2024 Best Schools in Ventura County

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  100 reviews

Senior: I really like the Thacher school and the experience it's given me. It's pretty small so you know everybody and a lot of community knowledge, which sometimes is good and bad. However, because of its small class size, you get to interact with amazing people and know them really well. Everyone is from all over the world so you get to open your horizons and find out about the world as a whole and different cultures.... Read 100 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 251

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.7 out of 5  30 reviews

Alum: My journey at Besant Hill School began in my sophomore year and continued until my graduation, after which I was fortunate enough to be accepted and enrolled at the UC Berkeley. The time spent at BHS was transformative, thanks to the incredible support of the dedicated faculty and the rich diversity of my fellow students. This unique environment not only fostered my academic growth but also played a crucial role in shaping my character. Now, as a senior in college, I often find myself reflecting on my experiences at BHS. Each memory from that time holds a special place in my heart, and I am immensely grateful for the lessons learned and the person I have become. Besant Hill School is more than just an educational institution; it is a place where one can truly discover oneself. It is where you learn, grow, and evolve into the person you aspire to be.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 71

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  65 reviews

Junior: I like the community and academics the most about Villanova Preparatory School. The teachers and student alike are kind and supportive, more than other highschools can attest to. The Villanova community is a safe space for people when they need to talk or need assistance. Every single student at the school at least has one friend or person that they can go to if they were struggling whether it be academics, athletically, etc. Since the school is a boarding school, it provides day and resident students the opportunity to experience new cultures and ideas. The advanced curriculum allows students to grow in their knowledge of the subject but also gain and strengthen skills that are needed not only in college but in life. Something I believe need to be adapted or change about Villanova is the facilities. Oftentimes when a person needs to use the restroom they have found that the entire bathroom is out of order or a few stalls due to flooding or other issues, making the experience subpar.... Read 65 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 195

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Thousand Oaks, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  97 reviews

Junior: I love being a La Reina student. The environment is very different compared to other schools. The traditions that the school has created are great. It brings our class closer together and allows us to make memories that we will cherish forever. My classmates are absolutely amazing and I love working with them every day. La Reina girls can have so much fun at these traditional events because we all feel safe being ourselves. Everyone is so uplifting which is something everyone needs. Many high schoolers struggle with mental health. But at La Reina, each girl has their own support system. It is truly a sisterhood that each girl will forever carry with them throughout life. Although there is a negative, the students are trapped in a bubble. We usually only stay within our community because we are so close. But, La Reina trains the girls to be independent, which overcomes the bubble because when we are released into the world after we graduate we know how to navigate on our own.... Read 97 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 400

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.69 out of 5  26 reviews

Alum: I am a graduate of the school as well as a current parent. I cannot speak highly enough of the OVS educational experience. They truly provide a top-notch education while simultaneously educating the whole student. Graduates are well-rounded and mature. They have all of the skills necessary to be successful in life. I was a day student but was always begging my parents to drop me off on the weekends to participate in the residential life programs. The weekend trips were phenomenal. You see all of the major California staples like Disneyland, Universal Studios etc. but there is also time for the beach, parks, hikes, bike rides, exploring the local markets. The education was top notch. I went on to attend a major Southern California University and I found myself more than prepared. The camping, the horses, the robotics, the drama program, art, woodshop, music...these are all integral parts of the education and OVS gets that. My kids love it as much as I did. We are an OVS family!... Read 26 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 321

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Oak Park Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  367 reviews

Alum: Oak Park High School was great! It definitely helped prepare me for the basics of college. Many of my teachers were excellent and very kind and supportive. Some were very strict graders, which I've found doesn't happen as often in college. There are definitely many kids from all different backgrounds and experiences at the school, and it was great to meet so many people.... Read 367 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,427

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  526 reviews

Senior: I've never had a bad teacher in my time here. The best teachers are truly extraordinary while the worst teachers are just...fine. In my experience, the teachers care about their job and their students. I've felt challenged academically (in a good way) and the majority of my academic needs have been met. Take this with a grain of salt because I've interacted with a maximum of...200 out of the 2000+ students here, but WHS has a pretty welcoming environment. Been able to meet some cool people, both through classes and clubs. In terms of the negatives: (1) False fire alarms go off FAR too frequently. (2) The bathrooms suck, but that's to be expected of any public high school.... Read 526 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,166

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Ventura Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  292 reviews

Senior: Foothill Tech is an academically advanced school. It contains many school committed kids while also holding a diverse campus of students. The school itself is small as well as the population, but that helps create a friendly and family-like environment. Foothill Tech is definitely a great school for those academically adcanced but it also has sports, clubs, and is filled with students with other interests. Overall, it really is a great school!... Read 292 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 990

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Moorpark Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  92 reviews

Alum: As of May 18, 2023, I graduated from The High School at Moorpark College. I was a part of the first freshmen class because as of a few years ago, the program was only open to juniors and seniors who wanted to enroll at Moorpark College as high school students. My experience at this high school has been nothing short of life changing. This high school does a great job of creating a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive community. However, apart from that, it offered wonderful opportunities for advancement in education. College classes are built into a high school schedule and the school ensures that students have the recourses necessary to succeed in both a college and high school setting; Thus, I was able to graduate high school and college simultaneously. On May 18th I graduated from high school, and on the 19th, I graduated from Moorpark College with an Associate's degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. This program has allowed me to be very successful! I would not change a thing!... Read 92 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 100

