History

A Brief History of Richfield Public Schools

Long before suburban homes were built here, Richfield was characterized by its abundance of rich farmland (hence the name) as the Minneapolis and St. Paul area was beginning to grow. In 1908, Richfield officially became a city by adopting a President/Trustee form of government. However, residents of Richfield held town meetings dating back to May 11, 1858 - the date on which Congress admitted Minnesota into the Union.

This is a growing page and we welcome corrections, additions and questions! Contact us at rps-pr@rpsmn.org.

Current Schools

Richfield High School
Richfield College Experience Program (RCEP) (located in the former Portland Elementary building with Hope Church)
Richfield Middle School (formerly West Junior High)
Richfield Dual Language School (formerly Elliott Elementary)
Richfield STEM Elementary School (formerly East Junior High and Richfield Intermediate School)
Sheridan Hills Elementary School (formerly Sheridan Elementary but merged with Lincoln Hills when that school closed and was renamed Sheridan Hills)
Centennial Elementary School
Central Education Center (formerly Central Elementary)

Former Schools

Central Elementary School (now the Central Education Center)
East Elementary School
Elliott Elementary School (now Richfield Dual Language School)
Lincoln Hills Elementary School
Portland Elementary School
Richfield Intermediate School (now Richfield STEM Elementary)
East Junior High (Became Richfield Intermediate and is now Richfield STEM Elementary)
West Junior High (Now Richfield Middle School)
Spartan Elementary School
Wood Lake Elementary School

Timeline

1940-1949

1950-1959

1951: Lincoln Hills Elementary opens.
1952: Elliott Elementary opens.
1953: Wood Lake is serving as a junior high.
1954: Richfield High School opens, serving grades 10-12 (previously students attended high school in Minneapolis).
1955: Portland Elementary opens.
1957: East Junior High opens.
1959: West Junior High opens.
1959: Centennial Elementary School opens.

1960-1969

1970-1979

1980-1989

1982: Elliot Elementary School is closed. The building is renamed Elliot Education Center and houses Community Education, early childhood, Head Start and daycare programs.
1982: Lincoln Hills is closed, and the building is subsequently used for special education, alternative programs and leased space. Students previously attending Lincoln Hills move to Sheridan, and the school is renamed Sheridan Hills Elementary School.
1982: Centennial Elementary and Sheridan Hills Elementary discontinue grades 4 and 5. Students in grades 4-6 begin attending Richfield Intermeidate School.
1982: East Junior High becomes Richfield Intermediate School, serving grades 4-6.
1982: West Junior High becomes Richfield Junior High, serving grades 7-8.
1982: Richfield High School adds grade 9.
1983: Portland Elementary is closed.
1986: Four new classrooms are constructed at Sheridan Hills Elementary.
1986: Two new classrooms are constructed and a third classroom is expanded at Centennial Elementary.
1988: Spartan Elementary is created using the south wing at Richfield High School. Initially, this elementary school serves grades 1-3.
1989: Spartan Elementary adds grade 4.

1990-1999

1990: Spartan Elementary adds grade 5. Richfield Intermediate School adds grade 3.
1991: Spartan Elementary adds grade 6.
1993: A bond referendum is passed to fund renovations to school facilities and phone and computer technology expenditures.
1994: Spartan Elementary adds Kindergarten and expands into the first floor of the north and south wings of Richfield High School.
1994: Richfield Intermediate School discontinues grade 3.
1996: School facility renovations are completed. Improvements include an additional gymnasium, renovated auditorium, and updated science labs at Richfield High School; a new auditorium at Richfield Junior High; new or expanded elementary media centers; updated elementary playgrounds; and new computer labs at all schools.
1996: The Metropolitan Airports Commission funds the installation of noise resistant windows, roofs and air conditioning at Centennial Elementary, Richfield Intermediate School and Elliot Education Center.
1999: Spartan Elementary closes.
1999: Centennial Elementary and Sheridan Hills Elementary discontinue grade 3.
1999: Richfield Intermediate School adds grade 3 and discontinues grade 6.
1999: Richfield Junior High becomes Richfield Middle School and adds grade 6.

2000-2009

2003: A capital projects referendum is passed to fund new technology infrastructure across the District.
2006: Lincoln Hills and adjacent grounds are sold to Intermediate District 287. Proceeds from the sale of Lincoln Hills are used to improve other school facilities over the next seven years.
2006: The Richfield Middle School athletic fields are expanded and rehabilitated to accommodate two softball fields lost in the sale of Lincoln Hills and provide greater utilization of adjacent fields. The Richfield High School gym is renovated and curtain walls at several schools are replaced.
2007: The Richfield Middle School pool is renovated. Richfield High School tennis courts are renovated.
2007: Richfield Dual Language School opens in the Elliot Education Center building, beginning with kindergarten.
2007: The Family Multicultural Resource Center opens at Central School.
2008: Intermediate District 287 and Richfield Public School District special education programs move out of the Central School building and into the newly built South Education Center (SEC) located where Lincoln Hills used to be.
2009: With grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Central School building is rehabilitated. Community Education, early childhood, and Head Start programs move into the space, allowing the former Elliot Education Center to be fully allocated to the Richfield Dual Language School.
2009: The Richfield Career Education Program (RCEP) opens in Central School.
2009: A playground is installed at Richfield Dual Language School, Lyndale field is renovated and a computer lab for testing is installed at Richfield High School.

