Edward J. Richardson Middle

Summary:

Edward J. Richardson Middle is a high-performing public middle school in Torrance, California, serving 661 students in grades 6-8 and part of the Torrance Unified School District.

Edward J. Richardson Middle consistently ranks among the top middle schools in California, with exceptional academic performance. The school's students significantly outperform their peers in the Torrance Unified and California state averages on Smarter Balanced Assessments, with 78.82% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts compared to 66.73% in Torrance Unified and 47.04% statewide. The school also excels in supporting diverse student groups, including English Language Learners and students with disabilities, ranking 6th and 130th out of over 1,400 California middle schools, respectively, in 2023-2024. Additionally, Edward J. Richardson Middle maintains low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 1.9% to 8.1% over the past three years, well below the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, Edward J. Richardson Middle outperforms most in the Torrance Unified District, as well as the high-performing Ridgecrest Intermediate in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified District. The only nearby school that appears to match or exceed Edward J. Richardson Middle's performance is Bert M. Lynn Middle, another top-performing school in the Torrance Unified District. Overall, Edward J. Richardson Middle is an exceptional middle school that consistently delivers outstanding academic results, supports the success of diverse student populations, and maintains a positive learning environment.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 23751 Nancy Lee Ln.
       Torrance, CA  90505-5416


(310) 533-4790

District: Torrance Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
111th of 2,777 California Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $4,931 Help


Students who attend Edward J. Richardson Middle usually attend:

High:    South High

Feeder schools for Edward J. Richardson Middle:

Elementary:    Riviera Elementary
    Walteria Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  24.0 Help
Number of students:  661

Racial breakdown:

Asian:
33.9%
White:
32.7%
Hispanic:
18.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  16.5% Help


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 Compare Edward J. Richardson Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Edward J. Richardson Middle ranks better than 96% of middle schools in California. It also ranks first among 8 ranked middle schools in the Torrance Unified School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.29. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Edward J. Richardson Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (33.9%), White (32.7%), Hispanic (18.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 16.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Torrance Unified School District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Edward J. Richardson Middle is 24. 5 middle schools in the Torrance Unified School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Edward J. Richardson Middle employs 27.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Edward J. Richardson Middle is $4,931. 4 middle schools in the Torrance Unified School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Edward J. Richardson Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Edward J. Richardson Middle 111th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Edward J. Richardson Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Torrance Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Torrance Unified 191st of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Edward J. Richardson Middle

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Rank History for all students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 87.85 150th 1769 91.5%
2005 84.43 211th 1777 88.1%
2006 87.84 156th 1804 91.4%
2007 76.60 362nd 1999 81.9%
2008 79.40 300th 2005 85.0%
2009 79.90 291st 2063 85.9%
2010 82.28 250th 2179 88.5%
2011 83.80 221st 2236 90.1%
2012 86.43 157th 2259 93.1%
2013 79.48 332nd 2379 86.0%
2015 95.28 99th 2477 96.0%
2016 92.73 153rd 2497 93.9%
2017 91.89 200th 2508 92.0%
2018 92.91 175th 2480 92.9%
2019 93.17 192nd 2715 92.9%
2022 84.10 400th 2740 85.4%
2023 95.02 151st 2802 94.6%
2024 96.29 111th 2777 96.0%
See the entire list of California Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.71 88th 462 81.0%
2019 68.11 181st 554 67.3%
2022 51.61 331st 665 50.2%
2023 71.59 192nd 678 71.7%
2024 74.14 171st 699 75.5%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.28 34th 1364 97.5%
2019 90.15 65th 1442 95.5%
2022 95.72 27th 1540 98.2%
2023 84.65 80th 1529 94.8%
2024 99.59 6th 1477 99.6%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 97.28 34th 1538 97.8%
2024 84.35 130th 1550 91.6%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.09 129th 2230 94.2%
2019 71.82 458th 2369 80.7%
2022 84.32 221st 2458 91.0%
2023 83.39 271st 2549 89.4%
2024 96.68 70th 2575 97.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.69 180th 2262 92.0%
2019 91.96 176th 2380 92.6%
2022 85.04 340th 2509 86.4%
2023 96.01 101st 2547 96.0%
2024 95.87 102nd 2546 96.0%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.46 109th 1369 92.0%
2019 92.85 70th 1491 95.3%
2022 79.26 189th 1531 87.7%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.07 178th 2273 92.2%
2019 92.67 191st 2407 92.1%
2022 81.36 413th 2527 83.7%
2023 92.07 199th 2558 92.2%
2024 95.03 135th 2547 94.7%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.31 184th 700 73.7%
2019 72.66 220th 745 70.5%
2022 60.07 341st 733 53.5%
2023 74.94 169th 718 76.5%
2024 82.13 82nd 741 88.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.83 184th 2072 91.1%
2019 85.92 197th 2213 91.1%
2022 82.15 258th 2359 89.1%
2023 87.30 186th 2391 92.2%
2024 93.85 93rd 2383 96.1%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Edward J. Richardson Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.93 265th 1496 82.3%
2019 80.19 260th 1602 83.8%
2022 48.14 788th 1555 49.3%
2023 82.03 207th 1552 86.7%
2024 80.74 219th 1535 85.7%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Edward J. Richardson Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, March 12, 2020

