News & Announcements

Mike Johnson, currently principal at Delta High School in Pasco, replaces Principal Tory Christensen, who will be a Principal on Special Assignment supporting all RSD secondary schools during the 2022-23 school year. District leaders say Mr. Johnson’s plethora of academic and leadership experience, deep ties to the RSD community and record in educational innovation make him a perfect fit to lead the Falcons.

Paul Shaber, who most recently served as an assistant principal at Hanford High School, replaces Principal Andre Hargunani, who is leaving to pursue an opportunity outside the Tri-Cities. District leaders say Mr. Shaber is the ideal administrator for RSD’s burgeoning fully online and teacher-directed K-12 school.

Current Assistant Principal Eric Davis will replace Principal Rhonda Pratt beginning in the 2022-23 school year. Mr. Davis’ career has been focused on empowering students and district leaders are confident he will help the school’s students and staff be successful.

What started as a simple class assignment for some Hanford High School students is now a published book aimed at helping other youth cope with the struggles of adolescence and the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A team of problem-solving and creative students from William Wiley Elementary took brought home top prizes from this year’s joint regional/state Destination Imagination competition and where 16 teams from RSD schools represented the district.

Congratulations to counselor Denise Reddinger for being named School Counselor of the Year at the recent conference of the Washington School Counselor Association (WSCA) for her outstanding work with students! In addition, Assistant Principal Jerry Riggs was awarded the WSCA’s School Counseling Administrator/Supervisor of the Year award for his support of the school’s counselor team.

An award-winning school administrator with a record of successful innovative educational programs and supporting students, Steve Fisk replaces current principal Tim Praino, who was recently selected to be RSD’s new Executive Director of Human Resources.

The Lamb Weston RSD Field Day is back! For the first time since 2019 student athletes with disabilities will take to the field on May 11 to raise awareness, celebrate their strengths and build community.

As William Wiley Elementary's administrative assistant, Stephanie O’Brien-Green plays a role in maintaining William Wiley’s day-to-day operations but it is her individual relationships with students, staff and families that shows her commitment to student success.

The newest piece of public art in RSD schools was a team effort! Learn how students and staff worked with mixed media artist Melissa Cole to create a piece of art that can be seen throughout the new Tapteal Elementary and built memories that will be treasured for years to come.

The current assistant principal of Enterprise Middle School will become the school’s leader beginning in the 2022-23 school year. 

District leaders said Tim Praino’s nearly 20 years of experience as a school administrator, building successful learning cultures and supporting thousands of students and staff have fully prepared him for managing the district’s staffing operations.

Hanford High School’s cheerleading team has a long history of bringing home titles and the 2021-22 school year was no different as the Falcons took home two state titles and made it to the national cheerleading competition!

Dedication to each student’s needs paired with outstanding instructional practices and support of her colleagues, all honed over a 36-year career, has earned Mrs. Leggett the 2022 Crystal Apple Award for Richland School District.

District leaders say Mrs. Klauss, who is currently prinicpal of Enterprise Middle School, has a track record of leadership and collaboration that makes her an ideal choice to lead the department and ensure that students receive instruction and have curriculum that will best prepare them for their futures.

Arianna Caiceros is among the 1 percent of Hispanic and Latinx students being recognized by the College Board for outstanding academic performance.

Sarah Berglund was recently named 2021 Washington State Middle School Music Teacher of the Year by the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA).

Our newest elementary school, Elementary #11, will open to students for the 2022-23 school year. Here’s some initial information for the school’s future students, families and staff as we prepare to build our next school community.

Anika Halappanavar’s outstanding scientific research into content posted to social media during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to her selection as one of the 2022 Washington State delegates for the American Junior Academy of Sciences (AJAS).

Amy Salinas will be the next principal for Jefferson Elementary!

Three RSD high school science teachers received STEM Like Me! Innovative Grant funds for the 2021-22 school year.

A team of RSD elementary students may be helping chart the future of robotics, logistics and how you get that item you ordered online.

Richland School District invites student families to share their feedback on the return to full-time in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year as well as how the district is assisting students and families in addressing learning loss and challenges connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

RSD is moving forward with preparations to open Elementary #11 with its own school community at the start of the 2022-23 school year. This will directly impact students, families and staff at five of the district’s elementary schools—Badger Mountain, Orchard, Tapteal, White Bluffs and William Wiley—and district leaders want everyone to know what to expect through the transition.

More than 20 instrumental and vocal music students from RSD middle and high schools were selected for all-state honor ensembles for 2022!