2010-2019

2010: Richfield Intermediate closes.
2010: Richfield STEM Elementary opens in the former Richfield Intermediate building, serving grades K-5.
2010: Sheridan Hills Elementary and Centennial Elementary add grades 4-5.
2010: A new PA system is installed in Richfield High School.
2011: Central School is renamed Central Education Center.
2011: Synthetic turf is installed in the football stadium at Richfield High School. A new PA system is installed at Centennial Elementary.
2013: A capital projects referendum is passed to fund new technology infrastructure across the District.
2016: The Richfield Career Education Program is renamed Richfield College Experience Program and moves to the campus of Normandale Community College.
2016: Prekindergarten programs are added at each of the four elementary schools and the Central Education Center.
2017: A general obligation school bond referendum is passed to fund building renovation projects for the next five years.
2019: The Richfield College Experience Program (RCEP) moves to the former Portland Elementary building that is now part of Hope Church.

2020-present

School Histories

Central Elementary / Central Education Center

7145 Harriet Avenue South

1948: Central Elementary opens.
1977: Central Elementary is closed. At some point, Intermediate District 287 and Richfield Public School District special education programs start using this building.
2007: The Family Multicultural Resource Center opens at Central Elementary.
2008: Intermediate District 287 and Richfield Public School District special education programs move out of the Central Elementary building and into the newly built South Education Center (SEC) located where Lincoln Hills Elementary used to be.
2009: With grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Central Elementary building is rehabilitated. Community Education, early childhood, and Head Start programs move into the space.
2009: Richfield Career Education Program (RCEP) opens in Central Elementary.
2011: Central Elementary is renamed the Central Education Center.
2016: Prekindergarten programs are added.
2022: Renovation of the Central Education Center is completed.

The building plaque from Central Elementary School

Centennial Elementary

7315 Bloomington Avenue South

1959: Centennial Elementary opens.
1982: Centennial Elementary discontinues fourth and fifth grade.
1986: Two new classrooms are constructed and a third classroom is expanded.
1996: The Metropolitan Airports Commission funds the installation of noise resistant windows, roofs and air conditioning at Centennial Elementary.
1999: Centennial Elementary discontinues third grade.
2010: Centennial Elementary adds fourth and fifth grade.
2011: A new PA system is installed.
2016: Prekindergarten programs are added.
2020: Renovation of Centennial Elementary is completed.

East Elementary

Elliott Elementary / Elliot Education Center / Richfield Dual Language School

7001 Elliot Avenue South

1952: Elliott Elementary opens.
1982: Elliot Elementary is closed. The building is renamed the Elliot Education Center and houses Community Education, early childhood, Head Start and daycare programs.
1996: The Metropolitan Airports Commission funds the installation of noise resistant windows, roofs and air conditioning at the Elliot Education Center.
2007: Richfield Dual Language School opens in the Elliot Education Center building, beginning with kindergarten.
2009: Community Education, early childhood and Head Start programs move into the Central Education Center, allowing the former Elliot Education Center to be fully allocated to the Richfield Dual Language School.
2009: A playground is installed.
2016: Prekindergarten programs are added.
2020: Renovation of Richfield Dual Language School is completed.

East Junior High / Richfield Intermediate School / Richfield STEM Elementary

7020 12th Avenue South

1957: East Junior High opens.
1978: East and West Junior Highs serve grades 6-9.
1982: East Junior High becomes Richfield Intermediate School, serving grades 4-6.
1990: Richfield Intermediate School adds third grade.
1994: Richfield Intermediate School discontinues third grade.
1996: The Metropolitan Airports Commission funds the installation of noise resistant windows, roofs and air conditioning at Richfield Intermediate School.
1999: Richfield Intermediate School adds third grade and discontinues sixth grade.
2010: Richfield Intermediate School closes.
2010: Richfield STEM Elementary opens in the former Richfield Intermediate School building, serving grades K-5.
2016: Prekindergarten programs are added.
2020: Renovation of Richfield STEM Elementary is completed.

Lincoln Hills Elementary

7450 Penn Avenue South

1951: Lincoln Hills Elementary opens.
1982: Lincoln Hills Elementary is closed and the building is subsequently used for special education, alternative programs and leased space. Students previously attending Lincoln Hills Elementary move to Sheridan Elementary, which is renamed Sheridan Hills Elementary.
2006: Lincoln Hills Elementary and adjacent grounds are sold to Intermediate District 287. Proceeds from the sale of Lincoln Hills are used to improve other school facilities over the next seven years.

