Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Richmond Alternative School

Q: Is Richmond Alternative School a good school?

Richmond Alternative School ranks in the bottom 0.3% of Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend Richmond Alternative School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 277 students attended Richmond Alternative School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Richmond Alternative School?

Students at Richmond Alternative School are 68% African American, 29% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

Public Grades 6-12

327^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 328 Virginia High Schools

Better than 0% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Richmond Alternative is a small public high school serving grades 6-12 in the Richmond City Public Schools district, with only 134 students. Despite its location in the city, the school has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing high schools in Virginia, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger for most years.

Richmond Alternative's students perform significantly below state and district averages on the majority of SOL (Standards of Learning) assessments. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 13.04% of 10th graders were proficient or better in SOL Writing, compared to 42.1% for the Richmond City Public Schools district and 66.01% statewide. The school also has extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 15.7% to 89.9% in recent years, much higher than the district and state averages. Additionally, Richmond Alternative's four-year graduation rate has ranged from 5.4% to 92.8% over the past few years, with a dropout rate as high as 56.3%, significantly worse than the district and state averages.

Despite being located in the same district, nearby schools like Richmond Community High and Open High have significantly higher academic performance and outcomes, highlighting the stark disparities in educational opportunities within the same school system. Addressing the underlying factors, such as student socioeconomic status, access to resources, and overall school climate and culture, will be crucial for improving student outcomes at Richmond Alternative.

277

Students ?

8.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

18.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

119 West Leigh Street
Richmond, VA 23220

(804) 780-4388

District: Richmond City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

67.5%

Hispanic:

28.5%

Asian:

1.8%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Richmond Alternative School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — <1st percentile in 2015 → <1st in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (14% vs 75% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (<1st percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Virginia average (44% vs 92%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school14%

District avg51%

Virginia avg75%

Middle school

419^th of 419

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

327^th of 328

Virginia public high schools ?

Bottom 1%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 9High Schools in the Richmond City Public Schools

115^th of 129Richmond City Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	0.0	419 of 419	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	0.0	417 of 417	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	0.1	422 of 422	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	0.2	414 of 415	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	73.9	62 of 419	85.2%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	180 of 424	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.1	277 of 413	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	34.1	301 of 415	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	0.0	409 of 409	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	0.0	412 of 412	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	0.2	416 of 416	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	8.2	404 of 416	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.3	412 of 413	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	0.6	413 of 413	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	0.0	408 of 408	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	0.6	389 of 390	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	0.7	389 of 391	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	1.0	386 of 387	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	0.4	383 of 383	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	0.5	339 of 340	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	0.3	297 of 297	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	0.0	299 of 299	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	0.5	298 of 298	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	0.1	403 of 403	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	0.0	402 of 402	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	0.0	407 of 407	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	0.3	327 of 328	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	0.0	329 of 329	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.8	324 of 326	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.5	324 of 325	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	55.8	115 of 327	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	10.7	319 of 327	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.0	324 of 326	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	6.6	320 of 324	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	0.0	321 of 321	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	0.0	322 of 322	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	2.2	321 of 322	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	0.0	321 of 321	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.0	319 of 321	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	0.5	318 of 320	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	6.1	314 of 317	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	5.2	311 of 313	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	0.7	316 of 316	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	9.9	309 of 313	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	0.8	311 of 314	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	0.0	308 of 308	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2024	0.0	249 of 249	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	0.3	321 of 321	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	0.5	236 of 236	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	1.1	323 of 324	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	0.0	322 of 322	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2024)<1st percentile~ school

African American (2025)<1st percentile~ school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Female (2025)<1st percentile~ school

Male (2025)<1st percentile~ school

African American (2024)<1st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I32%-49 vs state

Biology18%-58 vs state

Civics and Economics14%-60 vs state

Writing13%-53 vs state

English Reading12%-68 vs state

World History I9%-58 vs state

Science5%-61 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Richmond Alternative School and help other families decide.

