A church-basement beginning led C. F. Richards to Sterling Street

C. F. Richards Christian School began in the basement of Staunton’s Seventh-day Adventist church in 1956. Three years later, it moved to Sterling Street, where the school continues to welcome students today.

A donation from church member Charles Richards helped develop the school and its grounds. His aim, as the school recounts its history, was to bring academic education and Christian faith together. That connection remains visible in a program that includes weekly chapel, worship and community service alongside classroom work.

The school serves children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Principal Charity Pitton also teaches grades five through eight. Heidi Wagner teaches kindergarten through fourth grade, and Christina Sheffer leads the preschool program. Their responsibilities give the small school a structure in which teaching and leadership are closely connected.

Beyond core subjects, the school’s offerings include a hand-bell choir, art, physical education and STEM work. Field trips, study tours and outdoor education take learning beyond the classroom. For its youngest children, the school describes a play-based approach; summer FLAG Camp provides another part of its calendar.

The Sterling Street address has now served generations of students, while the original church connection remains part of the institution’s identity. Families interested in learning about the program can contact the principal at principal@cfrichards.org or call 540-886-4984.