Oak Park | Home to the Top Rated School District in the Conejo Valley

Part of a series on Conejo Valley school districts. Also see: Conejo Unified USD | Las Virgenes USD

If you’ve been researching homes in the Conejo Valley and kept hearing “Oak Park has the best schools”, this post is for you.

Oak Park Unified is a small, tight-knit district that consistently tops the local academic rankings. Buyers target it specifically, it affects home prices, and once you’re in it, you’ll understand why families stay.

Here’s everything you need to know.

All 3 Conejo Valley School Districts

Still Comparing School Districts?

If you’re still comparing Oak Park to Westlake, Agoura, or Thousand Oaks, start with my full breakdown here:

What Is Oak Park Unified School District?

Oak Park USD (OPUSD) serves one community: Oak Park.

That’s it. No overlap with neighboring towns, no boundary confusion, no “which side of the street am I on?” drama. If your home is in Oak Park, your kids go to Oak Park schools.

The district includes:

• 3 elementary schools
• 1 middle school
• 1 high school

Small by design, and that’s a big part of why it works.

The Schools

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | K-5

BROOKSIDE ELEMENTARY
Overall 10/10 | Test Scores 10/10
Serves the neighborhoods in the western/central part of Oak Park including Ridgefield Homes.

RED OAK ELEMENTARY
Overall 9/10 | Test Scores 10/10
Similar reputation to Brookside — consistent, high-performing, and community-focused. Serves eastern Oak Park neighborhoods, including communities like Montego Homes and Capri Townhomes

OAK HILLS ELEMENTARY
Overall 8/10 | Test Scores 9/10
The newest of the three elementary schools. Modern facility, strong test scores. Serves neighborhoods like Hillcrest Estates

All three elementary schools have strong reputations in the area. I’ve asked parents to help me differentiate between the 3 schools, and the answers I get are subtle. You won’t find a “weak link” here the way you might in a larger district with 17 schools.

*scores provided by GreatSchools.org

MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8

MEDEA CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Overall 8/10 | Test Scores 10/10

I can speak here from personal experience.

I moved my own kids from Colina Middle School (CVUSD) to Medea Creek, and the difference was immediately noticeable. The facilities were more modern, the teachers seemed more involved, and the student environment felt more focused.

I’m not saying Colina is a bad school – it’s not – but Medea Creek operates at a different level. The difference was noticeable, and that difference impacts home values. Many young families want to live here.

HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12

OAK PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Overall 10/10 | Test Scores 10/10

The academic flagship of the district. Oak Park High is widely regarded locally as having one of the strongest, if not the strongest, academic programs among the five main high schools in the Conejo Valley — ahead of Westlake High, Agoura High, Thousand Oaks High, and Newbury Park High.

High graduation rates, strong college readiness numbers, and a dominant academic focus.

The one trade-off: sports and extracurriculars aren’t at the same level as Westlake High or the LVUSD schools. It’s not that Oak Park doesn’t have athletics, but if your kid is a competitive athlete counting on varsity sports, the larger districts may serve them better.

What Makes OPUSD Different From the Other Districts?

Here’s how Oak Park stands apart:

It’s small, by design. With just 5 schools serving one community, resources are concentrated rather than spread across 17 elementary schools like CVUSD. Teachers, administrators, and parents all know each other. That continuity matters.

The focus is academics. CVUSD and LVUSD offer a broader range of athletics and extracurriculars. Oak Park’s identity is built around academics. For families where that’s the priority, it’s hard to beat.

The community is self-reinforcing. Families move to Oak Park for the schools. That means the parents are highly engaged, expectations are high, and the culture reflects that. Your kids will be surrounded by other kids whose families made the same choice.

The Price Premium: What to Expect

This is the part buyers need to know going in: Oak Park homes cost more than comparable homes in Thousand Oaks or Agoura Hills, and OPUSD is a significant reason why.

It’s not unusual to pay a premium of $50,000–$100,000+ over a similar home in a neighboring district. And Oak Park residents pay a little more in property taxes – roughly 1.30% compared to 1.20-1.25% for most of the other 4 towns. That difference gets invested back into the school district.

As an Oak Park resident myself, I’m happy to pay a little more to keep our schools up. In turn, that helps maintain our property values.

Is it worth it? That depends entirely on your family’s priorities. For parents who put academics first, most would tell you yes. For families where sports and extracurriculars are equally important, the decision gets harder.

Can You Get Into Oak Park Schools Without Living There?

Yes – with caveats.

Conejo Valley has open enrollment, which means you can apply for an interdistrict transfer into OPUSD even if you live outside Oak Park. But two things have to happen: your home district has to release your child, and OPUSD has to accept them. Given how sought-after these schools are, waitlists are common, especially at the elementary level.

Open enrollment is an option, not a guarantee. If OPUSD is important to your family, buying within the district boundary is the only reliable way to ensure access.

Who Is Oak Park USD Right For?

Oak Park is likely a great fit if:

• Academic performance is your top priority
• You want a small more intimate district where your kids attend the same community of schools K–12
• You’re willing to pay a modest premium for it
• You value a tight-knit community feel

You might weigh other districts if:

• Athletics or performing arts programs are equally important to academics
• Budget is a bigger factor and you want strong schools without the Oak Park premium
• Your kids are older and a school transition is a concern

Learn more about the other two school districts serving the Conejo Valley:

FAQs About Oak Park USD