2023 Best Public High Schools in Riverside County

• Riverside Unified School District, CA•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  55 reviews

Sophomore: My experience with Riverside STEM Academy has been very rigorous and inspiring so far. Attending since 5th grade, the teachers are very supportive, ensuring your success through very thorough explanations whenever you ask a question. Additionally, though the work is very demanding and rigorous, there is always the feeling of self-satisfaction in getting a project done. As we are partnered with UCR, research and extracurricular activities, especially during the summer are plentiful and recommended. A close-knit community, Riverside STEM Academy is a place for those wishing to pursue a better future for themselves and their family. It is a place that unless you are willing to put 100%, you will not enjoy it.... Read 55 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 655

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Temecula Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  839 reviews

Senior: Great oak was a great high school both academically and socially. Teachers and counselors push your academic limits to make sure that you reach your full potential as a student, it also contains a noticeably diverse range of extracurricular which allows students to most likely find a place where they feel like they would fit it on campus. Resources that range from teachers’ help to student tutoring were a great factor that contributed to the success of each student. Great oak offer both the AP program and the IB program which allows students the opportunity to further explore their interests and challenges student to prepare them for the next level. Overall, from my experience, great oak is a great school if you’re looking to achieve academic success as well as be involved in your community and in extra-curricular activities that interest you!... Read 839 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,158

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Hemet Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.53 out of 5  57 reviews

Senior: Western Center Academy was, overall, a great experience for me as a student. All the teachers have been incredibly supportive and are always willing to provide help to students when they need it. They're also just excellent teachers overall, and I've learned something in every class I've taken. The office staff are also great, they do so much work for the students, and always answer any questions we may have. The overall campus environment is very welcoming, the campus is always bustling with life and providing students with events and ways to interact with peers. My only complaint is there are many classes that we take online through colleges. While I think it's great we are getting college credit, I sometimes feel like I would've learned more if there was an in person teacher.... Read 57 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 728

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  218 reviews

Senior: JFK is a fantastic school! The experience and atmosphere there is like no other school. From the chill vibes to the college courses, JFK is a unique environment. The school has helped me learn time management, self-reliance, and focus. It also provides an opportunity to earn one or more Associate's Degrees while also in high school (dual enrollment). Thanks to this, I am on track to earn 3 Associate's Degrees. The overall JFK experience is one that can only be defined and known by attending the school, which I highly recommend.... Read 218 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 612

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Murrieta Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  765 reviews

Alum: Vista Murrieta High School provides a dynamic and enriching academic environment for its students. The dedicated faculty and staff are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive community where students can thrive. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, clubs, and performing arts, allowing students to explore their interests and develop their talents. The facilities are well-maintained, and the classrooms are equipped with modern technology. Vista Murrieta High School's emphasis on academic excellence, combined with its vibrant school spirit, creates a truly memorable high school experience for its students.... Read 765 reviews

• grade A

• Students 3,672

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,111 reviews

Senior: Eleanor Roosevelt overall, is such a great school! The school is quite big so they offer a variety of different classes and electives to choose from, which allows students to explore their interests more. The school also provides a very safe environment as they require all students to present their IDs for security to scan before entering and exiting the campus. However, upperclassman don't seem to get priority over some electives, which eventually run out of space in the class and I think upperclassman should be prioritized first.... Read 1,111 reviews

• grade A

• Students 4,692

• Student-teacher ratio 29:1

• Desert Sands Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  542 reviews

Senior: I think Palm Desert High schools education was really good. I learned a lot in my four years attending the school and all the teachers seemed like they cared a lot. The only reason I bumped it down to four stars was that there are a lot of kids at the school that don’t care enough about being there. Often times they cause trouble that affects all the students which is just a headache. Things like pulling the fire alarm during state testing really bothered me and got a lot of people in trouble. However, the school and its staff alone are great!... Read 542 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,122

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Riverside Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  572 reviews

Senior: Becoming a student at Martin Luther King Jr. High School was the most remarkable experience of my life. Many organizations have been established to make the school as inclusive as possible. I got involved with PAWS, King Kids Against Cancer, Interact Club, and Yearbook. I engaged in both color guard and the school swim team. TEAM WOLVES! I never really experienced any issues with my classmates. I was surrounded by people I adored, and even the students I didn't know well were always nice. Growing up, I was always the quiet one, but attending to that school made me more social and eager to try new things. I would say that the fighting policies are the one aspect of the school that I would modify. I genuinely think that the school administration makes it far too simple to engage in debate. I believe that stronger penalties for fighting should be implemented to encourage caution among students. Besides that, I adore this institution and had a wonderful high school experience.... Read 572 reviews

