Not too long ago IIRC there was someone who posted here about similarities between the FACTS OF LIFE series and another one. This other show was called DOROTHY (naturally enough as it starred the recently-deceased Broadway actress Dorothy Loudon), I remember seeing it during its brief run, the setting and cast resembled FOL. It was also set in a school for girls and, as there were four "main" young actresses along with Dorothy, it was more like FOL from the second season than the first (with the larger cast).

Yes, as someone also mentioned, Linda Manz (who was in THE WANDERERS) was in a role similar to Nancy McKeon as "Jo." And Elissa Leeds played the Lisa Whelchel/"Blair" part. Probably the actress who went on to the most success of the four, though Leeds and Manz continued to act (don't know about the fourth), was Michele Greene. MG of course was later a regular on LA LAW and other series besides guest starring on various productions. Don't remember if Michele Greene's character or the fourth actress' had any common points with anyone on FOL.

One difference, though, was between Dorothy as "Dorothy" and Charlotte Rae as "Mrs. Garrett." Dorothy's character was very similar to the real Dorothy Loudon, she was supposedly a Broadway actress who was teaching music (?) at this school (not a housemother/keeper like Mrs. G). So, to take advantage of that, the DOROTHY show had her perform regular musical numbers (don't recall if it was with or without the students) within each episode. FOL had some of that but not every ep. Perhaps wisely, maybe that aspect of DOROTHY didn't go over well with the television audience and led to its being shut down quickly.

Anthony