Franklin County Schools 2026 graduates earn over $13 million in scholarships

What happens when an entire community decides that every student deserves a shot at something greater? At Franklin County Schools, the answer arrived this graduation season when 663 graduates across four schools crossed the stage with more than $13 million in scholarships earned. It is a milestone that speaks to the ambition of the students, teachers, families, and community members who refused to let them settle for anything less. 

"This is what Franklin County is made of. When I look at these 663 graduates and the $13 million in scholarships they earned, I don't just see a number. I see every early morning, every late night, every teacher who stayed after class, and every family that believed when believing wasn't easy. Franklinton, Early College, Bunn, Louisburg Magnet; four schools, four communities, one shared conviction that our students deserve every opportunity this world has to offer. These young people proved that where you come from doesn't define where you're going. That's the Franklin County story, and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of it." — Dr. Nakia Hardy, Superintendent, Franklin County Schools

Across the district, students turned years of hard work into opportunities for the future. Franklinton High School graduates earned $8.4 million in scholarships, a reflection of a student body that continues to pursue college, career, and military pathways at impressive levels. At Early College, graduates earned more than $3.1 million in scholarships while many also completed high school with significant college credit already in hand, giving them a head start on the next chapter of their education.

Bunn High School graduates earned more than $1 million in scholarships, marking another milestone for a school community committed to expanding opportunities and helping students discover their potential. At Louisburg Magnet High School, students earned more than $500,000 in scholarships and benefited from specialized academic programs that connect classroom learning to future careers and college pathways.

But behind every dollar is a person. A first-generation college student who will be the one their whole family calls when things are hard. A student who almost didn’t make it to senior year but found their footing and never looked back. A kid who sat in a Franklin County classroom and dared to dream bigger than their circumstances and then did something about it.

Thirteen million dollars. Four schools. One county that just proved exactly what it’s made of.