The school opened in the fall of 1973 with 650 students on a 65-acre (260,000 m2) campus.

Riverside was named the 1998 Palmetto's Finest High School.

In Fall 2006, students began attending a brand new building on the same premises.

As an official green building,[4] it is one of the most energy efficient and environmentally-friendly high schools in the nation and approximately 278,111 square feet (25,837.4 m2).

[5] The school has had five principals: John Durr, Wayne Rhodes, Charles "Bob" Bayne, Andrew "Andy" Crowley, and, currently, Darah Huffman.