Riverside High School

A noticeable decline in quality over the past ten years. Positions opened due to teacher retirements don't seem to have been filled with the best candidates. The environment is an odd combination of tense and dreary. Teachers seem generally unenthusiastic, borderline apathetic but somehow agitated with some degree of contempt for parents. Lots of money for things like sports and tech gadgets, but books and basic instructional materials seem to be a second or third priority. Also, having never been subject to a locker inspection (having grown-up during a time when things were not in a state of Total Paranoia), this seems downright weird and a way to build animosity with the students.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a former student of Riverside High School and it is not as bad as half these ratings say. The education system lacks in some areas, but the system makes up for which it lacks. Their Spanish classes prepared me above and beyond where I needed to be in college. The biggest factor is your child has to be motivated to learn themselves. Where the school lacks in education they have outstanding sports. My senior year in high school almost every sport made it to playoffs. There are however a few problems. The taxes are high, yet the school is in very bad shape, a few teachers(Only a few) have no idea what they are suppose to teach, and the school board is essentially useless. They cannot resolve issues due to their arguments. All in all, it's a small atmosphere, but a good education if your child focuses.

I thought the school is amazing, large enough is get the job done and small enough to know you by name. They embraced me and my children with open arms. My children are in advanced classes offered in all grades and have the potential to earn many college credits, even in 11th grade. Awesome school. Thanks Riverside.
--Submitted by a parent

We were temporarily here from out of state and found the school to be lacking overall. I didn't feel the kids were challenged in most subjects other than math. It was a rare teacher who took an avid interest in the student. The schools need updating and provide little stimulation. We feel our children were very bored academically. I would like to see the high school taxes used to enhance the curriculum. On the positive side a new workout center is to be added this fall (2006) which is to be available to the public.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had two children go through this school. Presentations by teachers are outdated and teachers are not up to date. It is an academically poor school due to the poor teacher quality and lack of interest on the part of teachers, with equally poor sports. The leadership at the Superintendant and Principal level is poor. The School Board does more fighting than constructive benefit. Discipline and safety are quite good and the Band is above average. Politics are vastly excessive for a District this size. The students are insulated and not cosmopolitan in any way, shape, or form. That means, if you come to this school from the outside in HS, you will be welcomed very poorly and rather harshly treated by the general student population.
--Submitted by a parent

Not the most outstanding school. There are good kids here but I beleive if the district would try harder they could be great kids. If you are looking for a blue ribbon school , this is not it. Sports are more important than other activities. Lacks in individual educational growth and inspiration.
--Submitted by a parent

I would not reccomend riverside high school to anyone. They have poor faculty members.
--Submitted by a former student

The high school is older and environment is not very inspiring to the students. They need to update it and brighten up the school, seems so depressing. Seems to be a money problem, and taxes are getting higher. Some teachers seem to not have any creativity and enthusiasim. I feel I will be moving my child from this school soon and that there are better schools for learning around. Overall quality is just plain boredom.
--Submitted by a parent

This school needs changes. Too many kids in the school are still without books. Yet we still get the word there is no shortage on them which is not true. On the other hand the high school is falling apart with numerous blackouts last year and many insect problems. The school schedule changes have been nothing but a mistake by going to 2 lunches instead of 3 and now semester gym classes. Next year will be different. And support is growing... ...Moving Riverside forward.
--Submitted by Blaise Banko, a student