Open Quote My child had an issue with another student with behavioral issues. It was handled properly and expeditiously. The teachers seem to really care for each students growth and are communicative and willing to go the extra mile to help students reach their full potential. I’m thankful for the environment they try to create at the school and pray they continue to be the excellent educators they’ve proved to be thus far Close Quote



Enrollment information for Edward J. Richardson Middle

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1994 134 2 49 9 2 n/a n/a 0 196
1995 415 8 146 35 1 n/a n/a 0 605
1996 415 8 146 35 1 n/a n/a 0 605
1997 404 7 130 40 0 n/a n/a 0 581
1998 410 8 119 39 0 n/a n/a 0 576
1999 416 10 129 42 1 n/a n/a 0 598
2000 429 10 146 33 1 n/a n/a 0 619
2001 429 7 157 39 1 n/a n/a 0 633
2002 428 9 183 49 2 n/a n/a 0 671
2003 428 9 183 49 2 n/a n/a 0 671
2004 439 9 190 51 3 n/a n/a 0 692
2005 430 7 212 55 4 n/a n/a 1 709
2006 404 4 228 54 3 n/a n/a 2 695
2007 363 8 237 62 7 n/a n/a 19 696
2008 341 9 220 66 8 n/a n/a 0 644
2009 359 7 239 75 11 2 21 0 714
2010 370 11 228 80 5 4 16 0 714
2011 357 7 235 83 2 4 24 0 712
2012 318 9 216 79 4 5 48 0 679
2013 299 12 215 77 3 4 62 0 672
2014 274 17 202 112 4 3 73 0 685
2015 289 13 205 115 1 2 66 0 691
2016 297 12 191 118 4 2 72 0 696
2017 281 9 199 116 3 1 82 0 691
2018 268 9 208 137 3 1 89 0 715
2019 235 14 230 146 1 1 102 0 729
2020 232 15 236 149 1 1 95 0 729
2021 213 16 235 137 1 1 83 0 686
2022 194 15 230 123 1 0 74 0 637
2023 216 16 224 123 1 0 81 0 661

