Original Research by School Decision on Abraham Lincoln Continuation
Abraham Lincoln Continuation is an alternative high school in Riverside serving students in grades eleven and twelve. It is part of Riverside Unified School District.
As a continuation school, Lincoln serves students who have fallen off-track at traditional high schools or who face barriers to graduation. The enrollment is small, with the vast majority of students in grade twelve. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller populations of students identifying as two or more races, white, Black, or Asian.
The school's most recent state assessment results show proficiency rates that are very low across subjects. In English language arts, a small portion of students met state standards. In mathematics, proficiency was negligible. In science, no students met the state standard. These numbers reflect the reality that continuation schools serve a population with significant prior academic disruption, but they are nonetheless worth understanding plainly. A parent considering this pathway should ask the school directly about its graduation outcomes, support structures, and what "proficiency" means in the context of students working toward completion after years away from coursework. State testing data alone does not capture whether the school is successfully moving students toward the credential they need.
The district itself is undergoing instructional changes. Riverside Unified recently deployed a coaching-based teaching approach designed to identify struggling students faster and remove learning barriers, with reported gains in English and math. The approach is federally funded and set to sunset in 2028. Additionally, the district has maintained an ethnic studies graduation requirement that predates the state mandate, meaning all students, including those at Lincoln, must complete an ethnic studies course to graduate. The district has also invested in facility upgrades through a voter-approved bond, though a state auditor report noted inconsistent reporting on bond allocation and fewer projects delivered than initially planned due to rising costs.
Riverside itself is a mid-sized city in the Inland Empire. Housing values are moderate relative to California; median monthly rent in the area is modest by state standards. The unemployment rate and median household income reflect a working-class and middle-class population. A parent considering this school should weigh that continuation schools exist to serve a specific population: students who need a second pathway to graduation. Success at Lincoln would look different from success at a traditional high school, and families should understand what the school's graduation rate and post-completion placement are before enrolling.
See more original research from School Decision →