Richmond High School was an independent city high school in Richmond, Kentucky. The school's enrollment never exceeded 150 and it never graduated a class of more than 50 students in its existence. The official name of the school was Richmond High and Elementary School. In 1956, Richmond High was integrated into the city high school for white students as the Richmond CityBoard of Education carried out the Supreme Court'sBrown decision. A gradual integration program was initiated that year as sophomores, juniors and seniors from Richmond High were enrolled at Madison High. By 1960, freshmen were admitted as well. Richmond Junior High and Elementary remained open through the 1972–73 school year. It was then closed and was soon occupied by Richmond's Telford Community Center.
'Richmond High Forever'
A monument has been placed in front of the old high school and provides the following condensed history of the school: Richmond High School was originally erected in 1896 and became known as Richmond City School for African-American children. In 1900, a ten-room building located on the present site opened its doors under the leadership of Prof. J. D. M. Russell and it acquired the title of Richmond high School. In 1911, an addition to the front of the building was added and by 1926, Richmond became a standard four-year high school. In 1928, the auditorium-gymnasium was dedicated. In 1929–30, a manual training facility was financed by the Rosenwald Foundation and added to the original building. In 1933–36, the Women's Literary Club and the Ladies Art Club purchased 2 lots to be used as a playground and a football field. In 1939, the gymnasium was constructed by the Work Progress Administration. As a result of mandated integration of public schools in Richmond and Madison County, 1956 marked the last graduating class at Richmond High School. In 1957, the building became Richmond Junior High. As new schools were constructed, enrollment at Richmond Junior steadily decreased and in 1973, it closed its doors as a public school forever. Mr. C. G. Merritt was the principal of Richmond High and Junior High from 1945 to 1973. The building was purchased by the Telford Community Center in 1973 and in 1986, it became a chapter of the Young Men's Christian Association. On January 31, 2019 the 122 year-old school building was demolished. The gymnasium was not destroyed. It continues to be used by the YMCA.
After the construction of a new gymnasium by the Works Progress Administration in 1939, Richmond High became one of the KHSAL basketball powers. Under Coach Joseph G. Fletcher, the Ramblers won Kentucky state basketball titles in 1940, 1942, and 1943.
