Principal

Principal's Message

Welcome to Benton, a Destination for the Arts and more!

It is both a privilege and a pleasure to serve as Benton's principal. This is my 15th year at Benton and I truly believe in our mission to inspire and empower all students achieve academic excellence in a creative visual and performing arts environment. Research has shown how vital the arts are to helping students achieve academically, and Benton holds the distinction of being a Gold Ribbon Award School as well as an Exemplary Arts Education Program School from the California Department of Education. We are proud to announce that this past spring we earned a 5-year designation and national recognition as an Exemplary Arts School from the  Arts Schools Network. We have an impressive staff of dedicated professionals whose passion is to see each student achieve their individual best. 

Benton's unique 4x4 block schedule provides most students with three year-long elective classes each year. As a Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School, Benton offers an array of electives taught by specialists in their respective fields. Students have the opportunity to explore many arts - music, chorus, dance, theatre, stagecraft, photography, video productions, digital/media arts, studio art - and to find their passion.  We also offer Korean Language, Sports, Leadership, PLTW Automation & Robotics, PLTW Medical Detectives, and Environmental Science. Honors classes in Math and Language Arts are available at all grade levels, as well as Honors Science and Social Science in 7th and 8th grades. 

At Benton we are committed to helping each student reach their highest potential, find their passion, make meaningful connections between the world and their learning, and prepare for future success. We welcome parent and community involvement in reaching this goal.  Please don't hesitate to reach out, I look forward to a great year!

Robin Ridgeway, Principal

Phone: (562) 210-2500

Email: rridgeway@nlmusd.org