Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 92503

This analysis covers ten elementary schools (typically grades K-5 or K-6) serving the 92503 zip code in Riverside, CA, which are split between the Alvord Unified and Riverside Unified school districts.

The schools in this area present a mix of performance levels. Lake Hills Elementary (Alvord) and Lake Mathews Elementary (Riverside) stand out as the top performers, with state rankings in the 75th-83rd percentiles and test scores well above district and state averages; they also have the lowest rates of chronic student absenteeism, around 10%. In contrast, Arlanza Elementary and Foothill Elementary (both Alvord) face significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 10% of schools statewide with proficiency rates in core subjects below 20%.

Overall, only the two standout schools have average test scores above the California state average. There is a notable concentration of schools with very high economic need, and these schools tend to have lower academic outcomes. Interestingly, higher per-student spending does not correlate with better performance in this group, as some of the lowest-performing schools have the highest expenditures. The Alvord Unified district shows the widest variance, containing both the highest and lowest-ranked schools in the set, while schools in Riverside Unified demonstrate more consistent, mid-range performance.