Mission Statement
Since opening its doors in 1960 as the first integrated independent school in Indianapolis, St. Richard’s Episcopal School has strived for diversity, community and excellence. Our mission is to instill knowledge and values for a lifetime through the implementation of our Five Pillars for Success: Faith, Classic Curriculum, Leadership, Civic Responsibility and Global Readiness. The Five Pillars are not merely a marketing slogan; they are principles acted on in St. Richard’s classrooms everyday.
Faith - St. Richard’s embraces the tradition of intellectual exploration and discovery of faith found in the Episcopal Church. Faith serves as a primary support for the school community, providing the basis of moral character found in our students. We encourage all students—whatever their personal religious background—to search for answers to challenging questions through an investigation of all cultures and religions, past and present.
Classic Curriculum - At St. Richard’s, we educate the whole student, promoting academic, emotional and physical development. Our curriculum reflects classic values—focusing on science, mathematics, languages, the arts and the humanities—but is executed with cutting edge tools and philosophy to prepare students for the modern world. Beyond the academic knowledge instilled in our classrooms, St. Richard’s strives to instill discipline, respect and a deep-seated love of learning in all of our students.
Civic Responsibility - At St. Richard’s, our sense of community extends beyond the bounds of the school. Community service and neighborhood partnerships are deeply woven into the school curriculum. The HUDDLE group is student-run and organizes school wide service projects, frequently partnering with Trinity Episcopal Church’s outreach ministries. Other community partners include the Horizons summer enrichment program, The Children’s Museum and Indy Parks. All students at St. Richard’s learn not only to respect themselves and others, but also to embrace their responsibility to the surrounding community. St. Richard’s aims not only to produce great students, we aim to produce great citizens.
Global Readiness - Preparing students for global citizenship begins early at St. Richard’s. The school community is immersed in diversity—of faith, nationality and ethnicity. An award winning language program begins in PK-3, preparing our students in Grade 5 for a two-week exchange trip to France. Beginning in Grade 6, the language program expands to include Latin for all students with an option to take French or Spanish. With a curriculum that emphasizes cultures and events beyond our borders, St. Richard’s students are well equipped to experience the world.
Leadership - St. Richard’s prides itself in preparing the leaders of the future. Students in all grades learn to be confident public speakers through school wide performances and classroom presentations. Older students are role models for the entire school and traditions such as the 8th grade buddy program help to ensure a tight-knit community throughout the school’s hallways. Leadership has taken a more explicit role in St. Richard’s curriculum through the implementation of leadership training in the Middle Division in recent years. Our unique partnership with Purdue University’s Center for Entrepreneurship—their only partnership with a middle school in the state—gives St. Richard’s students invaluable real world experience.