• grade A

• Students 3,081

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  818 reviews

Senior: My time at Santiago High School has been filled with great memories. The teachers are always putting the students needs as top priority. One of the great things about Santiago is that they have an event on Thursdays and Fridays called Office Hours. Students can go to any class they are struggling in and get help from their teachers. Furthermore, Santiago holds special events such as pep rally's to show support for their sports teams. There is a wide variety of different classes to choose from, my personal favorite is Animation. At Santiago High school, they show students to have responsibility, integrity, achieve, respect, and to know yourself. You'll truly know what it means to be a SHARK and be apart of the shark community!... Read 818 reviews

• grade A

• Students 3,589

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Murrieta Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  526 reviews

Senior: Murrieta Mesa is truly different from any school in the valley. I live over 20 minutes away, and I still make the drive just to attend the school. The campus opened in 2009, making it the newest high school in Murrieta. Walking around Mesa mixed with the beautiful California weather makes it hard to have a bad attitude. The clean campus, nice classrooms, and abundance of palm trees create a good atmosphere. The staff at this school is also exceptional. Almost all of the teachers truly care about the students and are willing to help them grow. The environment of Mesa is unlike any high school I've ever heard of. There are hardly any fights, most of the students are friendly, and there aren't cliques. As I approach my senior year at Murrieta Mesa High, I would recommend this school to anyone who can attend!... Read 526 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,451

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Menifee, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  139 reviews

Works Here: Santa Rosa Academy is a wonderful school for students. The nature of the school is embedded in personalizing education to the individual student needs. Academics and character education are taught daily, side-by-side, integrated and equally emphasized. SRA also celebrates and fosters reverence for patriotism and honoring those who serve to protect us in our communities and abroad. SRA launched its participation in the NSLP and has high quality, healthy, and tasty meals for students. The school leadership is second to none, just like its fantastic support staff and excellent teachers. Students are actively engaged in extracurriculars through clubs, activities, student leadership, and championship athletics. SRA was just acknowledged by the CCSA for besting 86% of all schools in California for excellence in student outcomes amongst students representing the Latinx demographic. The small class sizes, high quality, rigorous curriculum, and caring staff make a difference for students!... Read 139 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,686

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Murrieta Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  526 reviews

Senior: I have really enjoyed my time at MV! I will remember the football games forever. The Red Zone was the best student cheering section in the valley. There was so many opportunities to get involved with on campus, I never had a down moment. However, I would’ve liked to see more funding go to programs like Model UN, so it could be more accessible. There should also be more mental health outreach and the counselors should take a more active roll in the college application process.... Read 526 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,302

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  895 reviews

Junior: My experience at Centennial High School has allowed me to attend a school where I feel welcomed, and accepted, and even a place where I can have fun! From my very kind teachers, and the countless friends I have made this school year alone, it feels like my high school experience with positive memories of this school. It's a place of diversity, where many people can come together through clubs, friendships, activities, and much more, and build strong bonds that are sure to last a long time!... Read 895 reviews

• grade A

• Students 3,253

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Temecula Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  404 reviews

Alum: Temecula Valley High School encouraged a well rounded education while providing many engaging extracurricular activities. I participated on an athletic team while enrolling in several AP classes that earned me college credits. On top on this, I got to explore exciting classes such as ceramics and graphic design!... Read 404 reviews

• grade A

• Students 3,064

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Winchester, CA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.38 out of 5  113 reviews

Freshman: What I like about Temecula Preparatory is the fact that it encompasses the variety of educational aspirations that I hold. It allows me to grow in my passions in community service, leadership, and to be able to grow in communication and education. Having one of the few opportunities to be learning Latin, Spanish, and also apart of NJHS, is very special. What I would like to change about Temecula Preparatory is to have more clubs, different options for electives (home ec, marine biology), and other interesting and educational classes and clubs would be very fun and exciting.... Read 113 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,088

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Temecula Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  527 reviews

Senior: Chaparral has amazing clubs and many other activities besides sports that are great to join to get connected with the school and make new friends. However, when it comes to school sports, Chaparral really only cares about mainly two sports. Football and Cheerleading. They tend to not care about other sports as much as they do Cheerleading and Football. Now to the staff. Excellent! Nothing terrible to say. They are super friendly and get to know the students. Always checking in on their students when some look down and making great conversations during break and lunch. Now to teachers. Most teachers are absolutely amazing and have a great connection with the students. Especially the AVID teachers, which is also a great program. However, some of the teachers act like they do not want to be there and despise their job. They tend to throw work at their students and make them learn it for themselves. Which is overall mainly the Algebra teachers. Overall, Chaparral is a great school!... Read 527 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,931

