Polytechnic High

Polytechnic High sits in the heart of Riverside, a sprawling Inland Empire city with a strong sense of civic pride, a growing arts scene, and a lower cost of living compared to coastal Southern California. "Poly," as locals call it, has a long history in the community and draws families who want a well-rounded public high school with solid academics across the board — landing comfortably above average statewide in English, math, and science. It's a good fit for families planting roots in Riverside's established neighborhoods who want a school with tradition behind it and enough academic rigor to prepare students for four-year universities.