5259 North Kent Ave
Whitefish Bay, WI 53217

We are very happy with our kids experiences at Richards. They address the whole kid and don’t put too much focus on standardized testing.

This review is based on personal experience and it is not to say your student won't flourish here. This review is an opinion only- you may have a different experience here.To begin, the school's main focus is "academic rigor". This school is a 5/5 *if* you are academically talented/gifted, and athletic- there is no room for being average here or for being a square peg. Many B level students have been in tears from the pressure at this school. There is another high school a few miles south where the focus is diversity, arts, sports and academics. A seemingly much more balanced approach.Teachers: 8/10. Overall, quite good. There are certainly a few who leave much to be desired and yet nothing is done to help move them along despite feedback from students and families directly to counselors and administration.Counseling department: 8/10. Responsive, kind. Helpful to a degree, as this is a school of high achievers.Administration: 3/10 There seems to be a lot of box checking and chatter but not actual care for the student's well being when issues arise which is fairly transparent. The newest administrator within the last 2 years seems quite rude to students and parents. Dealing with a parent population that is fairly intense, this administrator may want to reign that in. The principal: 6/10 She receives the highest mark in this category. Recommendation: own some of the issues at the school and do not place it on the students.The students are working hard to keep their head above water in a cut throat school for academics and athletics while trying to navigate being a teenager and they do not need any additional pressure put on them from administration for school based activities/planning.College readiness: 10/10"Academic rigor". HOURS of homework. Take home:There are many schools in the area besides this one that offer an excellent education and prepare students for college. A high school student should have a balanced experience and overall enjoy their time in high school. Academic rigor, the pressure to be the best at everything, and acceptance based on fitting the mold of this school is not worth the detriment to a teenager's happiness, mental health, confidence/self esteem and well being.

How this district is a top school district is beyond me. My child has struggled in math, and the extra support that was provided was video games. I have had to remove her from that support and put her in an outside program, within 2 months she has increased her grade from struggling to maintain a C to an A. All the district cares about is test scores. The gym teacher at the middle school is misogynistic and has been disrespectful to both me and my daughter. To top it all off my daughter has been physically assaulted by the same girl twice and continues to be harassed and the administration does nothing.