Ventura Unified School District
School District · Ventura, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
27
18 elem, 4 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
14,672
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.5:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
27
18 elem, 4 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
14,672
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.5:1
How this district compares
California rank
#543 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,619
$1,028 vs California median
District size
14,672 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Ventura Unified ranks #543 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Ventura Unified's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 27 schools. Its top-rated schools are Homestead (alternative) (9.0/10), Poinsettia Elementary (8.5/10), and Foothill Technology High (7.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.0/10 despite 53% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.2 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 Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Ventura Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Ventura Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (27 of 27). "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 | Foothill Technology High | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Junipero Serra Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Cabrillo Middle | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Ventura High | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Montalvo Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Balboa Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Anacapa Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
| 10 | De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts | 5.8 / 10 |
See all 27 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Ventura Unified
Ventura Unified is a Ventura, California school district serving 27 schools.The district educates 14,672 students with a student-teacher ratio of 24.5:1. District-level spending was $16,619 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Ventura Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Homestead (alternative), which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, Ventura Unified students show an average math proficiency of 43.3% and ELA proficiency of 50.9%.
The district includes 18 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Ventura Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Ventura Unified with test data.
Schools in Ventura Unified
27 schoolsElementary Schools18
Middle Schools4
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Ventura
- Total Enrollment
- 14,672
- Teachers (FTE)
- 600
- District spending per student
- $16,619NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 10.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Ventura Unified?
Ventura Unified has 27 schools in total — 18 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Ventura Unified?
The average composite rating for Ventura Unified is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Ventura Unified?
Ventura Unified's district-level spending was $16,619 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ventura Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Ventura Unified is 24.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Ventura Unified?
Homestead (alternative) is the highest-rated school in Ventura Unified with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What are the test scores in Ventura Unified?
Across schools in Ventura Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 43.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 50.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Ventura Unified compare to other districts in California?
Ventura Unified has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 27 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 43.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 50.9%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Ventura Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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