2023 Best Schools in Riverside County

• Riverside Unified School District, CA•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  54 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 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 655

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Rancho Mirage, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  67 reviews

Parent: Palm Valley is a wonderful school! I am a graduate and now my son attends, with my daughter joining next year. From personal experience I know the academics and college preparation are unparalleled in the Coachella Valley. When I started college I was more than prepared to excel my freshman year. The small school atmosphere requires you to foster relationships with a diverse group of classmates that you may not otherwise. I still speak to and see my classmates regularly and see them as family. As children our families bonded, we attended each others milestones (like graduations from undergraduate, graduate and medical school) and now we are still a part of each others lives as we have started our own families. The teachers that really impacted my life as a student are still teaching there today and it brings me so much joy that one day my children can be taught by them too!... Read 67 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 337

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Idyllwild, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  109 reviews

Parent: My daughter just completed her Freshman year as a boarding student at IAA. Firstly, the arts education has been absolutely incredible. It's such an immersive environment and was truly transformative for her as an artist and individual. She was allowed the freedom to complete projects that she would not have had the opportunity to at a traditional school. She was encouraged to enter various competitions and to show case her work in many exciting ways! Additionally, we were very impressed faculty/staff there. They provide a nurturing and supportive environment both for her artistic endeavors and personal growth. She formed strong bonds with several staff, faculty, and students. As parents, we felt so comfortable seeing how the staff and faculty truly cared about her and were always there to help anytime day or night. We are so grateful for this unique opportunity and highly recommend IAA to anyone looking to grow as an artist and individual in this peaceful oasis in the woods!... Read 109 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 280

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Temecula Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  835 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 835 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

• Palm Desert, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  194 reviews

Junior: My experience at Xavier had been overall amazing. i’m going to be a junior next year and i can’t wait for what xavier will bring for me. All the teacher are nice and friendly and the staff is just beyond amazing and the counselors as well! They renovated the pass couple of years and the school is looking great. They had recent just added a track and it looks amazing. The staff and members of xavier are continuing to make renovations to xavier by adding a new floor plan of a whole another building classifying for new rooms for new teacher and past teachers.... Read 194 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 588

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• 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

• Temecula, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  107 reviews

Works Here: Linfield Christian School fosters a strong community and challenges students to become leaders. Academic excellence and college readiness is nurtured through positive teacher-student connections. Students have the opportunity to explore STEAM related fields through biomedical, engineering and arts classes. A wide variety of clubs, activities, sports and school events builds school spirit. My experience at Linfield has exceeded expectations!... Read 107 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,197

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Murrieta Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  758 reviews

Senior: One big part of my school that I like is the involvement of students in clubs, sports, activities, etc. There are many different people and no one should be left out. Especially with how many students that go there. One thing I would like to see changed is the loneliness of other students. I could remember I was lonely as a freshman and I wish I was helped out more or at least had some friends. I would want everyone to be happy with socializing at school. It’s a great environment and the school spirit is what really keeps the school positive. My favorite part of attending this school is going to the football games because of the hype from the band, football players, and crowd. It’s so much fun! I feel there is a place where everyone can fit in. You just have to find your people you enjoy being with and your high school experience will be spectacular and memorable! Go Broncos!... Read 758 reviews

• grade A

• Students 3,672

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Temecula, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: We had a great Kinder teacher who cared about her students and was exceptional in creating a learning environment that always grasped the children's attention. If you as a parent support the learning at home your child can soar. They have a dedicated French and Spanish teacher and the program flows very well. Is it an immersion program, no, but my daughter is still speaking the French she did learn and it's summer. Parent communication is great. I am very impressed by their weekly emails and monthly news letters!! Their goal is to purchase their own property for the school within the next few years as well. And they let go teachers who are not up to par. Versus full public institutions where they have to keep the bad teachers. I support this school whole heartily and make two 40 minute round trips a day, for pick up and drop off for my daughter to attend. Long story short, you get out of the school what you as a parent are willing to put in and trust.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 270

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Temecula Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: Red Hawk is an amazing school. My children are thriving here. The teachers are kind, caring, effective and truly care about the students. It is a smaller school in Temecula, and each student feels seen and recognized by administrators and teachers. We feel fortunate that our children get to attend this school.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 524

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,102 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 1,102 reviews

• grade A

• Students 4,692

• Student-teacher ratio 29:1

• Riverside, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  168 reviews

Senior: Went to Notre Dame for my four years of High School and have nothing but fond memories. The people at Notre Dame are genuinely good people and all strive to be the versions of themselves. Being a small school you create extremely strong bonds with your classmates and teachers. Often times after school you can find teachers playing basketball games with students. Teachers interacting with students makes going to class much more enjoyable and less of a chore. Notre Dame is a Catholic High School. I’ve been at schools where religion is forced down your throat and it is the worst. Notre Dame is not like that. Religion is something that is incorporated very seamlessly without being overwhelming. If you are someone who wants a more personal High School experience and wants to be in an environment where succeeding is the standard, Notre Dame is for you.... Read 168 reviews

• grade A

• Students 410

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Temecula Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 866

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Desert Sands Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  537 reviews

Senior: The school has a sense of community that is unique to the area. Moving here my sophomore year, and coming from a rather well-regarded school in Newport Beach, I wasn't expecting such an embraceful and engaging atmosphere. The teachers are committed to connecting with students so as to promote successful learning and ensure students enjoy doing so. The school spirit was low coming out of covid, but that is quickly changing this year. Despite some hesitancy on behalf of advisors towards environmental initiatives on campus, most of the staff is very in-tune with student's goals. Overall, the school has far exceeded my expectations.... Read 537 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,122

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Alum: I really liked growing up in a round education program, a track system. It made it easier on my parents and on my siblings as well. My parents would choose the system that lined up with my siblings high school system. The teachers I had were excellent! You could tell that teaching was their passion. Their excitement to learn fell through to the students in my class. Loved going to school here!... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 1,148

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Riverside Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  565 reviews

Senior: I have loved my time at King. I got heavily involved with clubs on campus which in turn connected me to my community. I would say that majority of the staff sincerely cares about their students, and put forth a lot of effort and time in to seeing us succeed. We have a lot of different tools to utilize us on our academic journey, such as free tutoring, college visits, e.t.c. The school does a great job of student recognition through SOTM (Student of the Month), and does a great job of putting on fun events for the students to enjoy. Activities throughout the year such as dances, football games, plays, talent shows, VAPA hill, and more, really help connect the students and help them get involved. I love the friends I have made here through ASB, cross country, track, and more.... Read 565 reviews

• grade A

• Students 3,081

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  810 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 810 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

• Riverside, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  99 reviews

Junior: I've been going to LSA since Kindergarten and I love it but unfortunately, the past few years haven't been the best. Some of the teachers that were hired didn't turn out to be the best people and we lost a lot of students. As much as I love the school, I think that some parts (the administration and college readiness) could be better.... Read 99 reviews

• grade A

• Students 550

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 908

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Temecula Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 750

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Murrieta Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Alum: Dorothy Mcelhinney Middle School was the best school that I have ever attended. Everything from being a cheerleader to being a student was amazing. The teachers here have nothing but love for their students and strive to make sure they go above in beyond in all they do. DMMS really takes pride in school spirit which prepared me for High School.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 1,401

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• 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•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 1,027

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1