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  551 reviews

Senior: Newbury Park High School in Thousand Oaks offers a mix of positive and negative aspects that shape the overall experience. On the bright side, the school boasts a vibrant and diverse student community, fostering a sense of inclusivity and unity. The committed and passionate teachers go the extra mile to provide quality education and support, preparing students for their future endeavors. However, the school's large size can sometimes make it challenging for students like me to form close connections and navigate the bustling hallways. Additionally, the heavy focus on standardized testing can create undue pressure and hinder holistic learning. Overall, Newbury Park High School combines strengths and weaknesses, shaping a dynamic educational environment.... Read 551 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,287

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.61 out of 5  33 reviews

Senior: I'm a graduating senior from Oak Grove next year, I want to share my experience here. The community is incredibly welcoming and you make really good relationships with your teachers and peers. It's a small school, so it suffers in terms of things like sports, but students are able to get a much more personalized education and have larger voices overall. Students are very true to themselves at Oak Grove, so it's a good place to go if you want to break away from the mold and be yourself. The campus is beautiful too. Overall, I had a really good time at Oak Grove school and I recommend it to anyone who's interested :)... Read 33 reviews

• grade A

• Students 238

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Senior: I love Weil for many things including the tennis, school, daily routine, fitness, and the people at Weil. It has helped me become a much better tennis player and become a great student who is academically and athletically ready for college. I look forward to the much more progress I will continue to be doing throughout the rest of m time with Weil.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A

• Students 64

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Wonderful school, great teachers, parents, students & staff. Students learn a lot, few discipline issues, clean campus, a lit of enrichment activities.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 528

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Oak Park Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.17 out of 5  6 reviews

Middle School Student: Honestly a really great school, if you can look past how run-down it is. While it does save money by putting many of its attractions outside, during the summer months it can get to a hundred degrees Fahrenheit or higher, basically boiling children alive if they were unlucky enough to forget their sunscreen.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,024

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 635

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  12 reviews

Alum: As someone who went through the entire K-8 system offered, the school is great for preparing children for the future. Everything is wonderful from the academics, diversity (for what a majority white area would be able to offer) and the teachers leave a tremendous impact on the kids. The one drawback is the faculty as they seem to be incompetent from time to time. Overall it was great growing up and meeting some terrific people throughout my time at Sycamore Canyon!... Read 12 reviews

• grade A

• Students 996

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Oak Park Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 579

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Oak Park Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 538

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 343

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: We love WLE! The teachers we’ve had so far are attentive and care about the progress of each student, not the “always strive for straight As and winning contests.” The teachers care about taking the shy, non-verbal student to confidently sharing in front of their peers. My daughter did STEM, ample art and motor skills projects, music, and PE in TK. Kinder saw music, STEM, art, and more. I volunteer weekly, and I see the growth the kids are making. It’s wonderful to see! The entire school focuses on character building not just academics.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A

• Students 447

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Simi Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  416 reviews

Freshman: Santa Su is very welcoming! It’s a small school with no sports, which could be a problem. However, its liberal, performing, and visual arts program is unbeatable. The teachers are kind and informative. They’re very supportive. Not to mention some amazing counselors to help guide your journey. Santa Su also has one of the largest selection of electives I, personally, have seen. Your opportunities are not endless. Again, I feel as though the only flaw is the fact that this school does not have sports teams. The reason I excuse it, though, is because Santa Su specializes in the arts. Santa Su also has incredible science and pre-med programs, as well as multiple classes specializing in broadcasting and producing. Overall, Santa Su is a great school.... Read 416 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,076

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Oxnard Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  64 reviews

Junior: Rancho Campana is a good school with many kind teachers and many kind students. Even though the school is known for having no fights and being very peaceful, sometimes I feel sad that I am missing out on the everyday Highschool experience. In no way would I want to transfer though. I wish that there were sports at Rancho Campana and that we had a larger student ratio, the small ratio makes it harder to meet new friends because everyone already has their small friend groups. But overall putting aside social interaction, Rancho is a great school!... Read 64 reviews

• grade A

• Students 828

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Alum: Academics, Teachers, and Clubs are all great! Really enjoyed my time here and think its one of the best middle schools!... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• Students 755

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  553 reviews

Senior: At Thousand Oaks High school, inclusion is the main advantage my school has. We have one of the most school spirited schools in the state, and we were even voted top 20 student sections in SoCal this past year. This substantially benefitted my high school experience as the joint energy of school spirit made me feel connected to my school. Football games would be full, basketball games the entire student section showed up dressed in themes, and our loud energy was so unique. As a member of my schools Associated Student Government (ASB), we contributed a generous amount of support for our schools spirit. We made encouraging posters, bought and distributed spirited items like bandanas, and we constantly promoted attendance of these events throughout the school. The only downside to my experience at Thousand Oaks High School is that some spirit activities weren't allowed by staff, or were frowned upon. Otherwise, I wouldn't change anything, I love my school and will be a Lancer forever!... Read 553 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,884

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 368

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1