Schools & Education
Public education through the 12th grade is the joint responsibility of two school districts: Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) and Alvord Unified School District (AUSD). RUSD is the larger of the two, with 43 schools and 40,000 enrolled students. The district’s jurisdiction encompasses about 90 square miles of Riverside and parts of Highgrove and Woodcrest. With 3,373 employees including 2,119 certificated teachers (as of October, 2002), RUSD is also one of the city’s largest employers.
The composition of RUSD’s 45 campuses is as follows: one special education pre-school, 29 elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools, two continuation high schools and two alternative schools. Combined, these schools offer several programs to serve the various learning and athletic needs of the community. Examples include advanced placement coursework, specialized magnet programs, international business programs, exchange student programs and a variety of sports programs. The majority of RUSD students meets or exceeds national and state averages on standardized achievement tests. In 2004, five of RUSD’s elementary schools were designated as California Distinguished Schools. That same year, Washington Elementary School was selected as a National Blue Ribbon School.
AUSD manages 12 elementary schools, four middle schools, two traditional high schools and one alternative/continuation high school. These campuses primarily serve students in La Sierra and the western portion of Riverside. Enrollment is approximately 20,000.
AUSD has a long history of independence from RUSD. At the beginning of the 20th century, the community known as the town site of Alvord decided to separate itself officially from the city of Riverside. The decision was partially based on Riverside’s intention to combine several school districts, including AUSD, into one large school district. Alvord residents obtained their independence in December of 1908 and remained so until 1964. In 1964, the community of La Sierra was annexed into Riverside, bringing AUSD with it.
Higher education is an area where Riverside really stands out. The city is home to four major post-high school institutions: University of California, Riverside (UCR), Riverside Community College (RCC), California Baptist University and La Sierra University.
UCR is a 1,200-acre campus catering to about 15,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students. A member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, UCR has been accredited by the Senior Commission of this organization. Several of UCR’s programs have also received specialized accreditation. These include the Biomedical Sciences Program, the teacher credentialing programs and the bachelor’s program in chemistry. The university is considered the premier research facility of the Inland Empire.
RCC serves the higher educational needs of the community with campuses in Moreno Valley, Norco and Riverside plus a distance learning program. Combined enrollment at all campuses is about 32,000. RCC enjoys a great relationship with the community by sharing athletic facilities and providing community learning resources and cultural opportunities. Residents enjoy the sports events, live music concerts and art exhibits managed by the college.
California Baptist University is a private institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Fully accredited, the university is the only Southern Baptist higher learning institution on the West Coast. California Baptist was established in 1950 and has an enrollment of about 2,300. The 90-acre campus attracts students from all over the world to pursue their studies and participate in the university’s ministry and missionary programs.
La Sierra University is also a religiously based, private institution. The university offers about 175 different programs in professional development and liberal arts coursework, including associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Students are also able to reach out to other communities through the Student Missionary Program and international internships.