2026 data 33 schools CA

Best Schools in Richmond, CA

33 public K-12 schools in Richmond from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

33 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in Richmond, CA using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

33
Schools
15,645
Students
Avg Quality
23.3:1
Avg Class Size

How the Richmond Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

Richmond, CA enrolls 15,645 students across 33 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 11 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 23.3:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in Richmond is Richmond High, scoring 35/100 (F) with 1,280 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

Richmond schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect Richmond housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

Richmond school enrollment varies 14× across entities

Richmond school enrollment ranges from 92 students (lowest) to 1,280 students (highest), a spread of 1,188 students. That spread reflects typical urban portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Richmond has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 62.5% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Richmond operates 12 school districts — among the most fragmented governance structures in the country

Each school district has independent budgeting, hiring, and service delivery authority. The fragmentation reflects historical patterns of inter-municipal boundary lines that pre-date modern city growth — students in different parts of the same city can attend different districts with different per-pupil spending, calendars, and graduation requirements. Per-region variation is largest in fragmented systems because each school district sets its own budget, contracts, and priorities without higher-level coordination above the regulatory floor.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Richmond student-teacher ratio is 23.3:1 — high (typically associated with larger urban scale or staffing constraints that have widened the headcount gap)

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

Richmond has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility — 33.3% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options

charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. Areas above 30% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic charter school authorisation formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

# School Score
1. Richmond High 35 F
2. Making Waves Academy 35 F
3. De Anza High 33 F
4. John F. Kennedy High 35 F
5. Summit Public School: Tamalpais 16 F
6. Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy 32 F
7. Aspire Richmond Technology Academy 10 F
8. Richmond College Preparatory 10 F
9. Grant Elementary 17 F
10. Leadership Public Schools: Richmond 10 F
11. Peres Elementary 23 F
12. Mira Vista Elementary 23 F
13. Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez 10 F
14. Michelle Obama Elementary 11 F
15. Nystrom Elementary 12 F
16. Cesar E. Chavez Elementary 14 F
17. Washington Elementary 13 F
18. Lovonya Dejean Middle 37 F
19. Highland Elementary 29 F
20. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary 24 F
21. Ford Elementary 26 F
22. Voices College-Bound Language Acad at W. Contra Costa Co 11 F
23. Riverside Elementary 16 F
24. Verde Elementary 14 F
25. Lincoln Elementary 11 F
26. John Henry High 27 F
27. Sheldon Elementary 13 F
28. Coronado Elementary 14 F
29. Richmond Charter Academy 28 F
30. Stege Elementary 13 F
31. Valley View Elementary 20 F
32. Greenwood Academy 47 D
33. Manzanita Middle 39 F

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Richmond, CA?

The top-rated school in Richmond is Richmond High with a quality score of 35/100. There are 33 public schools in Richmond with 15,645 total students.

How many schools are in Richmond, CA?

Richmond has 33 public schools with a total enrollment of 15,645 students. 11 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 23.3:1.

Other Cities in California

Side-by-side: Compare any two schools or districts in California →

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Related Guides

Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.