Portland Elementary

7201 4th Avenue South

1955: Portland Elementary opens.
1983: Portland Elementary is closed.
2019: The Richfield College Experience Program moves to the former Portland Elementary building, which is now owned by Hope Church.

External Resources

Newspaper article on the closing of Portland Elementary (The Minneapolis Star, Feb. 7, 1978)

Richfield College Experience Program (RCEP)

7201 4th Avenue South

2009: The Richfield Career Education Program opens in the Central Elementary building.
2016: The Richfield Career Education Program is renamed Richfield College Experience Program (RCEP) and moves to the campus of Normandale Community College.
2019: The Richfield College Experience Program moves to the former Portland Elementary building, which is now owned by Hope Church.

Richfield High School

7001 Harriet Avenue South

1954: Richfield High School opens, serving grades 10-12 (previously students attended high school in Minneapolis).
1982: Richfield High School adds ninth grade.
1988: Spartan Elementary is created using the south wing at Richfield High School.
1996: School facility renovations are completed. Improvements include an additional gymnasium, renovated auditorium, updated science labs and a new computer lab.
2006: The gym is renovated.
2007: The tennis courts are renovated.
2009: A computer lab for testing is installed.
2010: A new PA system is installed.
2011: Synthetic turf is installed in the football stadium.
2021: Renovation is completed.

External Resources

Hennepin County Yearbook Collection, Richfield High School Aurean (Hennepin County Library)

Sheridan Elementary / Sheridan Hills Elementary

6400 Sheridan Avenue South

By 1960, Sheridan Elementary opens.
1982: Lincoln Hills Elementary is closed and students move to Sheridan, which is renamed Sheridan Hills.
1982: Sheridan Hills discontinues fourth and fifth grades.
1986: Four new classrooms are constructed at Sheridan Hills Elementary.
1999: Sheridan Hills Elementary discontinue third grade.
2010: Sheridan Hills Elementary adds fourth and fifth grades.
2016: Prekindergarten programs are added.
2022: Renovation of Sheridan Hills is completed.

Spartan Elementary at Richfield High School

7001 Harriet Avenue South

1988: Spartan Elementary is created using the south wing at Richfield High School. Initially, this elementary school serves grades 1-3.
1989: Spartan Elementary adds fourth grade.
1990: Spartan Elementary adds fifth grade.
1991: Spartan Elementary adds sixth grade.
1994: Spartan Elementary adds kindergarten and expands into the first floor of the north and south wings of Richfield High School.
1999: Spartan Elementary closes.

West Junior High / Richfield Junior High / Richfield Middle School

7461 Oliver Avenue South

1959: West Junior High opens.
1978: East and West Junior Highs serve grades 6-9.
1982: West Junior High becomes Richfield Junior High, serving grades 7-8.
1996: School facility renovations are completed. Improvements include a new auditorium at Richfield Junior High and a new computer lab.
1999: Richfield Junior High becomes Richfield Middle School and adds sixth grade.
2006: The athletic fields are expanded and rehabilitated to accommodate two softball fields lost in the sale of Lincoln Hills and to provide greater utilization of adjacent fields.
2007: The pool is renovated.
2022: Renovation of is completed.

External Resources

This 1959 photograph shows West Junior High under construction. (Minnesota Historical Society)

Wood Lake School

A long, long time ago...

Richfield in 1873

This 1873 plat map show a Richfield township prior to the establishment of Edina, West Minneapolis (Hopkins) or St Louis Park. It extended west all the way to present-day Highway 169. On the map above:

Schoolhouse #6 at Lyndale and the Minnehaha Creek
Schoolhouse #8 at 54th and Chicago Avenue
Schoolhouse #88 near Bloomington Avenue and 78th Street
Schoolhouse #12 between Wood Lake and Grass Lake on 66th Street

Local School District Map from 1898

Historic Map of Richfield Area School Districts

This 1898 plat map shows the boundaries for all the area school districts at that time (color-coded).

District #6 is also annexed to Minneapolis 1927. Its primary schoolhouse was on the southest corner of 54th and Lyndale Avenue.
District #8 shows its schoolhouse on Portland Avenue just north of 62nd Stteet, which is annexed to Minneapolis 1927.
District #12 (labelled "Part of" School District #12 in this map) still reaches into Edina west to France Avenue and beyond in places, ten years after Edina's incorporation as a city.
District #109 is fully established with schoolhouse #109 on the northwest corner of 70th Avenue and 28th Street. It was later relocated to the southwest corner of 66th Avenue and 34th Street.

Thank you to Kenneth Anderson for his research into the early days of Richfield, which was used to create this section. Maps are courtesy of the Univerity of Minnesota's online plat map collection.