Original Research by School Decision on New Richmond High School
New Richmond High School serves a small enrollment in a historic Ohio River village about twenty miles southeast of Cincinnati. The school sits on a shared campus with the middle school, removed from the riverfront downtown that anchors civic life. It draws students from the New Richmond Exempted Village School District, a district now navigating severe fiscal constraints that are reshaping what the school can offer.
On state testing in 2024-2025, proficiency rates show mixed results. Science and social studies students reached proficiency at a solid rate, while English language arts fell notably below the mathematics rate. The school has only one year of reported state data, so trend direction is not yet clear. A parent may want to look into recent years' performance with the school directly if historical context matters for your decision.
The student body is predominantly white, with very limited racial and ethnic diversity. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a standard measure of economic need. The enrollment spans four grades with relatively stable cohort sizes. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available.
The district faces a genuine fiscal crisis that directly affects what happens inside the school. The closure of two major power plants—Beckjord and Zimmer—eliminated about half of district revenue over recent years. Voters rejected both an earned income tax and a property tax levy in 2025 and 2026. The Ohio Department of Education placed the district in fiscal caution in late 2025, and the state-mandated recovery plan for 2026-2027 includes substantial cuts: teaching positions, a full-time mental health counselor, a school psychologist, and county aides. These are not abstract budget measures; they mean fewer teachers per class, reduced counseling access, and tighter support for students who struggle. Beginning in 2026-2027, athletic participation fees rise meaningfully with no family cap, adding a cost families with multiple children or athletes need to factor in.
The village itself is experiencing modest revitalization. The riverfront historic district has gained new restaurants and shops under a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, and new housing subdivisions are building on the hillsides away from the flood-prone west side. The major wild card is the redevelopment of the vast former Beckjord power plant site, which could anchor regional growth if the coal-ash cleanup obstacle clears. For now, though, most residents commute toward Cincinnati for work.
New Richmond High School is the only high school serving the district, so there is no choice at the secondary level. The school is open and functioning, but a parent stepping into this enrollment should do so with clear eyes about the fiscal reality reshaping staffing, class size, and support services. The recent state test snapshots show room for improvement in English language arts. Whether this fits your family depends on whether you can weather a school in genuine fiscal contention and support your student through what may be tighter services than you would find in a better-funded district nearby.
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