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Elementary Schools in Riverside, California: 46 schools. Average score 6.3 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.

Below Average2024–25 data46 schools · avg 38.5/100

Riverside, California has 46 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 38.5/100 — 6.3 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Riverside STEM Academy at 74/100, where 41.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Riverside schools average 14.7% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 19.2% (near the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
38.5
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
61.2
12.8 – 74.0
Avg Exceeded %
14.7%
State avg: 21.3%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
19.2%
State avg: 17.9%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
46
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary46Developing
38.5/100
14.7%-6.3
High15Developing
38.1/100
9.2%-5.6
Middle6Developing
38.9/100
13.7%-3.8

How Riverside schools compare

Riverside has 46 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 38.5/100 — 6.3 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Riverside STEM Academy with a Scope Score of 74 and 41.9% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Riverside averages 19.2% — near the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Exceeded 40% · Met+Exceeded 22% · Growth 15% · Absenteeism 10% · Suspension 5% · ELPAC 5% · Baseline 3%

Hidden Gem

Despite a 54% free-or-reduced-lunch rate, Riverside STEM Academy posts a Scope Score of 74 — 95th percentile statewide.

School archetypes in Riverside

3 Culture First2 Strong All-Around1 Solid Base43 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in Riverside

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Riverside STEM Academy
Riverside Unified Strong All-Around
41.9%Strong
74/100
2Riverside Virtual
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
21.0%Solid
61/100
3Benjamin Franklin Elementary
Riverside Unified Strong All-Around
34.8%Solid
60/100
4Martin Luther King Jr. High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
22.9%Solid
57/100
5Lake Hills Elementary
Alvord Unified Solid Base
34.0%Solid
55/100
6Magnolia Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
21.8%Solid
55/100
7Tomas Rivera Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
30.3%Solid
54/100
8Hillcrest High
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
16.0%Solid
54/100
9Polytechnic High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
22.0%Solid
54/100
10Mark Twain Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
26.6%Solid
51/100
11Arlington High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
15.0%Developing
50/100
12Castle View Elementary
Riverside Unified Culture First
20.0%Developing
49/100
13John F. Kennedy Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
32.8%Developing
49/100
14Ramona High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
10.0%Developing
48/100
15La Sierra High
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
12.6%Developing
47/100
16Twinhill Elementary
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
8.9%Developing
47/100
17Victoria Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
13.6%Developing
47/100
18Pachappa Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
24.2%Developing
46/100
19Lake Mathews Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
31.7%Developing
46/100
20John W. North High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
13.2%Developing
45/100
21William Howard Taft Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
21.4%Developing
45/100
22Mountain View Elementary
Riverside Unified Culture First
15.9%Developing
45/100
23Patricia Beatty Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
18.2%Developing
43/100
24Norte Vista High
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
7.1%Developing
42/100
25Gateway College and Career Academy
Riverside County Office of Education Building Momentum
12.1%Developing
42/100
26Woodcrest Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
15.1%Developing
42/100
27REACH Leadership STEAM Academy
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
20.4%Developing
42/100
28Hawthorne Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
17.5%Developing
40/100
29Monroe Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
17.6%Developing
40/100
30Allan Orrenmaa Elementary
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
12.9%Developing
39/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 67 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

Private Schools in Riverside

Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.

Woodcrest Christian School System
Brethren · Grades Pre-K-12 · 1154 students
23:1Private
Woodcrest Christian Day School
Brethren · Grades Pre-K-12 · 1115 students
23:1Private
Bethel Christian Schools
Brethren · Grades Pre-K-12 · 510 students
17:1Private
Notre Dame High School
Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 400 students
16:1Private
St. Catherine of Alexandria School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 295 students
17:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Riverside

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Riverside good?
Riverside's 46 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 38.5/100, which is 6.3 points below the state average. 14.7% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights seven dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC proficiency (5%), suspension rate (5%), and baseline proficiency (3%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Riverside?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Riverside is Riverside STEM Academy with a Scope Score of 74/100 and 41.9% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Riverside schools compare to the state average?
Riverside elementary schools average a Scope Score of 38.5/100 — 6.3 points below the state average of 44.8. The exceeded rate averages 14.7% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 19.2% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Riverside?
Riverside has 46 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.

Related

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