Ventura Unified

Ventura, California — 27 schools

14,980
Total Enrollment
27
Schools
$15,893
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ventura Unified operates 27 public schools serving 14,980 students, placing it in the mid-size range in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 18 elementary, 5 high, 4 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 14,346 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Ventura County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,893 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 40.6% local, 48.9% state, and 10.4% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $68,420 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 33/100, ranked #1221 of 1547 in California against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 27 schools offering Advanced Placement (55 AP courses district-wide), a 424.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 37.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 55.2% Hispanic or Latino, 35.5% White, 3.2% Asian across the district's schools.

Ventura Unified school enrollment varies 37× across entities

Ventura Unified school enrollment ranges from 52 students (lowest) to 1,939 students (highest), a spread of 1,887 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ventura Unified student-counselor ratio is 424:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ventura Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 37.1% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.4%
Federal
48.9%
State
40.6%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
1221 / 1547
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Ventura County county, where this district is located.

$1,998
Studio/mo
$2,250
1 BR/mo
$2,693
2 BR/mo
$3,652
3 BR/mo
$4,240
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$68,420
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 27 schools in Ventura Unified.

White 35.5%
Hispanic or Latino 55.2%
African American 1.2%
Asian 3.2%
Multiracial 4.3%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 27
Schools with AP
55 AP courses total
424.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
37.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ventura Unified

School Enrollment
Ventura High
1,939
Buena High
1,585
Foothill Technology High
951
Cabrillo Middle
936
Balboa Middle
845
Anacapa Middle
592
De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts
577
Citrus Glen Elementary
491
Mound Elementary
490
Academy of Technology & Leadership at Saticoy
461
Portola Elementary
444
Will Rogers Elementary
426
Junipero Serra Elementary
418
Juanamaria Elementary
397
Montalvo Elementary
397
Loma Vista Elementary
396
Elmhurst Elementary
378
Sunset Elementary
357
Poinsettia Elementary
351
Sheridan Way Elementary
325
Pierpont Elementary
304
Lemon Grove
299
E. P. Foster Elementary
299
El Camino High
221
Pacific High
213
Lincoln Elementary
202
Homestead (Alternative)
52

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $25,877/pupil
Compare vs Ventura Unified →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $26,901/pupil
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Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,737/pupil
Compare vs Ventura Unified →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $19,558/pupil
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Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $16,975/pupil
Compare vs Ventura Unified →

Compare Ventura Unified

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ventura Unified?

Ventura Unified has 27 schools, including 5 high, 4 middle, 18 elementary. Total enrollment is 14,980 students.

How much does Ventura Unified spend per student?

Ventura Unified spends $15,893 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #1221 in California.

What is the average teacher salary in Ventura Unified?

The average teacher salary in Ventura Unified is $68,420 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Ventura Unified?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Ventura County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Ventura Unified?

Ventura Unified students are 55.2% Hispanic or Latino, 35.5% White, 3.2% Asian, 1.2% African American, averaged across 27 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ventura Unified?

Ventura Unified has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #1221 out of 1547 districts in California. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

Coverage

50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
Industry baseline

Composite score weighing source authority, update freshness, and methodological transparency. 1.0 = full federal-source coverage with documented methodology and recent update.