Top Riverside County Public High School Rankings For 2026

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — California schools were recently ranked among the best public high schools in the country, and where Riverside County high schools fall may startle you, according to a report released by Niche.

The 2026 Best Public High Schools in America ranking evaluates more than 93,000 public high schools nationwide.

Niche said its rankings, now in the 11th year, differ from others that rely almost exclusively on test scores and academic performance in that it also includes input from students, alumni and parents, as well as quantitative data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources and facilities.

Only one Riverside County public high school fell in the Top 50 high schools in California: The Riverside STEM Academy - Riverside, which received an A+ Niche Rating, according to the 2026 report.

As for the top High Schools in Riverside County, here are the rankings, in order, from A+ grades to B+ grades, according to Niche (This list includes Charter Schools, Public, and Magnet schools; private schools were not included in this ranking):

• #1 in Riverside County, #17 in CA- Riverside STEM Academy
• #2 in Riverside County, #78 in CA - Great Oak High School, Temecula
• #3 in Riverside County, #88 in CA (Charter Schools) - Western Center Academy, Hemet
• #4 in Riverside County, #111 in CA- John F. Kennedy High School, Corona
• #5 in Riverside County, #177 in CA - Vista Murrieta High School, Murrieta
• #6 in Riverside County, #263 in CA - Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Eastvale
• #7 in Riverside County, #313 in CA - Murrieta Mesa High School, Murrieta
• #8 in Riverside County, #316 in CA - Murrieta Valley High School, Murrieta
• #9 in Riverside County, #325 in CA- Palm Desert High School, Palm Desert
• #10 in Riverside County, 349 in CA - Martin Luther King Junior High School, Riverside
• #11 in Riverside County, #350 in CA - Santa Rosa Academy, Menifee
• #12 in Riverside County,#359 in CA - Temecula Preparatory High School, Winchester
• #13 in Riverside County, #376 in CA- San Jacinto Leadership Academy - Magnet, San Jacinto
• #14 in Riverside County, #402 in CA - Temecula Valley High School, Temecula
• #15 in Riverside County, #411 in CA - Santiago High School, Corona
• #16 in Riverside County, #413 in CA - Murrieta Canyon Academy, Murrieta
• #17 in Riverside County, #428 in CA- Centennial High School, Corona
• #18 in Riverside County, #436 in CA - Chaparral High School, Temecula
• #19 in Riverside County, #447 in CA - Summit View Independent Study, Riverside
• #20 in Riverside County, #476 in CA - Rancho Verde High School, Perris
• #21 in Riverside County, #487 in CA - Palm Springs High School, Palm Springs
• #22 in Riverside County, #492 in CA - Nuview Bridge Early College High School, Nuevo
• #23 in Riverside County, #692 in CA- River Springs Charter School, Temecula
• #24 in Riverside County, #696 in CA - Polytechnic High School, Riverside
• #25 in Riverside County, #702 in CA - Temescal Canyon High School, Lake Elsinore
• #26 in Riverside County, #733 in CA - La Quinta High School, La Quinta
• #27 in Riverside County, #750 in CA - Orange Vista High School, Perris
• #28 in Riverside County, #755 in CA - Hillcrest High School, Corona
• #29 in Riverside County, #807 in CA - JCS Pine Hills, Temecula
• #30 in Riverside County, #832 in CA - Shadow Hills High School, Indio
• #31 in Riverside County, #835 in CA- Paloma Valley High School, Menifee
• #32 in Riverside County, #847 in CA - Cathedral City High School, Cathedral City
• #33 in Riverside County, #851 in CA- Norco High School, Norco
• #34 in Riverside County, #863 in CA - Beaumont Senior High School, Beaumont
• #35 in Riverside County, #873 in CA - Elsinore High School, Lake Elsinore

According to Niche, the top five public high schools in America are:

1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
2. The Davidson Academy (Nevada)
3. Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science
4. South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics
5. Stuyvesant High School (New York)

“Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make," Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said in a news release. “Our K-12 rankings bring together rigorous data and real experiences from students, parents and educators. This gives families the clarity to choose schools where their children can succeed academically, thrive socially, and build a strong foundation for their future.”