Richland High School is a secondary school located in North Richland Hills, Texas. The school includes grades 9 through 12, and is part of the Birdville Independent School District.
| Richland High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
5201 Holiday Lane , 76180 United States | |
| Coordinates | 32°50′30″N 97°13′40″W / 32.841573°N 97.227897°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Co-Educational, Public, Secondary |
| Established | 1961 |
| School district | Birdville Independent School District |
| Superintendent | Gayle Stinson[1] |
| Principal | Kyle Pekurney |
| Teaching staff | 127.65 (FTE)[2] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 2,016 (2022-23)[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15.79[2] |
| Color(s) | [Blue] [Red] [White] |
| Athletics | 5A-1 |
| Mascot | Royals |
| Rival | Haltom High School |
| Feeder schools | North Ridge Middle School & North Richland Middle School |
| Website | Richland High |
Background
editRichland High School opened in 1961 as the second high school in the Birdville Independent School District.[3] The school mascot is a blue and red lion. The emblem was changed in 2020[4] due to its controversial emblem. The School colors and emblem of blue and gray, the Confederate flag and mascot of the Rebels was chosen by students and approved by the Birdville School Board.[5] The school was expanded over time to meet the needs of the community, including a major expansion in the late 1980s that added a new main entrance, classroom wing, cafeteria, and administration offices[citation needed].
A 2006 bond package funded a nearly-complete demolition of the original school.[6] Only the original auditorium, the band hall, and a wing added in the late 1980s (including the library and cafeteria) were retained, while the rest of the structure was demolished and replaced with student parking. A brand-new facility was built in the old student parking area, connected to the remnants of the original structure. The new school opened for the 2009-2010 school year.[7]
During the 2008-2009 school year, Richland High School introduced its first Advancement Via Individual Determination class. The program graduated its first group of seniors in May 2012.[8]
Mascot
editIn June 2020, the BISD board of trustees voted to remove the Rebel mascot and related Confederate symbols, including the Dixie Belles and Johnny Reb, as a result of a petition calling for their removal signed by over 25,000 people and amid the George Floyd protests.[9] On July 23, 2020 it was announced that the new Richland mascot is the Royals.
Notable alumni
edit- Kelly Blackwell (Class of 1987), former NFL player[10]
- Kambri Crews (Class of 1989), comedic storyteller and author[11]
- Wendy Davis (Class of 1981), State senator for District 10 in the Texas State Senate[12]
- Trent Grisham (Class of 2015), professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB)[13]
- Craig Lancaster (Class of 1988), writer and journalist[14][better source needed]
- Gary Morris (Class of 1967), singer and stage actor[15]
- Rashee Rice (Class of 2019) professional football player in the National Football League and currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also a Super Bowl LVIII Champion.
References
edit- ^ "Birdville ISD Administration". Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c "RICHLAND H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ "Week's Review of Area News". Daily News Texan. September 3, 1961.
- ^ "Birdville's Richland High Trades Rebels Mascot for Royals, Debuts New Logo". 25 September 2020.
- ^ "It's Haltom High--Birdville Changes". The Daily News-Texan. 9 April 1961.
- ^ "Voters Approve Bonds on November 7, 2006". Birdville ISD. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ "Richland High School". Adolphson & Peterson Construction. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- ^ "RHS AVID Website". Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ Lopez, Brian (June 19, 2020). "Birdville ISD votes to remove Richland High's Rebel mascot, Confederate imagery". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- ^ "Kelly Blackwell". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Valera, Stephanie (January 23, 2012). "Author Spotlight: Kambri Crews". CBS DFW. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "State Sen. Wendy Davis, through the ages". Houston Chronicle. September 1, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Trant Grisham". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Lancaster, Craig (August 20, 2014). "Guest editorial: The Confederate flag and the NDO". Last Best News.
- ^ Roberts, Garner (December 4, 2010). "With pleasure, Morris dusts off his greatest hits in return to Abilene". Abilene Reporter-News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.