What the Riverside High School Statistics Show About the School

Updated

The four headline figures on catclass.net — 2,400+ students enrolled, a 97% graduation rate, $4.2M in scholarships awarded, and an 08:1 student–faculty ratio — present Riverside High School as a large public high school in Millbrook, California, that combines scale with strong completion and college-funding outcomes. They are the school's own published numbers, so treat them as a starting point for comparison rather than independently verified data. Below is what each figure implies, what it does not tell you, and how to check it before making a decision.

The Four Headline Figures, Read Carefully

Figure What it suggests What it does not tell you
2,400+ students enrolled A large, comprehensive campus with enough scale to sustain broad program offerings (AP, arts, athletics, world languages) Class sizes within that scale; the 08:1 ratio is school-wide, not a guarantee for every course
97% graduation rate Very high completion relative to typical public high schools The cohort definition and time window used; whether transfer students are included
$4.2M scholarships awarded A meaningful volume of merit and need-based aid going to graduates Whether this is a single year or cumulative; how many students shared it; average per student
08:1 student–faculty ratio Roughly eight students per faculty member across the school Whether faculty includes counselors, librarians, or part-time staff; actual core-class sizes

Scale and the 08:1 Ratio Together

A school of 2,400+ students with an 08:1 ratio implies a faculty and staff body in the low hundreds. That is consistent with the breadth the site describes — Advanced Placement, a STEM track with university-partnered research from sophomore year, a conservatory-style arts program, computer science pathways, and an IB Diploma pathway. The ratio is the figure most often misread: it is an average across the whole institution, so a 400-student lecture hall and a 12-student seminar can coexist under the same number. If small classes matter to you, ask for the ratio or cap in the specific courses your student would take.

The 97% Graduation Rate

This is the strongest single signal on the page, because graduation rate is the outcome most schools struggle to move. A 97% figure places Riverside well above typical public high school averages nationally. Two cautions: first, the site does not state the cohort year or how the rate is calculated, and definitions vary (four-year adjusted cohort versus other methods). Second, a high graduation rate says nothing on its own about rigor — a school can graduate nearly everyone while offering modest academic challenge. Pair this number with the AP/IB participation and the STEM research partnership described elsewhere on the site to judge rigor.

The $4.2M in Scholarships

This figure is the least standardized of the four. "Scholarships awarded" could mean a single graduating class, a multi-year total, or all offers received (including ones students declined). It also does not reveal the average award per student or how many students received anything. A useful follow-up question for the school: is $4.2M a one-year figure, and what share of the graduating class received at least one award?

Connecting the Numbers to the School's Stated Legacy

The site frames these figures as the product of a history dating to 1952, when the school opened with about 300 students and grew into what it calls one of California's most celebrated public high schools. The narrative — alumni in business, Olympic sport, and the arts — is positioning rather than evidence, but it is consistent with the profile the numbers sketch: a long-established, large public school with strong completion outcomes and a wide program menu. The principal is listed as Dr. Margaret Holloway.

How to Verify and Compare Before Deciding

The figures are as presented on catclass.net and should be confirmed with the school for the current year. Practical steps:

  1. Request the current data pack. Ask for the graduation rate with its cohort year and methodology, and whether $4.2M is annual or cumulative.
  2. Ask for class-size data by department, not just the school-wide 08:1 ratio.
  3. Compare on identical dimensions. When evaluating against another school, line up the same four metrics plus AP/IB participation rates and per-student scholarship averages — not headline totals, which scale with enrollment.
  4. Check the contact channel directly. The site lists 400 Riverside Drive, Millbrook, CA; (714) 555-0192; and [email protected] for enrollment and data questions.

A 2,400-student school will always post a larger scholarship total than a 600-student one; the per-student figure is the fair comparison. Likewise, a 97% graduation rate is impressive but only meaningful next to the rigor measures.

Bottom Line

The statistics describe a large, established public high school with unusually strong completion outcomes and a broad academic menu. They are self-reported and undated on the page, so use them to shortlist Riverside and to frame your questions — then confirm the cohort year, the scholarship definition, and real class sizes with the school before enrolling.