At a Glance
A large, diverse neighborhood high school with highly competitive specialized programs and strong family trust, sitting in a working-class community with limited educational resources
Families seeking a large neighborhood school with strong extracurricular depth and specialized programs like forensics or career exploration. Parents who value family-school trust and a suspension-free environment will find this school appealing. Best suited for families who want their teenager in a diverse, active community with extensive sports and club options — and who can navigate the competitive admissions process for the school's selective programs. Families expecting top-tier academic performance metrics may need to look elsewhere or dig deeper into individual program outcomes.
- Two highly selective programs — Criminalistics and Forensics Institute (12.5% offer rate) and Career Exploration Academy (20% offer rate) — draw ambitious applicants
- Zero suspensions reported, well below the district average
- Exceptional program richness (100/100) with extensive arts, sports, STEM, and extracurricular offerings including 30+ clubs
- Strong family trust metrics: 93% parent-teacher trust, 92% parent-principal trust
- Unique programs like Horticultural, Law, Mock Trial, and HOSA health occupations pipeline
- Teacher trust in leadership is notably low (70%) compared to parent trust — a gap worth understanding before enrolling
- Teacher-reported instruction quality (85%) trails the district average (91%)
- Economic need is high (78%) and educational attainment in the neighborhood is low (28% BA+), which may affect peer academic culture
- Family survey response rate of 11% means satisfaction data reflects a minority of parents
- No explicit test score data available, making academic performance difficult to assess
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 27
Richmond Hill High School occupies a unique position among district peers. While it doesn't appear on the top-performing peer list (which includes charter and elementary schools), it offers program richness that matches or exceeds peer schools. The school's selective admissions programs attract applicants from beyond the immediate zone, suggesting reputation for rigor in specific areas. In a district where the average overall rating is 2.27/4, this school stands out through program depth rather than standardized test performance.
Test score data was not available for this school year. The school offers AP courses alongside specialized programs in humanities and STEM, though teacher-reported instruction quality (85%) falls slightly below the district average (91%). The competitive admissions rates for the Career Exploration Academy (20%) and Criminalistics and Forensics Institute (12.5%) suggest an academically oriented subset of students pursuing rigor.
This is a school where families feel heard — parent satisfaction sits at 91%, with parent-teacher trust at 93% and parent-principal trust at 92%. However, teachers report notably lower trust in leadership (70%) compared to their colleagues (73%), suggesting a divide between how families and staff experience the school's administration. Discipline is a strength: zero suspensions in a district averaging 0.5%, indicating either effective behavior management or different disciplinary approaches. The family survey response rate of 11% means these satisfaction numbers represent a subset of parents.
Richmond Hill High School reflects its neighborhood's demographics: 51% Hispanic, 28% Asian, 11% Black, and 3% White, with a diversity index of 68%. Nearly 80% of students come from economically needy households, and 17% have IEPs — both well above typical district averages. The community is working-class, with median household income around $78,000 and only 28% of adults holding bachelor's degrees. Despite these constraints, the school draws strong interest from families, as evidenced by competitive admissions to its specialized programs.
Richmond Hill is a densely populated, working-class Queens neighborhood with a strong sense of community. About 24% of households have children, and nearly half of residents own their homes — higher than many parts of the city. The area scores well on health environment (76th percentile) but modestly on safety (51st percentile) and education orientation (45th percentile). Transit access is moderate (54th percentile). The neighborhood has historically been a gateway for immigrant families seeking affordable homeownership.
The school is accessible by foot from surrounding blocks and well-served by public transit, with typical commute patterns for a Queens neighborhood school.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 191 families responded (11% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
This academy prepares students for various 10th grade career-themed options. Based on students' ninth grade interests, they can choose from the following options: Software Engineering, Hospitality & Tourism, IT, Engineering & Robotics, Health Sciences, Art & Design, and A+ Certification. Participation in these academies leads to internship opportunities and work-based learning opportunities. Partnerships with both SUNY, CUNY, & St. Francis College allow students to earn up to 18 college credits.
This interdisciplinary program allows students to study the legal and scientific aspects of forensics. Students engage in hands-on lab skills, such as fingerprinting, handwriting, and blood splatter analysis. Students explore how this scientific evidence can be used by the justice system, participating in moot court competitions and mock trial experiences. Many students in the Criminalistics and Forensics Institute go on to study at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and other top schools.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Richmond Hill High School a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for Richmond Hill High School yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Richmond Hill.
- What grades does Richmond Hill High School serve?
- Richmond Hill High School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into Richmond Hill High School?
- Richmond Hill High School is a screened school — it admits by application, weighing grades, attendance, and sometimes a test or interview.
- Is Richmond Hill High School public, charter, or private?
- Richmond Hill High School is a public school in NYC Community School District 27.
- What neighborhood is Richmond Hill High School in?
- Richmond Hill High School is in Richmond Hill, Queens.
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