Being a public school, all RHS students must complete the BC provincial curriculum. In addition, students may also enroll in one or more of the special programs listed below. Richmond Secondary School has been an IB World School since July 1984 and is the only school in Richmond to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The magnet IB program provides a challenging and globally accepted curriculum for grade 11 and 12 students, and has garnered Richmond Secondary a district-wide reputation as the "prep" school. As of 2018/2019, the following IB courses are offered:  Richmond Secondary offers the Global Perspectives Program for Grade 12 students. Founded by former RHS teacher Ken Lorenz in 1995, the Global Perspectives course is a program where students embark on humanitarian trips to provide aid for those in developing countries. The Global Perspectives team of 2012/2013 will be assisting the Samoa government to repair damages caused by the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami. This represents the 19th annual project since the programme's conception. Richmond Secondary is currently one of the first pioneer schools in Canada to offer the AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to grade 9–12 students. The AVID program is an academic support program that prepares students for post-secondary education and enrollment, started in 1980 at Clairemont High School in San Diego. Richmond Secondary houses numerous courses and programs designed to prepare students for life beyond high school and the workforce. In addition to applied skills elective courses such as drafting and CAD, woodworks, metal fabrication, and automotives, students may also choose to enroll in the pre-employment program. This program combines academics and work experience and aims to help students develop skills necessary for the job market. Richmond Secondary also hosts the school district's only student chef training program. The school is equipped with a full kitchen, in which student-trainees prepare meals and desserts for other students and faculty to be served during breakfast and lunch hours. Richmond Secondary also has a well-equipped metal and woodworking shop, theatre, and music room. RHS also hosts the "Colt Young Parent Program", a program designed to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting teenagers. Richmond Secondary currently offers numerous athletic teams for students including basketball, cross country, soccer, volleyball, swimming, golf, badminton, Ultimate Frisbee, table tennis, and track and field. The Richmond High basketball team were perennial provincial championship contenders in the 1980s and 90s under BC Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, coach Bill Disbrow.