Franklin High School was recently named New Hampshire’s School of the Year by New Hampshire Excellence in Education. That recognition deserves attention not just for what Franklin achieved, but for how it achieved it.
As reported by the Concord Monitor, Franklin is not a wealthy community. It has faced economic challenges and the impacts of the opioid crisis. Its high school is not new, and it does not benefit from high spending or top-tier salaries. In fact, staff noted they are among the lowest paid in the state.
Yet over the past few years, Franklin High School has undergone a remarkable transformation.
According to the Concord Monitor, school leadership redesigned the academic model, moving to longer class blocks and introducing project-based learning. Students now participate in courses that are hands-on, flexible, and sometimes even co-created. They can earn credit through real-world experiences, including coursework at local colleges and career centers.
Just as important, the culture changed. The Concord Monitor described a shift from low expectations students once expressing a belief that they “weren’t going to do anything anyway” to an environment where students feel supported, challenged and connected.
The results are measurable. Attendance increased from 83% to 93%. Discipline referrals dropped by 40%. Staff retention reached 95%, despite low pay.
None of this was driven by a new building.
That fact is worth emphasizing. At no point in this transformation, as reported by the Concord Monitor, was a major capital project cited as the catalyst. The improvements came from leadership, teaching, curriculum design and student engagement.
This does not mean facilities are irrelevant. Schools must be safe, functional and properly maintained. But Franklin’s experience highlights an important reality: beyond basic adequacy, there is little evidence that more expensive buildings produce better educational outcomes.
In fact, the Concord Monitor reporting suggests the opposite. Constraints forced creativity. Limited resources led educators to rethink how their school works, rather than relying on physical upgrades as a solution.
This distinction matters, especially as communities across New Hampshire consider large, long-term capital investments in school facilities.
Which leads to a reasonable question: what will the results be in 10 years after the Concord School District erects what may become the most expensive school building ever built in New Hampshire?
Will student outcomes materially improve? Will engagement rise? Will academic performance shift in measurable ways? Or will the results continue to be driven primarily by the same factors that drove Franklin’s success — strong educators, relevant curriculum and a supportive school culture?
Those are not rhetorical questions. They are measurable outcomes that taxpayers and families should expect to see answered over time.
Franklin High School has shown that excellence is possible without extraordinary spending. That example, as highlighted by the Concord Monitor, should inform us on how we think about future investments and what we expect in return.
Jeff Wells lives in Concord and ran for school board in the city’s 2025 municipal election.