Riverside School

Riverside School was constructed in 1960 after population studies uncovered a need for additional elementary schools in Princeton. Located below Nassau Street and close to Lake Carnegie, Riverside serves students in the southeastern section of town, while Johnson Park School serves as its counterpart in western Princeton. Throughout its history, Riverside has had steady enrollment and strong community support. Many Riverside students are the children of Princeton University staff and reside in University housing throughout the neighborhood. Celebrated principal William D. Cirullo served as Riverside’s principal for more than thirty years. When Cirullo passed away in 2016, the school named its main driveway in his honor. The school’s mascot, a bear chosen by its students and aptly named “Riverbear,” appears on the Riverside School logo.

Riverside’s curriculum features specialized areas of instruction, including a program that integrates students with autism into classes with their mainstream peers. The school is also known for its unique teaching gardens. After starting the Princeton School Gardens Cooperative in the early 2000s, Dorothy Mullen took ownership of Riverside’s organic gardening program. Today, a large group of volunteers helps to maintain the garden.. Harvested crops are donated to the Arm in Arm Food Pantry in Princeton.