A Hanford High School senior is one of two Washington state students selected for a national government program and will receive a $10,000 scholarship as well.

Michelle Lane is one of 12 school librarians who recently received the Washington Library Association’s 2021 President’s Award for their efforts to support teachers providing remote and online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delta High School is accepting applications for the class of 2026! Applications are open to eighth-grade students in Richland, Kennewick or Pasco school districts.

RSD is partnering with Rite-Aid to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11 from 9 to 11 a.m. on Nov. 20 at Jefferson and Tapteal elementary schools.

Trevor MacDuff, a teacher at River’s Edge High School, is one of the winners of the Award For Excellence in Science Teaching of the Washington Science Teachers Association.

From a national student film festival in New York City to local competitions with the Tri-Fi International Film Festival, Hanford High podcast production and filmmaking students are creating and sharing compelling stories.

New aisles. New seating. New restrooms. Richland High’s auditorium is ready to host productions once again after its most extensive renovation in decades.

Thanks to the support of students, parents, teachers and the PTO, a grand total of $1,486 was raised for childhood cancer research.

Several River’s Edge High School students were among the roughly 40 juniors and seniors from high schools across Idaho and eastern Washington to visit the University of Idaho for its Women in Engineering Day event on Sept. 24 and even came away with $500 scholarships.

Elementary #11 in West Richland will soon need its own school community and district staff will share potential adjustments to fill the school during information meetings throughout October.

The Richland School Board recently approved the purchase of the vacant two-story Salvation Army building at 1219 Thayer Drive. District operations staff will make renovations to the space through the fall of 2021 ahead of HomeLink students and staff moving in later in the 2021-22 school year. 

Meet your 2022 National Merit Finalist from Hanford High School, Maia DeMeyer!

For the fifth straight year, Orchard Elementary is being recognized by the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University for its efforts to build connections between the school and its community.

Cheyenne LaViolette has only two years under her belt as Hanford High’s computer science and broadcast media teacher but her work in the classroom with students is already getting noticed.

A donation of tens of thousands of dollars will go toward activities, athletics and other needs at RSD schools thanks to Gesa Credit Union and the community.

New turf, expanded restroom facilities, improved locker rooms and increased accessibility are one step closer for Fran Rish Stadium.

The Early Learning Center will have new leadership this fall from Julie McDougall, its new principal.

Brian Ploghoft, a veteran school administrator trained in student and family support, will be the principal of White Bluffs Elementary.

Holly Hernandez, kitchen manager at Chief Joseph Middle School, and Linda Johnson, lead ECEAP teacher at the Early Learning Center, are your ESD 123 Regional Classified School Employee and Teacher of the Year respectively.

Join us in congratulating Richland High counselor Denise Reddinger and Sacajawea fifth-grade teacher Rachel Doyle on earning their National Board Certification!

Hannah Chavala and Cassandra Lam have earned a distinction few other high school seniors ever achieve: National Merit Finalist.

Richland School District's fully online and teacher-directed K-12 school has a new name and will have enhanced offerings and be open to middle and high school students across Washington state beginning in the 2021-22 school year.

COVID-19 led to a very unique year of Destination Imagination competition and RSD teams still did an impressive job demonstrating their creativity and problem-solving.

Our Nutrition Services staff reached out to our elementary Future Chefs this spring and asked if they'd like to share their recipes with the community and show them working their magic in their kitchens at home.

Hanford High's Maria Gardner jewelry piece, "Eye of the Cat," will compete at the state level after being selected as a Judge's Choice winner at this year's Educational Service District 123  Regional High School Student Art Show.

Through the fall of 2021 Richland School District will use a screening tool to help gauge where students are in their social-emotional learning and help them grow.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about schools and how they serve their communities but for Holly Hernandez, the historic event hasn’t changed her focus or determination to serve kids. That is why she is our nominee for 2021 Washington State Classified Employee Of The Year.

Kennewick-based Chervenell Construction will build the new Badger Mountain Elementary on the site of the current school in south Richland. Students and staff will move temporarily to the school near the intersection of Belmont Boulevard and Keene Road in early April while the new school is built. Construction is scheduled to begin after the old school is demolished.

The project includes installation of an artificial turf football field, construction of a 2,000-seat grandstand with press box, new restrooms and concession facilities, resurfacing of the existing track, a new venue entrance with improved accessibility, parking expansion, and installation of a new scoreboard and stadium lighting.

Will your soon-to-be kindergartner be joining our schools in the fall? Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year opens March 1. Learn about the process and how you can start from the comfort of your own home.

