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Best Elementary Schools in Riverside, CA (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Riverside, CA, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Riverside, CA rankings: Elementary Schools
Riverside, CA elementary schools ranked
How Riverside, CA's elementary schools compare
A: 2B: 10C: 16D: 12F: 3
28% of the 43 ranked elementary schools in Riverside, CA earn an A or B (2 A grades, 10 B, 16 C, 12 D, 3 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 35 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (81% here, 70% nationally), and 18 exceed it. On average 33% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 23% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Pachappa Elementary (49% against 20%, B+), Benjamin Franklin Elementary (64% against 41%, A), Magnolia Elementary (48% against 25%, B+), Lake Hills Elementary (59% against 38%, A-), Monroe Elementary (32% against 13%, C).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 11): Riverside Unified (9).
The largest ranked elementary schools: Mark Twain Elementary (1,019 students, B+, #5), Jefferson Elementary (920 students, C-, #28), John F Kennedy Elementary (851 students, B+, #4).
Of the top 25, 0 are magnet schools and 1 is a charter. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Riverside, CA, as grouped on its schools page; the California ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Riverside, CA
What is the best elementary school in Riverside, CA?
Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Riverside ranks first among the 43 ranked elementary schools in Riverside, CA with a SchoolGrade of A, 64% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 41%.
How are elementary schools in Riverside, CA ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Riverside, CA have?
SchoolGrade grades 43 public elementary schools in Riverside, CA; 43 are ranked here.