James Rickards High School: Top STEM School in Tallahassee FL (2026 List)

About James Rickards High School

James Rickards High School is a well-known public school in Tallahassee, Florida, that serves about 1,150 students in grades 9–12. It has a world-class International Baccalaureate (IB) program and is known as one of the best schools in the area. The school is one of the best in terms of academic rigor, with an amazing 99% of students taking Advanced Placement courses. It keeps the ratio of students to teachers at about 18:1. The campus is home to a diverse group of people, with 93% of students being minorities and 57% of students coming from low-income families. According to academic standards, 29% of students are good at math and 35% are good at reading. It is one of 14 high schools in the Leon County Schools district and also organizes the SAT and ACT tests to make sure students are ready for college. James Rickards High School is known as one of the best schools because of its high academic standards and its long history of turning out students who are ready for college-level competition, and it is one of the best high schools in Florida.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 29%

Reading 35%

State average proficiency is 29% in Math and 35% in Reading.

67

Full-time Teachers

24 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

5

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

1575

Total Students

$66972

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 6.98%

Asian 6.73%

Hispanic 9.9%

Black 71.62%

Two+ Races 4.63%

Native Am. 0.13%

White

6.98%

Asian

6.73%

Hispanic

9.9%

Black

71.62%

Two+ Races

4.63%

Native Am.

0.13%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 1575

51.17%

806 Female

48.83%

769 Male

Student Population

1575 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 24 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

525 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

James Rickards High School Contact Information

Address

3013 JIM LEE RD, TALLAHASSEE, FL, 32301

View on Map

Phone

(850) 414-5500

Call Now

Website

http://www.leonschools.net/rickards

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:25 AM to 1:55 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:10 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

At the 2025 Best & Brightest Awards, James Rickards High School honored its senior class for their hard work. Darius Jones II won the Spirit of the Best and Brightest award for his great community service. The campus has also seen big improvements to its facilities. For example, a new multi-story classroom building has been finished, and an old art studio and welding vocational-technical space have been renovated. A new $1.6 million grant has also made it possible to start an advanced robotics and engineering program that will give students access to the latest tools and summer research opportunities.

FAQ

Q1. Are students able to look into STEM options?

Ans. Yes, there are science, technology, engineering, and math programs that let students learn through practical activities.

Q2. Are there programs that help kids stay fit?

Ans. Of course! James Rickards High School helps students' mental, emotional, and social health by giving them counseling and wellness programs.

Q3. Do students have lockers in James Rickards High School?

Ans. Yes, students are given lockers in the hallways at the start of the school year.

Q4. Can students take the SAT and ACT?

Ans. Yes, James Rickards High School lets students who want to go to college take both the SAT and the ACT.

Q5. Does James Rickards High School encourage people to get involved in their community?

Ans. Yes, students can help out with community programs and volunteer projects to learn about civic duty.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say