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Palm Springs Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  419 reviews

Senior: Palm Springs High School is a great school full of educators and staff who want to help every student succeed in any and every way possible. They go out of their way to find any opportunities, through school visits from professionals, educators and mentors, for students of different backgrounds and situations and are there for you anytime you ask. This school is very accepting and willing to learn about our current generation and are generally involved in school events pertaining our interests. The school listens to our complaints and constantly looks for ways to fix them. Students and parents are very connected through social media, family nights and zoom conferences that allows parents to know as much information as possible. Palm Springs High School is an amazing school with people all around who actually care about our education and future.... Read 419 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,589

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Nuview Union School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  314 reviews

Junior: This school is amazing! Students have an opportunity to literally take classes at the community college with college students. There are no AP classes, because of the college opportunity. What a better way to prep for college than to actually go? The school is small, only about 700 students. The administration takes the time to know who each student really is. The sports at the school are average, they are not the reason people attend the school. The school's theater program is one of the best in California. They have won many awards.... Read 314 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 668

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Val Verde Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  775 reviews

Senior: As a transfer student my last two years of high school, there was a major change in my happiness compared to my last high school. Rancho serves as a small community within itself. With everything going on in this world right now, the administration especially my counselor in particular made sure that the students were still thriving in school. When we were in school, I was always eager to see some of my teachers. Here at Rancho, the teachers make the class what it is and shows us students that not everything has to be learned by taking notes and tests. I’m truly happy to be called a Mustang!... Read 775 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,962

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Riverside Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  445 reviews

Senior: Poly High School was a great experience for me overall. Since freshman year all my teachers were really supportive and they helped me a lot. This year especially my teachers have helped me stay on top of things and check in on me. The events there are amazing and fun. The office staff members are great and the counselors there are really supportive and have helped me with my mental health. Not to mention, I met my best friend here and made many friendships that stayed true to me. Poly High School gave me the opportunity to grow and be myself. I really appreciate what the staff and the school has done for me. I enjoyed my experience there and it's not over yet. I can't wait to see how graduation will go, right before I start a new chapter in life, and get closer to adulthood. GO BEARS!... Read 445 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 2,543

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Temecula, CA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  148 reviews

Senior: River Springs Charter School was a great school educational wise. All the staff wanted to help and see you succeed. I also had many opportunities to gain lots of college credit as well as explore different career fields through internships. Although, sports wise, the school wasn’t very good at opportunities for sports if you are competitive.... Read 148 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 7,363

• Student-teacher ratio 32:1

• San Jacinto, CA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  78 reviews

Sophomore: I really do like that in my school makes me feel safe. The teachers really do care about their students learning and they make sure that the students are understanding what is being taught. I really hope that in the future the band gets more fun activities as choir does, such as field trips. Other than that this school is an alright school, do recommend!... Read 78 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,543

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Perris Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  580 reviews

Senior: Based on my personal experience attending Paloma Valley, I believe it is a well-rounded school that has a lot to offer to its prospective students. I'd like to believe that Paloma has something to offer, whether it's a club, sport, or course, to anyone. Paloma's course selection is restricted at first during Freshman year, with only one AP class being available to students, students can get started early in preparing for college with classes such as AVID. As a graduating AVID student, I believe our AVID program is as incredible and competitive with surrounding college-prep programs in the county, or even the state. With classes such as AVID, and a variety of choices for AP classes, alongside Dual and Concurrent Enrollment opportunities, Paloma allows any student to challenge themselves and take any classes that pertain to their future career. To top it off, Paloma makes sure all of its graduating seniors submit their FASFA application and complete A-G requirements before graduation.... Read 580 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 3,311

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Alvord Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  104 reviews

Senior: Overall, my experience regarding Hillcrest High School was outstanding. Ranging from morale from home football games to the engagement of teachers within the district. In addition, having multiple clubs on campus being available to all students and having seniors and teachers help develop the unity within these clubs was by far the most encouraging bonding experience from this high school.... Read 104 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,786

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Desert Sands Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  708 reviews

Senior: La Quinta High School gave me many opportunities to have fun while staying safe and respectful. I was able to enjoy all 4 years of highschool with many friends and faculty, many of those relationships came from school related activities. I’ve grown close with teachers and staff and felt respected as a student. La Quinta High School overall has been a great environment to attend everyday and has set me up academically for the future!... Read 708 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 2,582

• Student-teacher ratio 29:1