About Friends of RCHS

Mission

Friends of Richmond Community High School’s purpose is to support experiential and other learning opportunities for the students of Richmond Community High School. Friends of RCHS was founded by the RCHS Advisory Board that has been in place for 45 years to support the schools administration through professional advisement, fundraising, program management, and collaboration.

History

Friends of RCHS was established  to coordinate community members interested in the continued success of the students of Richmond Community High School and to support the school through programs, with volunteers, and through raising funds. Friends of RCHS focuses on activities that help the school meet its strategic goals. Richmond Community High School, is a nationally recognized leader in urban education. The school's staff is committed to preparing students to excel in a demanding, technologically sophisticated, global society by providing a college preparatory and experiential learning environment that nurtures individual achievement while embracing diversity. Funds raised for the school will be distributed to programs that are not funded or underfunded through the Richmond Public Schools budget.

RCHS

Richmond Community High School (RCHS) is a college preparatory alternative high school with an enrollment of approximately 250 students in grades 9 – 12 within Richmond Public Schools.  Applications for enrollment are open to all public, private, and home schooled scholars who reside in the city.  The school is currently housed in the historic J. A. C. Chandler building located at 201 East Brookland Park Boulevard on the city’s north side.  

RCHS was initiated by the late Andrew J. Asch, Jr., who envisioned a public-private partnership that would provide outstanding education for students with potential and gifted students whose socio-economic circumstances limited their ability to succeed.  Mr. Asch provided leadership as well as giving and garnering financial support to begin the school. Educator Margaret Dabney, pictured to the left, wrote the curriculum and designed the experiential learning components that hold strong today. Founded in 1981 by business executive and philanthropist Andrew J. Asch Jr., The Jackson foundation that seeks to enrich community life in the metro Richmond region has continued to support Richmond Community through program and capacity building grants.

Admissions

Through a special admission process, students are selected to attend RCHS on the basis of a rated personal interview and performance on tests which examine their creative and general academic ability.