in prison became well known as an author. Over a period of many years, Franklin athletes have had successful careers. George Nock, Wendell Tucker, and J. T. Turner played for the National Football League, and Fred Carter, Paul Graham, Pooh Richardson, and Randy Woods played for the National Basketball Association. Bryant Jennings is a heavyweight championship boxer. In September 1979 the school opened up to the first 9th graders and females. The class of 1979–1980 graduated its first and only female, Iris Chase, who wore a white and red robe instead of a blue and gold one. Franklin was one of the first high schools in Philadelphia serving the African American community. By the late 1980s the school had become run down and plagued with violence. Conditions at Franklin worsened when the School District of Philadelphia cut the school's funding due to many economic problems in the area. Dropouts and transfers were common. There were 164 freshmen enrolled in 1986, and another 71 entered the following fall, but only 181 graduated in 1990, a loss of 22 percent. In 2007, a $4 million renovation was made. The renovations included the gymnasium, auditorium and classrooms, and front entrance facade, as well as the replacement of doors and windows. In order to create new classroom space, a small rooftop building addition was constructed, with the addition of new steel dunnage and air handling units. In 2011, James Brunson Lauren Murphy-Sands and Larry Conlan started a rugby team. Their story was made into a 2019 film called The Nomads. In January 2016 a fight occurred in a hallway, and an individual fired a gun. Nobody was injured by the gunfire, and one student was arrested. Zoned neighborhoods Franklin serves several areas, including the Fairmount, Spring Garden, the section of Northern Liberties south of Poplar Street, and portions of Center City, including Chinatown, Old City, Rittenhouse Square, Logan Square, and Society Hill. In 2005 Chinatown was zoned to Franklin. Franklin currently serves Harrison Plaza, Richard Allen Housing Projects and Francisville. Feeder patterns Feeder K–8 schools include: Bache-Martin Dunbar Greenfield General Philip Kearny McCall Meade Morris Spring Garden Laura Wheeler Waring Former feeder K–8 schools include: Ferguson Harrison Hartranft Notable alumni Mumia Abu-Jamal, political activist and journalist convicted of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner Bootsie Barnes, jazz saxophonist Fred Carter, NBA shooting guard (1969–1977) Major Coxson, Philadelphia drug kingpin in the early-1970s Paul Graham,