James Whitcomb Riley High School is a high school in South Bend, Indiana; serving most of the city's south side. The school is named in honor of the "Hoosier Poet", James Whitcomb Riley. The school is operated by South Bend Community School Corporation and governed by the SBSC's Board of School Trustees.
Serving 998 students in grades 9-12, Riley High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Indiana for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 15-19% (which is lower than the Indiana state average of 38%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 40-44% (which is approximately equal to the Indiana state average of 41%).
The student:teacher ratio of 11:1 is lower than the Indiana state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Indiana state average of 37% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 998 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
- Minority Enrollment: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 87% (Btm 50% in IN)
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50%
- Math Proficiency: 15-19% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 40-44% (Top 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 12% (Btm 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IN Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Riley High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Indiana for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Student Attention
School Overview
Riley High School's student population of 998 students has declined by 13% over five school years.
The teacher population of 88 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
998 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
88 teachers
Year Founded
1924
Colors
White, Blue, Purple, Gold
School Rankings
Riley High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,763 schools in Indiana (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Riley High School is 0.73, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.56. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1174 out of 1763 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
15-19%
38%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
41%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
12%
34%
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
15:1
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
1%
3%
Hispanic
25%
15%
Black
35%
13%
White
28%
63%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
11%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
87%
88%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
58%
43%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
2%
6%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IN Dept. of Education
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Riley High School's ranking?
Riley High School is ranked #1174 out of 1,763 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Indiana.
What schools are Riley High School often compared to?
Riley High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Adams High School, Clay High School, Washington High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
15-19% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 38% IN state average), while 40-44% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 41% IN state average).
What is the graduation rate of Riley High School?
The graduation rate of Riley High School is 87%, which is lower than the Indiana state average of 88%.
How many students attend Riley High School?
998 students attend Riley High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
35% of Riley High School students are Black, 28% of students are White, 25% of students are Hispanic, 11% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Riley High School?
Riley High School has a student ration of 11:1, which is lower than the Indiana state average of 15:1.
What grades does Riley High School offer ?
Riley High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Riley High School part of?
Riley High School is part of South Bend Community School Corp School District.
School Reviews
5 2/27/2023
The school is the best in South Bend. The pride that the students and teachers have for Riley is amazing. Riley truly is one big family.
Review Riley High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
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