RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY

Set in LAKE CITY, Florida, RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY is a small intermediate school, run under COLUMBIA. It educates 455 students across grade 6. That puts it 43% leaner than the typical public school in Florida, which averages around 794 students.

COLUMBIA runs 16 schools in total, collectively educating 9,815 students. RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY is one of those campuses.

On demographics, RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY shows that the most-represented group is White (47%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups; the rest looks like 33% Black, 9% Hispanic, 9% multiracial. That is visibly less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 72%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school currently runs with 27 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 16.9:1. The state averages around 19.6:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Roughly 55% of students at RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 53.5%; this one delivers 56.0%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Columbia County) records that median household earnings sit near $59,205, about 17% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 11%. In all, Columbia County runs 19 public schools (combined enrollment of about 9,815 students), of which RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY is one.

The closest other public school is MELROSE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, roughly 0.3 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY at 2nd of 7; the average score across the group is 50.1%.

The school occupies a town-center site.

Five-year trend. RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY's enrollment has decreased 12% since 2018, when it stood at 517 (now 455). Over the same period, the White share fell from 60% to 47%. Class-load math has rose: from 14.8:1 in 2018 to 16.9:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.