Polytechnic High: Top Public High School in Riverside, CA (2026 List)

About Polytechnic High

Polytechnic High is a well-known public high school in Riverside, California, that serves a large and diverse group of students in grades 9 through 12. It is known for having a strict academic culture and a high Advanced Placement® participation rate of 55%, which makes it one of the best schools in the area. The school is known as one of the best for getting students ready for college. It gives them a lot of chances to take the SAT and ACT. The school is very welcoming to all students, with 94% of them being minorities and 58% of them being economically disadvantaged. Polytechnic High does very well in school, with 52% of students being good at reading and 31% being good at math. The campus has a reputation for having a lively community and being important in the history of the area. Polytechnic High is one of the best schools in the district because it strikes a good balance between high academic standards and a wide range of extracurricular activities. This makes sure that students are ready for both college and their careers, and it is one of the best high school in California.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 31%

Reading 52%

State average proficiency is 31% in Math and 52% in Reading.

103

Full-time Teachers

26 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

2633

Total Students

$58409

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 21.65%

Asian 2.16%

Hispanic 67.76%

Black 5.13%

Two+ Races 2.47%

Native Am. 0.27%

White

21.65%

Asian

2.16%

Hispanic

67.76%

Black

5.13%

Two+ Races

2.47%

Native Am.

0.27%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 2633

49.3%

1298 Female

50.32%

1325 Male

Student Population

2633 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 26 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

376 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Polytechnic High Contact Information

Address

5450 Victoria Ave., Riverside, CA, 92506

View on Map

Phone

(951) 788-7203

Call Now

Website

poly.riversideunified.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 3:20 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Riverside Polytechnic High School is getting a huge $91 million upgrade to its campus. This includes building a new two-story classroom building and a new auxiliary gym. The school's award-winning band and choir programs are getting ready for their spring 2026 showcase after a string of successful regional competitions that showed off the school's wide range of performing arts talent. The campus also recently won a Beautification Award at the 2026 Riverside State of the City address for its dedication to keeping the school a safe and welcoming place to learn.

FAQ

Q1. Are college entrance exams conducted here?

Ans. Students can take the SAT and ACT tests on-site or through programs that work together.

Q2. What does Polytechnic High do to help students get ready for life after graduation?

Ans. College planning, mentoring, and skill-building programs help students move on to higher education, vocational paths, or jobs.

Q3. Are students allowed to go to cultural and arts events?

Ans. Yes, Polytechnic High encourages students to be creative by offering programs in music, theater, and the visual arts.

Q4. Can students get rides from all neighborhoods?

Ans. Bus service is available depending on the district's eligibility zones.

Q5. Does Polytechnic High offer individualized learning assistance?

Ans. Yes, Polytechnic High gives students advice and help to help them reach their academic goals.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say