On June 30, 2025, Franklin School, a high school located in Jersey City, New Jersey, was officially named one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Schools in the World. This recognition came from T4 Education, the UK-based organization that created the World’s Best School Prizes.
Franklin School was the only North American institution selected in the Innovation category. The school opened three years ago and is an independent high school.
T4 Education’s World’s Best School Prizes include five categories: Innovation, Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives. These prizes were created to recognize schools that “go above and beyond” in preparing students for the future.
- Franklin School is the only North American school named among the Top 10 Most Innovative Schools in the World by T4 Education in 2025.
- The school integrates real-world learning into daily instruction, including startup pitches, assistive tech projects, AI model training, and its custom-built chatbot Sparkz.
- Franklin’s curriculum includes advanced courses, APs, micro-classes by industry leaders, and hands-on programs like Franklin Student Ventures and bespoke internships.
Franklin School’s Innovation-Focused Curriculum
According to the school, Franklin’s curriculum is built around design, systems, and preparing students for the future. The learning approach is described as immersive and transformational, combining new ideas, real-world preparation, and strong academics.
Franklin’s Director of Innovation, Jaymes Dec, said that the recognition from T4 supports the model the school has developed, even before opening its doors. He explained that a Franklin education is not just about what students learn, but also about how they use that knowledge to make an impact in their lives after school.
At Franklin, students take part in hands-on projects. These may include pitching a startup idea, building assistive technology, or training an artificial intelligence (AI) model.
One example the school gave is Sparkz, a chatbot created and used within the school. Sparkz is desktop-optimized and provides students with real-time feedback at a level similar to the television show Shark Tank. It is designed to help students think carefully about their ideas, improve them, and approach problems with empathy.
T4 Education Founder Vikas Pota said that schools like Franklin show the kind of new ideas and knowledge that give people hope for a better future. He added that school leaders around the world can learn from what Franklin is doing.
Franklin Programs and Recognition
Franklin School describes its model as a combination of tradition and innovation, offering students a variety of learning experiences, which includes advanced courses, Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and micro-classes led by professionals from different industries.
Students at Franklin also work on real-world challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and entrepreneurship. The school has a program called Franklin Student Ventures, which acts as a business incubator. In this program, students are encouraged to apply what they’ve learned by creating and running their own projects.
The school also offers bespoke internships, which means students take part in internships that are designed to match their specific interests and goals.
Franklin is part of the global Dwight network, which gives students the chance to be involved in international experiences, collaborations, and competitions.
School Environment and Upcoming Announcements
Franklin’s campus is described as state-of-the-art. The school says that its approach is designed to support both students and teachers. Students are encouraged to pursue academic excellence while also building a long-term love of learning.
The school has also been named a Platinum “Best School to Work”, which recognizes its environment for teachers and staff.
William Campbell, the Founding Head of School, said that Franklin was built to help students develop a strong desire to learn and that its teachers create a culture of curiosity and challenge. He said that the recognition from T4 reflects the creativity and passion shown across all subjects in the school.
According to T4 Education, the winners in each category will be announced in October 2025.
