VUSD (Ventura Unified School District) Magnet Programs and School of Choice Info:

Educationally, Ventura is known to have good schools. Compared to the California school system as a whole you are already in a good place regardless of which school your child(ren) end up at being a member of VUSD. It has, however, been a long time since many of our facilities have been updated. Touring the local schools is known to be less than impressive due to the state of our facilities. Thankfully, in 2022 Measure E, a $434.5 million bond program, was passed. We are hoping to see many improvements in the deteriorating buildings and neglected interiors over the next couple of years.

VUSD is a “school of choice” district. You are assigned a neighborhood boundary school for each level of your child’s education depending on where you live. However, if you wish to pursue a different education track for your child than what is available at your boundary school, you may apply to different schools in the VUSD district via a lottery system.

It fluctuates yearly, but the “school of choice window” in 2023 for the 2024 school year is November 7 - December 1, 2023. During the school of choice window individual schools hold tours and info sessions. I will update links here as the window officially opens and more info becomes available. During the enrollment window you must submit a lottery application to the school(s) you wish for your child(ren) to attend.

You can check what your neighborhood boundary school is here.

Ventura has multiple magnet schools that are often popular choices for lottery applicants.

What is School of Choice?:

The term “school choice” means parents have an additional opportunity to choose the schools their child will attend for an elementary and secondary education. Traditionally children are assigned to a public school according to where they live and a child's school is assigned by the district. School of choice options allow parents to apply to other schools in the district that interest them as a best fit for their child’s eduation.

What is a Magnet School?:

A magnet program is a program in a public school that usually focuses on a special area of study, such as science, the performing arts, or career education. A magnet school is an entire school with a special focus. These programs and schools are designed to attract students from across a district.

Elementary Magnet Schools:

Mound Elementary- Science and Global Citizenship

ATLAS Elementary- Technology

EP Foster Elementary- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

Montalvo Elementary- Arts & Dual Immersion

(Elementary) Dual Immersion Programs:

Montalvo Elementary

Sheridan Way Elementary

Will Rogers Elementary

Middle School Magnet Schools:

De Anza (DATA)- Technology and the Arts

High School Magnet Schools:

Foothill- Technology

Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education:

This charter school is part of VUSD, but it operates under its own systems. There are support programs here that VUSD as a whole does not offer. Physical Education and Art, beginning at the elementary school level and aides in the kindergarten classrooms are some big ones that I noted.

If you have an interest in Ventura Charter School you can apply to their lottery SEPARATELY from the VUSD lottery. Their enrollment window is a bit later, typically. It begins after the new year and runs through mid-February. You can access their info here.

Notes:

A common path for students interested in a tech education focus is: ATLAS Elementary - De Anza (DATA) Middle School - Foothill Technology High School

**This info is not meant to be fully conclusive. This list is the result of one mom scrambling to find all of this information. For some reason, VUSD does not make info about the specialty schools easily accessible. A webpage comes out once a year ONLY during the school of choice window related to these options and then is taken down for the remainder of the year. I will update annually with the link as it becomes available.