Richmond Public Schools

[3][4] The current Members (2023) are: Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies is a regional magnet school to which RPS contributes students, located directly between the Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union University campuses.

Richmond did not have public schools during much of the 19th century, only private institutions funded by user fees or charities.

Defiance of those decisions by the Commonwealth of Virginia led to the Massive Resistance crisis in the state which lasted more than a decade.

The Richmond School Board also lacked authority at the time to force integration, since beginning in 1958, the state government assumed control over attendance policies.

On October 21, 2009, the superintendent of Richmond City Public Schools, Yvonne W. Brandon, unveiled a plan called "Dropout Prevention Initiative" (DPI).

There are also mentors provided by the higher educational institutions and the faith- and community-based organizations with which the DPI has partnerships.

[12] A unique aspect of this program is that recovery specialists within the DPI literally walk door-to-door to the homes of students who have dropped out to talk with them about and encourage the possibility of returning to school.

Richmond Public Schools have implemented "Extensive Mandatory Professional Development" for staff on how to effectively identify and help at-risk students.