Schools That Work

Maplewood Richmond Heights High School

Public, Urban
Grades 9-12
Maplewood, MO

Maplewood Richmond Heights High School is a 370-student comprehensive high school in suburban St. Louis. Identified as a target for state takeover in the 1990s, MRH High has been working for the last two decades to transform itself into a high-quality school anchoring a revitalized neighborhood and school district. Today, teachers design their own curriculum using the Understanding by Design framework; there’s an emphasis on developing deep connections with students and families via home visits; and in all classes, teachers treat students as apprentices and look for ways to empower students and connect lessons to real-life people, places, and opportunities.

  • Achieved a 98.4 percent score on the Missouri Department of Education’s Annual Performance Report in 2018, which measures college and career readiness, test scores, attendance rates, and graduation rates.
  • Received a National Excellence in Urban Education Award, the only U.S. school to be awarded a gold level in 2015.
  • Named a Breakthrough School by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 2014 and 2017.
  • Student Engagement

    How an Apprenticeship Model Engaged Students and Turned a School Around

    At Maplewood Richmond Heights High School, educators think of school as an apprenticeship for kids’ futures—and it’s working.
    Sarah Gonser
  • Student Engagement

    Raising the Bar for Student Work

    Sharing high-quality examples from past students makes expectations for classwork tangible.
  • Career & Technical Education

    Making Career Connections in Every Classroom

    Building real-world work skills and authentic activities into lessons helps students see a path beyond high school.
  • Curriculum Planning

    Deepening Learning With Understanding by Design

    Learners benefit when teachers intentionally plan their units backward—starting with the desired outcome.
  • Family Engagement

    Home Visits Make a School Community Stronger

    Getting to know every family helps schools better support students, even into high school.

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