The district serves over 23,000 students, representing the region’sdiverse socioeconomic mix. RPS is comprised of 28 elementaryschools, including one charter school, eight middle schools, fivecomprehensive high schools and three specialty schools. Two highschools, Richmond Community and Open, are ranked amongAmerica’s best by U. S. News and World Report. And, FranklinMilitary Academy stands as the nation’s first public military school.The district also operates two regional Governor’s School programs.Gifted and talented students are served by SPACE (SpecialProgram for Academic and Creative Excellence) at the elementaryand middle school levels, and by advanced placement and dualenrollment courses at the high school level. Academically advancedstudents may also earn the prestigious International Baccalaureate(IB) diploma at Thomas Jefferson High School or apply to attendthe Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Governmental andInternational Studies and the Appomattox Governor’s School for theArts and Technology.

Did You Know?

• Richmond Public Schools recently launched its “Schools for Excellence” initiative funded by a five-year, $27million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Teacher Incentive Fund. The program is designed to help schools recruit and retain National Board certified teachers.
• The district’s Middle School Renaissance initiative provides a program of rigorous academics and after-school enrichment opportunities for students.
• Eight Richmond City schools were recognized with 2012 VirginiaIndex of Performance (VIP) awards. Two schools, Mary MunfordElementary and Richmond Community High, earned 2012 StateBoard of Education Excellence Awards. Schools recognized with theState Board’s Competence to Excellence Award include: BellevueElementary, Broad Rock Elementary, John B. Cary Elementary, AlbertHill Middle, Open High and Swansboro Elementary. The StateBoard of Education created the VIP incentive program in 2007 torecognize schools and divisions that achieve excellence and farexceed minimun state and federal accountability standards.
• In recent years, the district has launched several programs toaddress increased academic rigor and 21st Century workplaceskills. These include high-level Chinese and Latin classes at themiddle school level through the Virtual Virginia Distance Learninginitiative, expanding Franklin Military Academy to servesixth-graders, and launching the Governor’s Career and TechnicalEducation Academy for Science, Technology, Engineering andMath (STEM) at the Richmond Technical Center.
• All RPS elementary schools provide the Elementary Foreign Language Program, instrumental and choral music, art and extra instructional activities.
• The Middle Years and High School Diploma International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs are located at Lucille Brown Middle School and Thomas Jefferson High School.
• As part of the 21st Century workforce preparedness, RPSCareer and Technical Education (CTE) offerings include 13 dualenrollment and 14 honors courses; and 76 certification opportunitiesin the areas of business and information technology, tradeand industrial education, health and medical sciences, marketingand consumer services, adult and continuing education, and apprenticeship programs.
• RPS has more than 800 corporate, higher education, communityand civic partnerships. Among them is the Micah Initiative, aprogram comprised of volunteers from more than 50 communitiesof faith who serves as tutors and mentors students at everyRichmond City elementary school.
• RPS is one of 23 school districts in the state of Virginia with aSpanish foreign language program at every elementary school.
• Download At a Glance information in PDF format.