Franklin County is home to school systems Franklin County School System and Russellville City School System. The Franklin County and Russellville City School Systems are all fully accredited by both the State Department of Education and the southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. There are a total of 7 county, 4 city elementary and secondary public schools and 3 private schools. Northwest-Shoals Community College, the state's first community college, is the county's higher education institution. Other accredited colleges and universities within an hour drive include the University of North Alabama, Calhoun Community College. All offer advanced degrees.

The Russellville City School System is composed of four schools located in an educational park totaling 115 acres. West Elementary School houses grades K-2, Russellville Elementary School grades 3-5, Russellville Middle School grades 6-8, and Russellville High School grades 9-12.   The school system is an integral part of and perhaps the greatest source of pride in Russellville and the surrounding community.   Tradition and dedication on the part of administration, staff, parents and students put the schools and their successes in the forefront. Enrollment has been fairly consistent for the past few years.   With approximately 2399 students in the system. The commitment to students and helping them experience success continue to be the driving force for Russellville City Schools.   We are proud of our past successes which only motivate us to continue and improve on them. Their website contains more information.

Northwest-Shoals Community College is a single, comprehensive two-year public institution of higher education. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and the Associate in Applied Science degrees as well as certificates in occupationally specific areas.
Located in the Northwest corner of Alabama, our college is comprised of multiple campuses serving the counties of Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, and Lawrence, and the western portion of Winston county. Our students come from both urban and rural communities to our campus sites in the Shoals and Phil Campbell.

Athens State University

AIDT will conduct pre-hire and on-the-job training to your specifications free of charge. Their services can include, but are not limited to, supervisory training; pre-hire and on-the-job training of production employees; reimbursement of instructor salaries; payment of expenses for classroom materials, instructional

In 1987, a group of experts were selected and charged with analyzing the need for an International Training and Technology Center for Secondary Wood Product Manufacturers in Alabama. The team was identified as Alabama's Forestry Team.
These members represented the following:
Alabama International Trade Center at the University of Alabama
The Forest Products Development Center at Auburn University
Alabama Forestry Commission
Alabama Development Office

As the study progressed, it was determined that a large percentage of secondary wood products were produced in Northwest Alabama.  Several training sites were identified as finalists. Northwest-Shoals Community College at Phil Campbell, Alabama was selected based on location and building availability.
An updated study in 1992 was completed by the Alabama International Trade Center and the Forest Products Development Center regarding the further need for an International Training and Technology Center for Secondary Wood Products.  The need was obvious as the numbers of Alabama (and especially Northwest Alabama) industries, which deal with the secondary wood products, was enormous. These industries were struggling primarily with labor, machinery, and environmental issues.
In 1994, officials with the Alabama International Trade Center, the Forest Products Development Center, and the Alabama Technology Network, met with Northwest-Shoals Community College leaders to discuss the project.  The need now was extremely critical especially in the light of events concerning the textile industry.
In 1996, the Alabama Center for Advanced Woodworking Technology was established.  The center's main goal has been to develop employee training seminars.
The center consists of two full-time and one part-time employee charged with developing a group of educators and industrialists qualified to give specialized presentations and hands-on workshops. The two full-time staff members each have a specialized background, as does the industry.  One comes from and has a formal education in the forest products primary segment while the second staff member has a background and formal education in the secondary segment and educational training. Their website may be viewed here.

Franklin County Schools