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Edward J. Richardson Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 196 6.0 32.7 6.1
1995 605 24.0 25.2 8.9
1996 605 24.0 25.2 8.9
1997 581 24.5 23.7 8.1
1998 576 25.0 23.0 7.8
1999 598 24.0 24.9 6.2
2000 619 28.5 21.7 6.5
2001 633 28.2 22.4 8.5
2002 671 28.5 23.5 8.8
2003 671 28.5 23.5 8.8
2004 692 28.5 24.3 7.2
2005 709 28.3 25.1 6.5
2006 695 26.4 26.3 7.8
2007 696 27.0 25.8 7.8
2008 644 30.5 21.1 12
2009 714 25.5 23.6 10.6
2010 714 24.6 28.9 9.1
2011 712 n/a n/a 11.8
2012 679 21.9 30.9 n/a
2013 672 23.1 28.9 16.7
2014 685 22.6 30.2 13.7
2015 691 26.0 26.5 15.1
2016 696 27.0 25.7 15.2
2017 691 26.8 25.7 11.6
2018 715 29.0 24.6 15.8
2019 729 29.1 25.0 17.3
2020 729 n/a n/a 13.7
2021 686 27.0 25.4 15.5
2022 637 28.1 22.6 12.9
2023 661 27.4 24.0 16.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Edward J. Richardson Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 196 6.0 32.7 6.1
1995 605 24.0 25.2 8.9
1996 605 24.0 25.2 8.9
1997 581 24.5 23.7 8.1
1998 576 25.0 23.0 7.8
1999 598 24.0 24.9 6.2
2000 619 28.5 21.7 6.5
2001 633 28.2 22.4 8.5
2002 671 28.5 23.5 8.8
2003 671 28.5 23.5 8.8
2004 692 28.5 24.3 7.2
2005 709 28.3 25.1 6.5
2006 695 26.4 26.3 7.8
2007 696 27.0 25.8 7.8
2008 644 30.5 21.1 12
2009 714 25.5 23.6 10.6
2010 714 24.6 28.9 9.1
2011 712 n/a n/a 11.8
2012 679 21.9 30.9 n/a
2013 672 23.1 28.9 16.7
2014 685 22.6 30.2 13.7
2015 691 26.0 26.5 15.1
2016 696 27.0 25.7 15.2
2017 691 26.8 25.7 11.6
2018 715 29.0 24.6 15.8
2019 729 29.1 25.0 17.3
2020 729 n/a n/a 13.7
2021 686 27.0 25.4 15.5
2022 637 28.1 22.6 12.9
2023 661 27.4 24.0 16.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Edward J. Richardson Middle

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $4,931

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Edward J. Richardson Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 192nd of 2715 Middle schoolsRanks 151st of 2802 Middle schools
 1.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Edward J. Richardson Middle)76.474.2
 2.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Torrance Unified)64.360.6
 3.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.544.2
 4.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Edward J. Richardson Middle)64.965.4
 0.4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Torrance Unified)60.254.3
 5.9%
   6th Grade Mathematics (California)38.533.2
 5.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Edward J. Richardson Middle)76.580.3
 3.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Torrance Unified)68.668.2
 0.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.447.4
 3.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Edward J. Richardson Middle)6769.7
 2.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Torrance Unified)59.956.3
 3.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (California)37.933.2
 4.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Edward J. Richardson Middle)80.572.5
 8%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Torrance Unified)66.464.9
 1.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.445.7
 3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Edward J. Richardson Middle)67.758.2
 9.5%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Torrance Unified)55.249.8
 5.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (California)36.629.9
 6.7%
8th Grade Science (Edward J. Richardson Middle)56.756.7
 0%
   8th Grade Science (Torrance Unified)47.146.1
 1%
   8th Grade Science (California)30.828.8
 2.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students729661
 9.3%
African American1416
 14.3%
American Indian11
Asian230224
 2.6%
Hispanic146123
 15.8%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White235216
 8.1%
Two or More Races10281
 20.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients17.3%16.5%
 0.8%


Schools Near Edward J. Richardson Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about Edward J. Richardson Middle

Students who attend Edward J. Richardson Middle usually go on to attend South High

Students at Edward J. Richardson Middle are 34% Asian, 33% White, 19% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 2% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 661 students attended Edward J. Richardson Middle.

Yes! Edward J. Richardson Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 111th of 2777 California middle schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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