Open High vs Richmond Community High
Open High has a higher overall rating of 9.7/10 compared to 9.2/10. In math proficiency, Richmond Community High leads at 97.5%.
Open High
Richmond, VA
173 students
Richmond Community High
Richmond, VA
198 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Open High | Richmond Community High |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.7 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 10.0 | 9.6 |
| Growth Score | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 101.2% | 100% |
| Environment Score | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| State Rank | #3 of 1,851 | #42 of 1,851 |
| State Percentile | 100th | 98th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Open High | Richmond Community High |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 97.5% | 97.5% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 95.0% | 97.5% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Open High | Richmond Community High |
|---|---|---|
| Type | High School | High School |
| Grades | 9th – 12th | 9th – 12th |
| Enrollment | 173 | 198 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 11.5:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 101.2% | 100.0% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 6.9% | 5.6% |
| Graduation Rate (4yr) | 90%+ | 90%+ |
| District | Richmond City Public Schools | Richmond City Public Schools |
| City | Richmond | Richmond |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Richmond (23220) | Richmond (23222) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,681 | $58,105 |
| Median Home Value | $468,900 | $252,000 |
| Median Rent | $1,354 | $1,181 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 58.9% | 32.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 26.6% | 17.7% |
| Avg Commute | 19 min | 25 min |
The data story: Open High vs Richmond Community High
Open High and Richmond Community High sit just 2.6 miles apart in Richmond, Virginia, and both rank among the top five high schools in the state — Open High at #2 of 1,850 Virginia schools, Richmond Community High at #4 of 1,850. The overall rating gap is narrow: Open High scores 9.8/10 against Richmond Community High's 9.5/10, a 0.3-point difference that reflects a tight contest between two genuinely exceptional schools rather than a clear winner.
On academic performance, the two schools are identical: both Open High and Richmond Community High earn a 10.0/10 academic score, the highest possible. Growth scores are equally close — Open High posts a 9.2/10 while Richmond Community High earns a 9.1/10, a 0.1-point difference with no practical significance for most families. Parents looking to separate the two schools on academics alone will not find a meaningful edge in either direction.
The most concrete difference between the two schools is the student-teacher ratio. Richmond Community High runs at 8.6 students per teacher, compared to Open High's 11.5:1 — roughly a quarter fewer students per teacher, a gap that can meaningfully affect how much individual attention students receive in class. Both schools serve grades 9–12 and enroll similar populations: Open High has 173 students, Richmond Community High 198, and both report free and reduced-price lunch rates at or near 100%, indicating highly comparable socioeconomic profiles among students served.
Both schools operate as small, selective-feeling high school environments, but their structures differ in ways families should investigate directly. Open High is one of the smallest high schools in Virginia at 173 students, a model that tends toward close-knit cohorts. Richmond Community High's slightly larger enrollment of 198, combined with its lower 8.6:1 student-teacher ratio, suggests more instructional staff relative to students. Families should confirm each school's application process, lottery status, and commute — because at this performance tier, logistics and fit often matter more than the 0.3-point rating gap.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Open High
Open High suits students who thrive in an exceptionally small, community-oriented environment — 173 students total — and whose families prioritize the prestige of Virginia's #2-ranked school. The slightly higher overall rating (9.8 vs. 9.5) may appeal to families for whom state rank is a tiebreaker.
Richmond Community High
Richmond Community High is the better fit for students who benefit from more individualized instruction — its 8.6:1 student-teacher ratio is meaningfully lower than Open High's 11.5:1. Families who want a top-four Virginia school with more adult contact per student should look here first.