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Elementary Schools in Riverside, California: 46 schools. Average score 7.3 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.

Below Average2024–25 data46 schools · avg 31.5/100

Riverside, California has 46 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 31.5/100 — 7.3 points below the state average of 38.8. The highest-scoring school is Riverside STEM Academy at 73/100, 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. Of 46 schools, 2 Growth Engines stand out for their performance profiles. 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
31.5
State avg: 38.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
63.6
9.5 – 73.1
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
31.5/100
14.7%-7.3
High15Developing
39.4/100
9.2%-7.2
Middle6Developing
32.5/100
13.7%-5.5

How Riverside schools compare

Riverside has 46 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 31.5/100 — 7.3 points below the state average of 38.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Riverside STEM Academy with a Scope Score of 73 and 41.9% of students exceeding standard.

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

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

Hidden Gem

Despite a 54% free-or-reduced-lunch rate, Riverside STEM Academy posts a Scope Score of 73 — 95th percentile statewide.

School archetypes in Riverside

11 On the Rise3 Culture First2 Growth Engine1 Solid Base32 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 13 schools in Riverside are classified as On the Rise (11) or Growth Engine (2) \u2014 showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

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 Growth Engine
41.9%Strong
73/100
2Martin Luther King Jr. High
Riverside Unified Strong All-Around
22.9%Solid
63/100
3Polytechnic High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
22.0%Solid
59/100
4Hillcrest High
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
16.0%Solid
59/100
5Benjamin Franklin Elementary
Riverside Unified Culture First
34.8%Solid
56/100
6Arlington High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
15.0%Solid
54/100
7Ramona High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
10.0%Solid
52/100
8Lake Hills Elementary
Alvord Unified Solid Base
34.0%Solid
51/100
9La Sierra High
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
12.6%Solid
51/100
10Tomas Rivera Elementary
Riverside Unified On the Rise
30.3%Developing
49/100
11Riverside Virtual
Riverside Unified Culture First
21.0%Developing
49/100
12John W. North High
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
13.2%Developing
48/100
13Magnolia Elementary
Riverside Unified Growth Engine
21.8%Developing
48/100
14Mark Twain Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
26.6%Developing
45/100
15Norte Vista High
Alvord Unified Building Momentum
7.1%Developing
45/100
16John F. Kennedy Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
32.8%Developing
44/100
17Castle View Elementary
Riverside Unified On the Rise
20.0%Developing
43/100
18Lake Mathews Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
31.7%Developing
41/100
19Pachappa Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
24.2%Developing
41/100
20William Howard Taft Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
21.4%Developing
39/100
21Twinhill Elementary
Alvord Unified On the Rise
8.9%Developing
38/100
22Mountain View Elementary
Riverside Unified On the Rise
15.9%Developing
38/100
23Victoria Elementary
Riverside Unified On the Rise
13.6%Developing
38/100
24Patricia Beatty Elementary
Riverside Unified On the Rise
18.2%Developing
36/100
25REACH Leadership STEAM Academy
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
20.4%Developing
36/100
26Woodcrest Elementary
Riverside Unified On the Rise
15.1%Developing
35/100
27Monroe Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
17.6%Developing
34/100
28Hawthorne Elementary
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
17.5%Developing
33/100
29Raincross High (Continuation)
Riverside Unified Building Momentum
1.7%Developing
33/100
30Loma Vista Middle
Alvord Unified On the Rise
10.0%Developing
32/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 67 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools · Download this data (CSV)

Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

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
Christian (no specific denomination) · Grades Pre-K-12 · 1154 students
23:1Private
Woodcrest Christian Day School
Christian (no specific denomination) · Grades Pre-K-12 · 1115 students
23:1Private
Bethel Christian Schools
Christian (no specific denomination) · 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 31.5/100, which is 7.3 points below the state average. 14.7% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (42%), met or exceeded (proficient) (23%), grade 3-to-5 growth (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). 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 73/100 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 31.5/100 — 7.3 points below the state average of 38.8. 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

All California SchoolsTop Schools in RiversideRiverside UnifiedAlvord UnifiedRiverside County Office of EducationCalifornia School for the Deaf-RiversideZip 92507Zip 92508Zip 92506Zip 92503Zip 92504Zip 92505Zip 92501Zip 92502
Guides:10 California Schools That Outperform Their Zip Code

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