Adrian Ochoa was recently named the 2021 New Teacher of the Year by the Washington Association of Marketing Educators (WAME). The award is for outstanding educators who are in the first three years of the careers.

Richland School District is thrilled to announce Linda Johnson, a preschool teacher at the district’s Early Learning Center (ELC), will receive the 2021 Crystal Apple Award.

The Richland School Board approved a timeline during its Jan. 12 regular meeting that will begin the transition to in-person learning for middle and high school students at the beginning of the second semester in late January.

Is your eighth-grader interested in a science- or technology-related career or just looking for something different than the traditional high school experience? Have them apply for Delta High School for the 2021-22 school year!

As RSD moves toward bringing students back into schools, are you not ready for your elementary-aged child to return to in-person learning? RSD has two options for families looking to stick with remote learning.

Learn how we conducting health attestations as students return to in-person learning.

Face coverings are one of the public health precautions our schools will follow as students return to the classroom. We understand this is a big change for a student’s in-person learning experience and want to share what the requirements are and how schools will help students adjust.

RSD Transportation Department staff have finalized bus information for our elementary students returning for in-person learning and for middle and high school students coming into schools for in-person support

Andre Hargunani, who led the launch of the science- and technology-centered Libby, will be the first principal of the new Richland Virtual School (RVS). He will be succeeded as principal at Leona Libby Middle School by Maren Benedict, currently an assistant principal at Hanford High School.

For the fourth straight year, Orchard Elementary is being recognized by the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University for its efforts to build connections between the school and its community.

It’s time to get ready for school! Schools are opening with online instruction this fall and staff are excited to connect, work and engage with students so they can be successful. Here are details about enrollment, student meals, daily schedules, supporting student learning at-home and more.

Richland Virtual School is Richland School District’s new, fully online and teacher-directed learning program for students in kindergarten through Grade 12. Offering engaging learning tailored to a virtual platform with RSD teachers trained in online instruction, it provides a powerful and personalized learning experience.

RSD is currently accepting applications for the fall of 2020 in preschool classrooms funded by the state’s Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP) at the Early Learning Center.

Onalise Soto’s “Marching Band Life” is one of five entries in the general assignment category for the High School Student Production Awards of the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The Richland School Board selected Kennewick-based G2 Commercial Construction to complete the Richland High School Auditorium renovation project aimed at updating the facility and improving accessibility.

The district will delay the opening of Tapteal Elementary and start of construction for Badger Mountain Elementary due to the novel coronavirus.

For the second year in a row, Jason Lee Elementary is being recognized by state education officials for closing achievement gaps and helping students grow and be ready for their futures. 

Through technology, innovative teaching and collaboration with families, our new Virtual Classroom program will help students meet their goals and push their education forward while schools are closed in response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

The Richland School Board and district administrators will be in emergency meetings on March 13 to discuss when and how to close schools in response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The district asks families to begin making plans for their children in the event that schools close with short notice and for an indefinite extended period of time. Check out www.rsd.edu/coronavirus for the latest information.

The Academy will launch in the fall of 2020 with students able to now enroll in its courses. Done in partnership with Kadlec Regional Medical Center and Columbia Basin College, it is a new innovative way to engage and inspire students interested in health care careers.

Whether attending after-school events to connect with and cheer on students, supporting families, making school a place where kids feel safe and have fun or just being willing to be covered in Silly String or drenched in ice water to reward students for reaching a goal, Brian Neill does all of that and more.

Who knew a book written by students about their lovable but escape-prone class pet more than a decade ago would inspire another team of students to create a book about a pig learning the importance of budgeting and planning?

Richland School District's success in helping more students enroll and succeed in Advanced Placement (AP) courses recently earned it recognition on the 10th Annual AP District Honor Roll. The district is also planning to expand its AP offerings to include project-based courses to better prepare students for life after graduation. 

Junior Zoe Gotthold is just one of three students in the state of Washington named to this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search. The competition recognizes 300 student-scholars from across the United States for research skills, academic excellence, innovative thinking and potential as scientists.

The district has partnered with the state Department of Health to test every water fixture in some of our schools as part of ongoing efforts to have safe and healthy environments for students and staff. 

A rebuilt Badger Mountain Elementary and new Elementary 12 in the Badger Mountain South development are two of several projects included in a bond approved by voters in 2017. 

Two grants totaling $2,000 will give students at William Wiley Elementary and Enterprise Middle School hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) opportunities to expand their horizons.

After learning how hunger affects others in our community, students participating in a new project-based learning program at River’s Edge High School are asking the community to join them in helping others.

