The school opened in 1965, named for District Superintendent Dr. Harold Leland Richards who served in that capacity for 33 years from 1935-1968.

Colonel in the Reserves and called back into active duty during the Korean War.

After graduating from Pennsylvania Military College in 1920, he taught in Indiana, was superintendent of Michigamme, Michigan schools, and headed the Iowa Military Academy in Epworth, Iowa before coming to District 218.

The demographic breakdown of the 1,588 students enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year is as follows:[2] Richards competes in the South Suburban Conference (SSC) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the body which governs most athletics and competitive activities in the state.

The following Richards teams won or placed top four in their respective state championship tournaments sponsored by the IHSA: