Classical, Diverse, College Preparatory
As the second campus of Indianapolis’ best public high school, Riverside High School offers a rigorous, classical, liberal arts, college-preparatory education to an intentionally-diverse population of nearly 300 freshman and sophomore students in the heart of Indianapolis.
History
Riverside High School is now in its second year after being founded as a second campus of Herron High School. The concept for Herron High School originated in 2003 under the leadership of Joanna Beatty Taft, Executive Director of the Harrison Center for the Arts. Recognizing the need for high quality, tuition-free public education located within the city’s urban neighborhoods, Ms. Taft brought together local residents, educators, non-profit organizations and business leaders to create an original structure for a classical, liberal arts education. Now in its 12th year, Herron High School has achieved exceptional academic results and helped to transform the surrounding Herron-Morton neighborhood and near northside of Indianapolis. Riverside High School is on its way to achieving the same standard of academic excellence and is committed to helping to strengthen its surrounding community.
Awards & Accolades
Riverside High School is on the path to achieving the same standard of excellence as its sister school, Herron High School. Herron High School has accumulated a long list of awards and accolades that have earned it the reputation as Indianapolis’ best public high school. Its recent accolades include:
- Ranked as Indianapolis’ best public high school by US News and World Report.
- Designated as a Gold Medal school by U.S. News and World Report.
- Ranked among the top 1 percent of high schools nationwide by Newsweek, US News and World Report and The Washington Post.
Read more about Indianapolis Classical Schools’ accolades
Our Permanent Home – The Heslar Naval Armory
Riverside High School moved into its new home, the former Heslar Naval Armory, this year.
- Construction began on the Heslar Naval Armory in July 2017 and was completed in June 2018.
- The Heslar Naval Armory was built in in 1938 as a Works Process Administration (WPA) project as a naval reservist training center and played an important role during World War II. It contains many historical features that have been preserved and will be important parts of students’ daily experience.
- It also features a large gymnasium that is home to our Argonaut athletics teams, a spacious 2-story music room as a rehearsal location for our incredible choir and instrumental music programs, four modern science labs, a coffee shop and so much more!
See photos and learn more about the Armory
About Indianapolis Classical Schools
Established in 2017, Indianapolis Classical Schools is one community with two great high schools – Herron High School and Riverside High School – with one board of directors and a unified vision and mission to set a new standard for high school education in Central Indiana.
Learn more about Indianapolis Classical Schools
School Profile – The Basics
Founded: 2017-2018 school year
Authorizer: Mayor of Indianapolis’ Office of Education Innovation
School type: Co-educational
Grades: 9 & 10
Enrollment: 288 (2018-19 school year)