Junior Regan Geldmacher took the top spot on the podium in the 500-yard freestyle at the WIAA Swim & Dive Championship in Federal Way, capping off a great season in the water.

It's that time of year again—make sure you know as soon as our schools are on delay or canceled due to inclement winter weather.

When the opportunity arose last spring for Amy Kohn to join Richland School District, she leaped at the possibility of joining schools where she'd long admired the educators.

Ellie Rosser’s first job out of college was working in a special education program at Sacajawea Elementary. Discover why she's returned to the school in a new role:

Fifth-grader Isla Fowler is committed to making this the best year at school ever. Discover how she's reaching that goal.

Richland High School senior Jack Allen has worked his way up through the culinary arts program at Tri-Tech Skills Center. He recently had the opportunity to bring everything he's learned back to his high school and put it all into practice.

For the third straight year, Orchard Elementary is being recognized by the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University for its efforts to build connections between the school and its community.

See a sneak peek of Hanford High School students preparing for the school's one-act plays festival, where they will be on stage and in the director's chair.

Wondering if your student could benefit from some additional academic enrichment? Learn what Richland School District's Highly Capable programs have to offer.

All students are invited to enjoy free breakfast in our schools Oct. 14-18.

Read how kindergartner Axel Harrington found the confidence he needed to ride the school bus thanks to the Orchard community.

Learn about our new Promise Kindergarten (Promise K) program, an early entrance kindergarten for children who have had little or no preschool experience.

Carmichael Middle School students know that it is at the toughest times that community is the most important. See how the whole school came together to support two students tied to the school who are fighting cancer.

Jocelyn Bahena and Eddie De La Paz have long been good students. In middle school, though, they didn’t see how what they were learning each day could impact what came after they graduated.

Then they enrolled in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and their future began to come into focus.

After being a call-in guest on Enterprise Middle School's student-led "Award Winning Culture" podcast, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal wanted a behind-the-scenes look and to meet with students.

Students from Hanford and Richland will take to track at Fran Rish Stadium on Sept. 25 to raise awareness about and help prevent teen suicide.

Road construction on George Washington Way will affect vehicle and pedestrian traffic for the Early Learning Center, Jefferson and Sacajawea elementary schools and Hanford High School. Learn about designated pedestrian crossings, alternate routes and other steps students and families can take to stay safe and reduce delays.

Mr. O'Konek joined the district in 2013 and most recently served as assistant principal at Jason Lee Elementary. He is thrilled to become part of a school with such dedicated staff and families who have long put students first.

Our families at Jefferson Elementary are invited to meet principal candidates for the school from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 1 at Jefferson.

Calling all Tapteal Elementary families, staff & alumni! Mark your calendar to be at the ground breaking for the new Tapteal at 10 a.m. on Aug. 7 at 705 N. 62nd Ave. in West Richland.

We are excited to launch our new district and school websites so our families, staff and community can better learn about the great things going on in our schools and find the information they need.

Have questions about how to enroll your child, where to find menus for school meals or what school supplies are required? Check out the answers to those questions and many others in our Back-To-School Guide.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to have Phyllis Ferguson, president of local non-profit Partners For Early Learning (PFEL) be our district's winner of the 2019 Community Leadership Award honoree of Southeast Washington Association of School Administrators (SEWASA).

A $1,000 grant from the Dream Builder's Educational Network gave seventh-graders at Chief Joseph Middle School the opportunity to explore hydroponics this spring, sparking their curiosity about where their food comes from and potential future careers.

Students in Audra Richter's Biodiversity class at Richland High School got some field experience recently when they visited White Bluffs along the Columbia River.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019! You are off to do great things. Revisit your big day in photos and videos from each school's graduation ceremony.

Every graduating senior has a story to tell about their educational journey. Here are just a few stories showcasing everything our seniors brought to each day in the classroom, on the field and in planning for their futures.

Hanford High School’s production of “Disney’s Newsies” is this year's Outstanding Overall Musical of all high school drama productions across the state. The school also earned three other awards.

We will provide free breakfast and lunch this summer to children under of the age of 18 as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Program For Children.

We are thrilled to announce that Jason Lee, Lewis & Clark, and White Bluffs elementary schools are being recognized by state education officials for closing achievement gaps and helping students grow and be ready for their futures. 

Meet your 2019 Washington State Outstanding Young Educator, science teacher Jessica Saddler at Leona Libby Middle School.

See how STEP (Student Transition Experience Partnership), a program between Richland High School and Goodwill Industries, is providing students receiving special education services with job training and other skills so they can be successful after graduation.

