as a more traditional school, offering a full range of classes. The athletic program also continued to expand, with the first football conference championship and national championship in 2003, and the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams’ first conference championships in 2004.
Though the school started with high school students, FCS began making plans to add a full elementary school as well. Yet again, Franklin Classical School had outgrown their space and entered a ten-year rental agreement with Christ Community Church in 2004.
Having served as a board member and Development Director, Jeff Dokkestul became the Principal of Franklin Classical School in 2010. That same year, Tom Carson launched the Natural Philosophy Department, which encompasses math and science. In 2015, Franklin Classical School moved into its current location at 408 Church Street in historic downtown Franklin.
Over two decades of thesis declamations, 40-hour projects, athletic competitions won and lost—these accomplishments do not begin to total the difference that a community school has made in the lives of its families and in the world at large. Franklin Classical School is founded on a love of history, but the true product of its purpose is in the future—as the slogan says, “Legacy Forward.”