Best Schools in Ventura, California
44 schools · 28 Elementary · 4 Middle · 9 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Ventura?
Use this page to compare every school in Ventura by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Homestead (alternative)
Elementary · Ventura Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Poinsettia Elementary
Elementary · Ventura Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education
Elementary · Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Ventura for 2026 are Homestead (alternative) (9.0/10), Poinsettia Elementary (8.5/10), and Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education (8.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 28 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
44
28 public · 16 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$795,425
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
44
28 public · 16 private
Avg Score
5.8
out of 10
Median Home
$795,425
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 9.0/10 despite 53% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Ventura schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Ventura schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Ventura
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 28 rated schools; 44 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homestead (alternative) | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Poinsettia Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Foothill Technology High | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Junipero Serra Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Cabrillo Middle | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Ventura High | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Montalvo Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Anacapa Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Balboa Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.8/10
- Median household income
- $95,717
- Median home value
- $795,425
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 40%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 61%
14% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Ventura compares
California rank
#471 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$96k
96% of California median
Schools in this city
36
Ventura Unified runs Ventura's public schools
28 public schools. Ventura Unified is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Ventura is a Ventura Unified school (26 of 28).
Among 28 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.9 to 9.0 — the spread is inside Ventura, not a citywide average.
- Ventura Unified26 public · 93%
- Golden Valley Charter District1 public · 4%
- Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education District1 public · 4%
About Schools in Ventura, California
Ventura's public school system spans 28 ranked schools with a citywide average score of 5.5 out of 10 — a spread that signals meaningful performance variation and rewards careful research. The elementary tier carries most of the city's top performers, and five schools, 18% of the ranked pool, clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold that marks consistently strong academic outcomes. That concentration at the top is encouraging, but it also means the majority of schools land in the middle of the scale or below.
Will Rogers Elementary leads the city at 7.9 out of 10, the highest score in Ventura's public system. Lemon Grove (7.8) and Loma Vista Elementary (7.7) cluster just behind it, giving families in those attendance zones a strong option without a private-school premium. Elmhurst Elementary (7.1) and the Academy of Technology & Leadership at Saticoy (7.0) round out the top five. The Academy's specialized tech-and-leadership focus adds an academic pathway dimension that the other top schools don't offer — worth noting for parents who want more than a strong general curriculum at the elementary level.
Below the top five, scores drift toward the 5.5 citywide average. That number sits in the middle of the national scale — not a red flag in isolation, but not a safe default. Parents whose address falls outside a high-scoring attendance zone should verify their assigned school's score directly rather than assuming proximity to strong performers means similar results.
For anyone benchmarking Ventura against comparable Southern California cities, the 18% rate of 7-plus schools is the sharpest comparison point. Roughly one in five public schools performs well above the midpoint; four in five do not. Families with K–5 children have the most leverage here, since the city's highest-scoring options concentrate at the elementary level. Identify which top-five school your address feeds into early — transfer waitlists at high-demand schools fill quickly, and choice options require lead time to navigate.
Elementary Schools
28 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 359 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 449 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.1 |
| 4 | 448 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 374 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 |
| 6 | 308 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 |
| 7 | 501 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 |
| 8 | 525 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 |
| 9 | 404 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 |
| 10 | 293 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 |
Show all 28 elementary schools in Ventura
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 867 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 635 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 3 | 941 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 548 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 962 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | 2,036 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 198 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 4 | 218 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 5 | 1,685 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Bonaventure High SchoolPrivate 373 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 6 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Mrs.fishers AcademyPrivate 6 students · 3rd–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | St. Augustine AcademyPrivate 181 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 502 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.4 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 156 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Ventura Christian AcademyPrivate 33 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Ventura
Ventura, California · 44 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$95,717
Median Home Value
$795,425
Median Rent
$2,066/mo
Population
137,281
College Educated
40%
Homeownership
61%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Community Profile
Ventura has a median household income of $95,717. It is a well-educated community where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $795,425, with a median rent of $2,066/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.9%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 28
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 9
- Other
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Ventura, California
How many schools are in Ventura, California?
Ventura has 44 schools, including 28 public and 16 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Ventura, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Ventura is 5.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Ventura, California?
The top-ranked school in Ventura on MySchoolScout is Homestead (alternative) with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Ventura, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Ventura on MySchoolScout is Homestead (alternative) with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Ventura, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Ventura on MySchoolScout is Cabrillo Middle with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best high school in Ventura, California?
The top-ranked high school in Ventura on MySchoolScout is Foothill Technology High with a composite score of 7.7/10.
How many school districts serve Ventura, California?
Ventura is served by 3 school districts: Golden Valley Charter District, Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education District, Ventura Unified.
What is the education level in Ventura, California?
According to Census data, 40% of adults in Ventura have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Ventura, California?
The median household income in Ventura is approximately $95,717 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Ventura, California?
Yes, Ventura has 16 private schools alongside 28 public schools. The top-rated private school is Holy Cross School @ San Buenaventura Mission with a score of 6.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ventura, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Ventura is 20.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Ventura, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.