The two-story building will be more than 65,000-square feet, have more than 30 classrooms, a multipurpose space, library, art and music rooms, gym and a new playground. The new school is scheduled to open in August 2020.

Nikhita Bontha is really interested in the footprint people are leaving on the planet. More specifically, the Hanford High School freshman wants to make that footprint as small as possible, so she conducted research on how to make fuel cells more efficient and available. 

Now that research has earned her gold at the recent Washington State Science & Engineering Fair (WSSEF).

Hanford High School's FIRST Tech Challenge team will compete at the world championship in Houston in April after an award-winning performance at the recent state-level robotics competition.

Richland High School sophomore Zoe Gotthold loves penguins. She loves them so much, her research project on oil spill cleanup earned her a Grand Champion prize at the recent Mid-Columbia Regional Science Fair.

Jason Lee Elementary has joined Three Rivers HomeLink and Enterprise Middle School in offering archery to its students. From teaching determination, focus and physical strength, the program is providing a new challenge for students.

Sixteen pieces earned Judge’s Choice awards, which sends them on to the state Superintendent’s High School Art Show in April and May.

Nicole Anderson will be the next principal of River’s Edge High School and will lead efforts to transform the school and bring in new ideas that will help students be successful after graduation.

The varsity cheerleaders earned the top spot in the super varsity non-tumbling division at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 9. This is the fourth national championship the school has earned under coach Kim Mayer.

Enterprise Middle School's efforts to build a powerful and positive school culture are once again getting recognition. A short film about the school is one of the selected entries for the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports) Film Festival in mid-February in Washington D.C.

The best athletes work with coaches they know will push them, help them better understand their strengths and discover what they need to work on. Learn how the district's Classroom Support Teachers, or CSTs, are helping teachers refine their craft so their time with students can be even more powerful.

Richland School District is thrilled to announce Kim Mayer, a language arts teacher and cheerleading coach at Hanford High School, will receive the Crystal Apple Award for 2019.

Check out just a few of the high school students the Careers In Education program at Richland High School is helping prepare to become the next generation of teachers.

Join us in congratulating our teachers who recently earned or renewed their certification with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Join the district in congratulating Alexa Best and Michael Pham for being nominated by state education officials for the U.S. Presidential Scholar award.

Preparing students for their futures includes showing them how to serve their community. See how fifth-graders in the Highly Capable QUEST program at Lewis & Clark Elementary are using community service projects to help make the world a better place.

Sharon Alfaro was eighteen and working five jobs to support herself when she started attending River’s Edge High School in the fall of 2017. A little more than a year later, she’s a high school graduate, enrolled at Columbia Basin College (CBC) and working toward her dream of working as an immigration and humanitarian attorney.

Hanford High School’s Wind Ensemble students will perform for a regional convention of music educators in Portland in February 2019. 

Join us in congratulating all our students recently selected for all-state and all-regional performing arts groups by state and national musical education groups. 

Whether a student is interested in fabrication, solar energy or robotics, they can explore it in the Smart Lab at Leona Libby Middle School. The science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) focused class gives students the tools and freedom of hands-on learning that can truly inspire students and help them imagine their future.

Students at Chief Joseph Middle School had a surprise on Friday, Nov. 16 when James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, paid a visit.

An after-school program focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects at William Wiley Elementary and an aeroponic gardening project at Chief Joseph Middle School will benefit from $1,250 in grants awarded to those schools.

Congratulations to Denise Reddinger, a counselor at Richland High School, for her appointment to a state committee that will advise the Legislature on how to create and support career-related learning opportunities in schools.

Student growth is about more than academics. From racing to the finish to encouraging each other to do their best, see Chief Joseph Middle School students show how they are building relationships during an adaptive physical education class.

We have more than 1,600 students receiving special education services in our schools. That includes Xander Iracheta, a Richland High School senior. Learn more about Xander's story and how staff at Richland High are helping him prepare for his future.

Efforts by Enterprise Middle School students and staff to establish a culture of kindness have earned the school a global award as well as a $6,000 cash reward.

The tapestry includes numerous details about the school and its community, from natural features and wildlife to elements of scientific work done at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Hanford site.

Support for activities, athletics and other student needs will get a more than $31,074.97 boost thanks to Gesa Credit Union and our community members.

The school is the first in Richland to receive the award from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS), which advocates for strong partnerships between schools and communities to increase student success.

Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate the opening of the new Jefferson Elementary on Aug. 27 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.