Back to school: Riverside's top-rated and most improved public high schools

Back to school: Riverside's top-rated and most improved public high schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 13, 2019

How do the public high schools in Riverside stack up?

We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.

La Sierra High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Riverside, rising from a B- to a B, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 4145 La Sierra Ave., enrolls 1,751 students. La Sierra High School serves a somewhat diverse population: 79% of students identify as Hispanic. Niche gave the school mixed grades: B- on an A-D scale for academics, B- for administration and C for clubs and activities.

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 22% of La Sierra High School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 53% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 18% in math and 34% in reading. The school's improved rating is notable since it serves a less affluent population, with 74% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Alvord Continuation High School saw its overall rating increase from a C to a C+. The school is located at 3606 Pierce St. and is much smaller, currently serving 129 students, of whom 81% identify as Hispanic.

Niche gave Alvord Continuation High School mixed grades: C on an A-D scale for academics, B- for administration and B- for clubs and activities. Alvord Continuation's latest math proficiency was at 10%, and reading proficiency was 10%. Alvord Continuation also serves a less affluent population, with 78% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Martin Luther King Junior High School, with an overall rating of A.
  • Hillcrest High School, with a B+ rating overall.
  • Polytechnic High School, rated B overall.

This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.