Hillcrest High

Hillcrest High sits in the western part of Riverside, a sprawling Inland Empire city that's grown a lot in recent years while still holding onto its close-knit, working-class roots. The school lands right around the middle of California's high school rankings, with slightly stronger showings in English and Science than in Math — a solid, well-rounded option for families in the Alvord Unified area. It's a good fit for families who want a neighborhood school with a genuine community feel, in a part of Riverside that's more residential and grounded than the city's busier corridors to the east.