Rate Richmond Alternative School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Richmond Alternative School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SOL Writing (2025)				SOL Geometry (2025)		SOL Algebra I (2025)						SOL Algebra II (2025)			SOL Mathematics (2025)	SOL Biology (2025)				SOL Science (2025)	SOL Earth Science (2025)	SOL English Reading (2025)						SOL VA and US History (2025)		SOL World History I (2025)				SOL World History II (2025)		SOL Civics and Economics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 9th Grade	SOL Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Algebra II 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 11th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 12th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 9th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Richmond Alternative School	Public	6-12	119 West Leigh Street	Richmond	23220	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-4388	277	33	8.3		2 (0.7%)	187 (67.5%)	79 (28.5%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	0.3	327^th of 328 public high schools	0.3%		0	329^th of 329 public high schools	0.0%	2		13.0							31.8											18.4	4.6				0.0		14.3	17.4			9.1						13.6
Open High	Public	9-12	600 S Pine St	Richmond	23220	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 780-4661	171	19	9.1	101.2%	70 (40.9%)	62 (36.3%)	28 (16.4%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.3%)	88.8	3^rd of 328 public high schools	99.1%		87.5	5^th of 329 public high schools	98.5%	2		100.0	97.3			95.2							100.0				100.0										97.4				100.0							$10,932	$14	$10,919
Richmond Community High	Public	9-12	201 E Brookland Park Boulevard	Richmond	23222	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 780-4332	211	26	8.1	99.5%	52 (24.6%)	118 (55.9%)	26 (12.3%)	3 (1.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.2%)	81.1	19^th of 328 public high schools	94.2%		76.9	41^st of 329 public high schools	87.5%	22		100.0	100.0			70.7							100.0				98.5										100.0				98.5							$14,578	$655	$13,923
Armstrong High	Public	9-12	2300 Cool Lane	Richmond	23223	Henrico County	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-4449	709	82	8.6	92.5%	28 (3.9%)	606 (85.5%)	49 (6.9%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.7%)	15.1	318^th of 328 public high schools	3.0%		20.2	314^th of 329 public high schools	4.6%	4		21.1	36.9						74.7	71.9	83.3	100.0	74.2				77.8	40.3	40.5	83.3							67.5	84.6			42.1	52.4	81.8	92.3		19.1		$15,203	$1,096	$14,106
Franklin Military Academy	Public	6-12	701 North 37th Street	Richmond	23223	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-8526	335	53	6.3	99.7%	65 (19.4%)	164 (49.0%)	89 (26.6%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.9%)	69.6	91^st of 328 public high schools	72.3%		64.2	123^rd of 329 public high schools	62.6%	32		86.4	92.5		100.0	68.8	100.0	94.9					84.6			98.0	95.2					91.5	96.1	92.2	91.5		95.0				75.0						100.0	$16,527	$609	$15,918
Thomas Jefferson High	Public	9-12	4100 W Grace St	Richmond	23230	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-6028	749	63	11.8	78.2%	173 (23.1%)	477 (63.7%)	61 (8.1%)	11 (1.5%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.8%)	27.3	294^th of 328 public high schools	10.4%		35.2	261^st of 329 public high schools	20.7%	33		55.8	57.6	50.0		60.0			78.6	83.3			64.2				65.9	44.6	88.9	90.0							81.2	66.7	44.0		35.3	50.0			53.6	65.7		$14,341	$1,101	$13,241
John Marshall High	Public	9-12	4225 Old Brook Rd	Richmond	23227	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-6052	645	63	10.2	133.8%	82 (12.7%)	499 (77.4%)	29 (4.5%)	12 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (3.3%)	29.6	287^th of 328 public high schools	12.5%		37.1	254^th of 329 public high schools	22.8%	33		43.2	49.1	50.0		76.9			60.8	90.0		90.9	79.3				81.1	57.0	78.3								80.0	66.7			61.1			91.7		76.9		$15,985	$1,243	$14,742
Richmond Career Education and Employment Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	4314 Crutchfield Street	Richmond	23225	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-5037	32	11	3.0		2 (6.3%)	28 (87.5%)	1 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.1%)								(n/a)																																						$24,696	$00	$24,696
Richmond High School for the Arts	Public	9-12	4314 Crutchfield St	Richmond	23225	Richmond city	Richmond City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 780-5037	1,116	117	9.5	94.4%	40 (3.6%)	434 (38.9%)	611 (54.7%)	18 (1.6%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (0.8%)	6.4	326^th of 328 public high schools	0.6%		3.7	327^th of 329 public high schools	0.6%	1	4.8	16.5	22.1	25.0					58.7	79.2	72.0	55.0	31.8	3.7	6.9		25.2	28.8	61.1							54.6	54.1	59.1		11.8	20.8					21.2		$9,953	$668	$9,285
Henrico High	Public, Magnet	9-12	302 Azalea Ave	Richmond	23227	Henrico County	Henrico County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(804) 228-2700	1,300	93	13.9	86.8%	130 (10.0%)	934 (71.8%)	89 (6.8%)	105 (8.1%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (2.8%)	17.4	316^th of 328 public high schools	3.7%		21.2	313^th of 329 public high schools	4.9%	3						49.0			66.5	74.5	86.7		84.1				74.3	46.2	50.0	76.9							77.8	45.8							36.4	53.9		$10,700	$594	$10,107

Frequently Asked Questions about Richmond Alternative School

How many students attend Richmond Alternative School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 277 students attended Richmond Alternative School.

What is the racial makeup of Richmond Alternative School?

Students at Richmond Alternative School are 68% African American, 29% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

What district is Richmond Alternative School in?

Richmond City Public Schools

Is Richmond Alternative School a good school?

Richmond Alternative School ranks in the bottom 0.3% of Virginia high schools.

Rate Richmond Alternative School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

VAVirginia High School Rankings

VAVirginia District Rankings

Schools in Richmond, VA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Richmond Alternative School!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.