Original Research by School Decision on Miles P. Richmond
Miles P. Richmond is a special education school serving high school students in North Highlands through Twin Rivers Unified. It operates as a small, distinct campus within the district's portfolio, located at Keema Avenue in an unincorporated area northeast of Sacramento.
The school's enrollment is entirely in grade 12, with a student body of modest size. About three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is racially and ethnically diverse: roughly half identify as Hispanic, while about a quarter are white, with smaller populations of students who are Black, Asian, or multiracial. The school's character is shaped by its special education focus, which means it serves students with identified disabilities and is designed around their specific academic and support needs rather than a traditional comprehensive high school curriculum.
State testing data and graduation rates were not available for this school. This absence reflects the school's purpose and structure. Special education schools often operate outside the state's standard accountability metrics because their students follow individualized education programs and may take alternative assessments or pursue outcomes other than a standard diploma. A parent would want to contact the school directly to understand what credentials or certificates students earn, what transition services are offered for life after high school, and what academic and functional skills the program emphasizes.
North Highlands itself is a working-class, car-dependent suburban area developed after World War II to house military personnel. It remains primarily single-family residential with commercial corridors along Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard. The neighborhood anchors around parks, bus routes, and the Blue Line light rail terminus at Watt/I-80, which offers transit connections to central Sacramento. Housing in the area is more affordable than Sacramento County as a whole, reflecting the middle-income character of the community.
The district has recently faced operational turbulence. Twin Rivers teachers held their first strike in March 2026, a disruption that lasted nearly two weeks and resulted in a two-year contract with significant wage increases and new health benefits. The strike reflected a staffing and retention crisis that affected classroom stability across the district during those weeks. Voters approved two large bond measures in 2022 to modernize aging school facilities, funded by new property taxes on district homeowners. Additionally, Highlands Community Charter, a charter school authorized by the district, is undergoing major restructuring after the district issued notice of intent to revoke its charter, and the school is reducing sites and changing its curriculum. These shifts in the district environment may shape the resources and attention available to schools like Miles P. Richmond as the system works through recovery and transition.
For families considering this school, the key questions are about the specific services, curriculum, and post-secondary pathways it offers. Because state data does not capture the school's outcomes, direct conversation with the school's staff about instructional focus, inclusion of general education content, work-based learning opportunities, and preparation for independent living or employment is essential to understanding whether it aligns with a student's needs and goals.
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