John F. Kennedy Elementary School

19125 Schoolhouse Lane

School District

Riverside Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:25
Type

public

School Map for Riverside Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 17, 2025

Excellent school, teacher focus on kids in overall performance.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2020

School they are trying to provide a
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2020

Negative, below one, terrible and lifetime effects on my child's outlook of learning - ruined his love and passion for school by first grade.
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2019

There could not be and probably is not a better school in the district.(Also, meals served at this school are no different than meals served at any other school in the district or state. There are fresh fruit and vegetable options and a wide variety of meals.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2019

My son is a kindergartener and he like this school a lot!
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2018

Good student and Good teacher and Good school.
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2018

10 I love this school and my daughters learning experience has expanded due to the teachers and staff. They really care about their students and their experience at school
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2017

The teachers were all great, if it wasn't for the principal then we would've stayed there. There's a lot of pressure on reading and home work, to much in my opinion for a elementary school child in kindergarten, first, and second grade. But the teachers are really good at helping balance homework.
Submitted by parent on December 22, 2016

I honestly dislike going to this school for any reason, but I go each week to ensure my child is ok and happy. To start, the office staff is rude and not very accommodating. I feel like a child every time I speak with them. My husband the same. Many of the teachers and supervisors are rude and yell at the students. I often leave feeling uncomfortable. I couldn't believe what I was seeing/hearing. I don't even treat my child this way at home. I often ask him if he has had any run-ins with any teachers or supervisors. The school seems to only focus on and care about test scores, yet the food they serve is far from nutritious and will often just leave my child tired and struggling to do homework. I have had to compensate at home a lot and try to make learning fun for my child. He doesn't enjoy school and I want him to love it like I did. He's only 7!I used to volunteer 1-2 times per week last year, we went to every event, my husband even participated in some events as well, but we didn't participate in anything this year. We We used to purchase things for our son's classroom randomly, donate, etc. We bought a few books at the book fair this year, but that's the extent of it. I just don't feel welcomed or motivated. Some of the moms aren't very friendly and you can see/hear them whispering about you and judging you with their eyes. Very uncomfortable. The curriculum is mostly tests. Tests I don't even understand or know when they are going to be given to my child. From what I have been told by a teacher, they teach what they are told to teach and that is it. I make sure to put my child in art, music and science camps so that he can utilize his creativity. I'm used to school days when teachers would teach to each child's needs and personality, this is different.I am hoping to get my child into another school next year. I would like to see him enjoy school again.
Submitted by other on October 25, 2016

Many of the teachers are rude and yell at the students while not being held to high accountability standards by the principal or district. Most of the teachers reward students daily with large amouts of candy. There is no playground for the kids. The PTA and all extracurriculars are ran by a small closed off, controlling, self-preclaimed elitist group of moms who do not allow any outside help or assistance. The curriculum is all geared towards tests with only Math and English all day. Do not expect any art, science, or other subjects to be taught, especially since many teachers will not go out of their way to do any extras in regards to basic job performance. The school is great based on awesome parent volunteers and room parents who put forth their own funds and time to make the school top notch in reviews. And, the well-off surrounding community ensures students perform at their best. This school, if anything, takes away from excellence and robs students of the joys of learning.
Submitted by other on August 01, 2013

I think JFK is the best school in Riverside. It is exemplary in testing and scores. My grandson loves going to school and never complains. He enjoys Math and Spelling and is beginning to enjoy reading. His Teacher, Ms Perez whom he had this past year really made an impact on his learning. He has come a long way in his learning.
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2013

To the previous post below me. If I am not mistaken and from what I read, it seems like to me that this parent has a inner city transfer. The students that live in the school coverage area should be priority! I live in the area and our home school is JFK and our children here should and are priority! If you want to give JFK one star...than guess what? TAKE YOUR SON OUT OF JFK!!!
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2013

Watch out! JFK's top test scores are just barely better than our default school's scores, and our default school is smaller. So I didn't want to transfer. Even my wife was cautious. Our younger kid starts next year, and so we checked and double-checked with RUSD to insure that our younger kid would be transferred in with no problems. Then, right at the beginning of this year, we directly checked with JFK's Principal, who said the sibling transfer would be no problem, and even that she thought JFK now was our home school. Despite our precautions, the transfer of our younger child now is being blocked. RUSD is barring all transfers to JFK, including siblings. It's a 180 degree turn from past practices and what we were told. We never would have come to this school, which is fine, if RUSD and JFK had not misled us that we would be able to transfer our younger child. Now our two young children go to two different schools that begin at the same time! RUSD's response is "move both kids to another school," in total disregarding of continuity for our older child. RUSD makes the DMV look good.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2013

Like anywhere, there are good things and not so good things about this school. They DO spend the whole year focusing on the big test at the end of the year that gives the school it's grade. Whoever said there is no pressure on the kids is mistaken. It's crazy pressure. Also, they don't get anything fun out of school. They get an art class once a month. Other then that, the school is good. Most of the teachers are really good. High test scores means that most of the kids do well here. Since elementary school decides weather or not kids will like school for the rest of the time they are in it, I'm hesitant to say this is a great school. It's hard for a child to enjoy learning when they are not able to have fun while learning. It's just kind of sad. We had one teacher who was amazing and made school fun. My daughter loves school because of this one teacher she had years ago.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2012

My kid's coming from the GATE program at a different, well-rated school here in Riverside, and he has some catching up to do. His teacher's very strict and demanding. She took a lot of time to explain where he is in his progress and how we can assist him to succeed. Elite doesn't really capture their attitude here. They consider themselves to be the best, and they want to reach a standard. There's none of the fabled slothful public school teachers here. Instead, they give the parents and the kids all they can handle, and a little more besides. Well, that's how they got to be rated 10 out of 10 on the API tests. It's not a take-it-easy school at all, and even the parents feel theheat. The evidence shows that the intense attitude at JFK does produce a good education.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2011

All 3 of my children have attended JFK for the last 5 years. It is sad that more people don't take the time to write positive experiences. The school is kind and compassionate from the top down. We even had a change in vice principals and it only got better. Ms. Betts is one on the ball woman who truly has a heart for her profession. The teachers here care beyond all belief. The increase in class sizes at the beginning of the year due to new enrollment which lead to oversized classrooms were accomadated with adding more teachers and classrooms. All 3 of my children have less than 25 in their classes. Yes they pride themselves on test scores but children are never pressured in anyway. Teachers even bring in treats and make it fun. The principal had a huge popscicle party to thank the kids for trying their best. That is the key they are encouraged to do their best. We have a very active PTA with tons of great activities. Parent participation is encouraged in the classroom and at all events. You can't go wrong at this school. It truly a blessing to my children and me as a parent. Thank you JFK
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2011

I am sad to read the older review that says one of the great things about Kennedy elementary school is the low teacher to student ratio. My child started kindergarten THIS school year (2010-2011) and his tiny kindergarten classroom was overcrowded with 31 students and one teacher. No employed aide, no team teacher... nothing. Also the kindergarten was so overcrowded that the "overflow" were put into the regular smaller size classrooms that do not have bathrooms and does not exit into the kindergarten play yard. My child missed out on getting to be in the enriching environment "REAL" kindergarten classes are supposed to be. As for education, the school prides itself on high test scores. I am a parent who cares more about the well rounded education than the school's report card. Emphasis on testing means my kindergartener started to learn how to "bubble" in the very first week of school. Sick. Kindergarteners should be learning experientially, not forced to be tested so that all joy and curiosity are strangled out of them. My child still likes the class, and likes the teacher, but it could just be SO MUCH BETTER if the teachers could be creative and not test driven.