Enrollment
1,240
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Milwaukee, WI
Riverside High
Federal NCES profile for Riverside High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 550960001237
👥 S:T ratio 44
📚 AP courses 85
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Riverside High earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. It is also one of the largest schools in Wisconsin.
- #18 of 34
- high schools in Milwaukee · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 78.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Riverside High has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Riverside High ranks #18 of 34 high schools in Milwaukee, WI.
School address
District: Milwaukee School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550960001237 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
89.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.9:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.4%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+104% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Riverside High compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Riverside High
Riverside High is a high-poverty, large high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enrolling 1,240 students.
At 13.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Wisconsin median, within a few percentage points of the 14.4:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 78.4% of students qualify for free meals, 104% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Wisconsin, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,240 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Against 23 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #13.
Its student body is led by African American (67%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%) (diversity index 51/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 17 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 310 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 72.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Milwaukee School District spends $17,847 per pupil, 20% above the Wisconsin average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 439 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,240 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 12 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Milwaukee's high schools, it stands alongside Hamilton High (1,472 students): Riverside High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.9:1 vs 14.6:1).
Milwaukee School District also operates Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students) and Hamilton High (1,472 students) alongside Riverside High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Riverside High compares
Riverside High on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.4% | ▲ 104% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,240 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,240
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 104% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 59% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
72.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,847
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 310 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 439 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 12 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 66.8%
Hispanic or Latino 20.2%
Asian 7.6%
Two or More 2.9%
White 2.6%
Largest group: African American at 66.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.6, Riverside High is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Milwaukee School District, which includes Riverside High.
$17,847
Per student
+20%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.3%
State 57.7%
Federal 15.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Riverside High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Reagan College Preparatory High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| King International | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Obama School of Career and Technical Education | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Riverside High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 30.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,472
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,372
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,308
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,294
- Students per teacher
- 27.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar high schools in Milwaukee
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Hamilton High
Standard public school
1,472 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Reagan College Preparatory High
Standard public school
1,372 students 22.5:1 students per teacher
King International
Standard public school
1,308 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Bradley Technology High
Standard public school
1,048 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Pulaski High
Standard public school
1,041 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Bay View High
Standard public school
1,021 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,240 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Riverside High's federal record.
- Compare Riverside High against another school. Compare schools
- Milwaukee School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Riverside High
How many students attend Riverside High?
Riverside High has 1,240 students enrolled. It is a high school in Milwaukee, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Riverside High?
The student-teacher ratio at Riverside High is 13.9:1, which is 3% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Riverside High?
78.4% of students at Riverside High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Riverside High?
The largest demographic group at Riverside High is African American at 66.8% of enrollment, in Milwaukee, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Riverside High?
Riverside High has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Riverside High rank among high schools in Milwaukee?
By Resource Investment Index, Riverside High ranks #18 of 34 high schools in Milwaukee, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Milwaukee on the city page.
Is Riverside High a good school?
Riverside High earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. It is also one of the largest schools in Wisconsin. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Milwaukee School District?
Besides Riverside High, Milwaukee School District also operates Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students), Hamilton High (1,472 students), and Reagan College Preparatory High (1,372 students). See the Milwaukee School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.