Best Public Schools in Riverside, CA

Riverside has 77 schools in the supplied list: 43 elementary, 11 middle, 18 high and 5 alternative schools. Results differ substantially across the area. Among eight comprehensive high schools, average 2025–26 proficiency was 57% in ELA, 22% in math and 31% in science, compared with California’s 49%, 38% and 36%. The clearest area-wide concern in this comparable high-school group is math: its average was 16 points below the state result.

Riverside STEM Academy stands out across subjects, with 84% ELA, 77% math and 81% science—35, 39 and 45 points above state results, respectively. SchoolDigger ranked it 8th of 2,137 schools, at the 100th percentile with five stars. Among middle schools, Frank Augustus Miller Middle leads in all three subjects: 68% ELA, 52% math and 47% science. Elementary leaders differ by subject: Lake Hills Elementary leads in ELA and math at 68% and 65%, while Benjamin Franklin Elementary leads in science at 59%. At the low end, Opportunity Program reports 0% in ELA and math, and Riverside County Community reports 0% in science; these are alternative or specialized programs, not direct comparisons with comprehensive schools.

Across the eight comprehensive high schools, the average ELA result rose by about a point from 2024–25 to 2025–26, math was nearly flat, and science rose by 5 points. Compared with state trends, the group’s ELA advantage was nearly unchanged, its math shortfall widened by 1 point, and its science shortfall narrowed by 2. Martin Luther King Junior High led this high-school group in all three subjects; its free/reduced lunch eligible share was 55% in 2024–25. Norte Vista High improved in all three subjects but remained below state results; its free/reduced lunch eligible share was 92% in 2024–25, and its student-teacher ratio of 20.7 was lower than MLK’s 24.0. These figures are context, not a simple guide to results. All-grades comparisons also span different grade levels and include alternative programs.