In 1841, the first school in the area was built by Mr. George Elliot. It was named Lisbon Plank School, District No.1; the building still stands today on Hwy. K as part of the Halquist Stone Quarry. 

In 1842, School District No. 2 was formed which is now Richmond School District.  In 1846, the Thompson Richmond family leased their property to Joint School District No. 2 and the Town of Lisbon, to build a schoolhouse.  On October 28, 1851, for the sum of $167.00, a school was erected where the east parking lot sits today.  The school was 20 feet wide, 26 feet long and 11 feet high.  It had eight windows.  

In 1877, the school district raised $600.00 for the construction of a new schoolhouse.  That construction began in 1878.  In order to staff the new school, Miss Emma Bloor was hired to teach for four and half months for the sum of $180.00.  In the following year, the District lengthened the school year to four months during the winter and three months during the summer.

On July 7th, 1884, the Board of Education approved the purchase of 50 slates in four different sizes to be sold to and used by students.  The total cost of the slates and erasers came to $9.60. Three years later, in 1887, the Board approved the purchase of a dictionary for the school.  That same year, the Board voted against a motion that textbooks be furnished free-of-cost to pupils. 

Much like the present day school, the school built in 1878 required custodial upkeep.  The school was painted for $12.00, the old clock was sold for $3.75 and a new one purchased for $5.00.  A new well was drilled for $75.00 in 1891, and a flagpole was erected in 1892.  A hitching rail was installed in 1895.  A new wood stove was added in 1902. In 1903, trees were planted and a new floor was installed. In 1904, the Board of Education voted to lengthen the school year to nine months.  At the same time, the Board of Education voted to burn coal instead of wood when heating the school.   

In 1929, the Board agreed to add a music teacher to the staff.  She was to teach one hour per week for the sum of $80.00 per year.  Later, in 1938, the Board agreed to allocate $2,350.00 to remodel Richmond School and drill a new well.  The school building did not include indoor plumbing.  In a move that in all likelihood saved Richmond School from losing its rich history, the Board voted not to merge with Merton School District. 

On July 12, 1954, the Board of Education agreed to spend $26,000.00 on school improvements.  Some of these improvements included two new rooms, a basement, and indoor plumbing. In 1956, the school year was extended to the current 180 days.  In 1957, an overcrowding problem surfaced and the Board of Education converted the basement into a third room.

In the early sixties, the District began looking for additional land as it became clear that Richmond School needed to expand.  In 1966, the Board agreed to send 7th and 8th graders to attend school in Hartland on a tuition basis. 

In 1967, a principal who also taught 7th and 8th grades joined a staff of four other teachers.  On April 7, 1968, a vote was taken to build a new school.  The vote passed 63 to 38.  With that vote, and a $150,000.00 loan, the new Richmond School was built.  The old school remained, for the time being, where the lower parking lot is today.  In 1972, with increasing enrollments, the school received another addition.  This addition included what are today the Library Media Center and the kindergarten rooms.  The seventies continued to bring change to Richmond; in 1975 a new gymnasium was built.  It is the present day cafeteria.  As residential developments continued to spring up throughout the Richmond District, a ten-room addition was completed in 1978.  With that addition, the old school, which had served as a gymnasium, was torn down.  At that time one citizen requested the dissolution of our K-8 Union District to become a K-12 District. The change was made. A grassroots committee of citizens from the entire district worked to re-establish our Union District. Those involved from Richmond were Jean Safro Schultis, Jane Stadler and Karen Warden. The Union District was re-established in January 1979.

In 1987, as enrollment numbers halted and costs continued to rise, a referendum took place to determine if Richmond School District should consolidate with Hartland School District.  The referendum was defeated.  By the mid-nineties, however, student enrollment began growing at a more rapid rate, and it became evident that, once again, the school would have to be expanded.  

In 1997, a referendum was approved to spend $5 million on a new addition.  This new addition consisted of a new gymnasium, an art room, music and band room, computer rooms, science rooms, and classrooms. With the purchase of 3-plus acres of land adjacent to the school in 2001, Richmond School District was prepared for the twenty-first century. 

For decades, Richmond School has been acknowledged as a leader in academic achievement.  In May, 2006, Milwaukee Magazine completed a study in which they identified Richmond School as the top performing school district in South-eastern Wisconsin.  Academic achievement and competitive costs to taxpayers served as two criteria when making that determination.  On December 9, 2008, Richmond School received the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Lighthouse Award.  Only 15 schools in America received this award in 2008.   Once again, in April 2012, Richmond School was identified as the top performing K-8 school district in south-eastern Wisconsin by Milwaukee Magazine.  

In 2015, the Wisconsin Response to Intervention (RtI) Center recognized Richmond as a School of Merit – Reading for the implementation of a culturally responsive multi-level system of support.  Several teachers and administrators were recognized by professional organizations for their contributions in the field of education as well. 

In 2016 and 2017, Richmond was recognized as a Title I High Achieving School. This award recognizes schools that have reduced achievement gaps and demonstrate high achievement across all content areas.

In 2022, Richmond was recognized in various publications. US News and World Report recognized Richmond as the #13 Best Middle School out of 562 in Wisconsin. Niche voted Richmond #48 Best Elementary School out of 1030 nationally. Richmond consistently scores high on the state report cards. Also, in 2022, Richmond was ranked the #2 District in WI, with a "Significantly Exceeds Expectations" rating. 

On May 31, 2018, Richmond celebrated 175 years of educational excellence.