CVUSD is the largest of the three Conejo Valley school districts, and the one most buyers end up in.
Part of a series on Conejo Valley school districts. Also see: Las Virgenes USD | Oak Park USD
Conejo Valley USD covers Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and the Ventura County side of Westlake Village. With 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 3 high schools, it’s a big district, and that size comes with some nuance. Not every school in CVUSD is identical, and where you buy within the district matters more here than it does in Oak Park or LVUSD.
That said, CVUSD is home to Westlake High School, which most local parents and agents consider the best overall high school in the Conejo Valley. That reputation alone draws a lot of buyers into the district.
Key Takeaways
- CVUSD covers Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and the Ventura County side of Westlake Village
- Largest of the three Conejo Valley districts: 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools
- Home to Westlake High School, widely considered the top overall high school in the area
- Elementary school quality varies by neighborhood more than in the other two districts – worth researching your specific address
- Lang Ranch is the only part of Thousand Oaks that feeds into Westlake High, a detail that significantly impacts home values in that area
All 3 Conejo Valley School Districts
Still Comparing School Districts?
If you’re still weighing CVUSD against Oak Park or LVUSD, start with the full comparison here:
Conejo Valley School Districts Explained: OPUSD vs LVUSD vs CVUSDWhat Is Conejo Valley Unified School District?
CVUSD serves approximately 16,000 students across Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and the Ventura County side of Westlake Village. It’s the district most buyers in the Conejo Valley land in, simply because it covers the most ground.
The district includes:
- 17 elementary schools
- 5 middle school
- 3 high school
The district is generally strong. Most schools rank very good to excellent. But with 17 elementary schools spread across multiple communities, there’s bound to be more variation here than in Oak Park (5 schools, one community) or LVUSD’s Agoura Hills/Westlake Village footprint.
The Westlake Village and Lang Ranch schools are among the most sought-after in the district. Other parts of Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park are still good, just worth researching before you buy.
The Schools
Westlake Village | Thousand Oaks | Newbury Park
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | K-5
With 17 elementary schools, I’m not going to list every one. What matters for buyers is understanding which neighborhood feeds into which school, and which schools have the strongest reputations.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE | VENTURA COUNTY SIDE
The Westlake Village elementaries within CVUSD are among the most sought-after in the entire district. If you’re buying on the Ventura County side of Westlake Village, you’re in good shape at the elementary level.
- Westlake Elementary | Overall 9/10 | Test Scores 10/10 serves central Westlake Village neighborhoods including popular communities like Foxmoor Homes and Westlake Bay Townhomes.
- Westlake Hills Elementary | Overall 9/10 | Test Scores 9/10 serves the hillside neighborhoods above the lake Masters Series Homes and Clubview Townhomes.
Both are highly regarded, with strong parent communities and consistently strong test scores.
THOUSAND OAKS
The Thousand Oaks elementaries are generally good, but this is where variation within CVUSD shows up most. Some neighborhoods simply have stronger feeder schools than others. That’s not unusual in a district this size, but it’s something buyers should pay attention to when comparing homes. If you’re focused on a specific part of Thousand Oaks, it’s worth checking the assigned elementary before making an offer.
Notable Thousand Oaks elementaries:
- Wildwood | Overall 9/10 | Test Scores 10/10
- Ladera Stars Academy | Overall 9/10 | Test Scores 8/10
- Weathersfield | Overall 8/10 | Test Scores 9/10
LANG RANCH | THOUSAND OAKS
Lang Ranch is a collection of homes in eastern Thousand Oaks. Lang Ranch Elementary serves the Lang Ranch neighborhoods including Eagle Ridge & Brock Collection. Excellent reputation and one of the most sought-after elementaries in the district, largely because it feeds to Westlake High (more on that below). Learn more about Lang Ranch
- Lang Ranch Elementary | Overall 10/10 | Test Scores 10/10
NEWBURY PARK
Notable Newbury Park elementaries
- Banyan | Overall 8/10 | Test Scores 9/10
- Cypress | Overall 7/10 | Test Scores 10/10
- Sycamore Canyon | Overall 9/10 | Test Scores 10/10
DOS VIENTOS | NEWBURY PARK
If you’re buying in Dos Vientos, the school situation is a bit unique. Sycamore Canyon School serves as both an elementary and middle school (K–8) on the same campus (see middle schools). It’s the assigned school of residence for the neighborhood and the highest-rated school in the Dos Vientos area on GreatSchools. Learn more about Dos Vientos
Cypress Elementary is the secondary option for elementary grades and isn’t far behind. Both are well above average for the district and a big reason why Dos Vientos is the most sought-after part of Newbury Park for families.
- Sycamore Canyon | Overall 9/10 | Test Scores 10/10
- Cypress Elementary | Overall 7/10 | Test Scores 10/10
*scores provided by GreatSchools.org
MIDDLE SCHOOLS | 6-8
CVUSD has 5 middle schools, which is more than the other two districts combined.
LOS CERRITOS MIDDLE SCHOOL | THOUSAND OAKS & WESTLAKE VILLAGE
Overall 8/10 | Test 9/10
Serves students from the Westlake Village and surrounding Thousand Oaks neighborhoods. Named a California Blue Ribbon School, it’s one of the strongest middle schools in the district and one buyers in that area specifically ask about.
COLINA MIDDLE SCHOOL | THOUSAND OAKS
Overall 4/10 | Test 8/10
Serves central Thousand Oaks neighborhoods. I’ll be honest. I moved my own kids from Colina to Medea Creek in Oak Park, and the difference in facilities and environment stood out. Colina is a good school, but that experience helped me understand why some families choose Oak Park for middle school.
REDWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL | THOUSAND OAKS
Overall 7/10 | Test 8/10
Serves neighborhoods in the northern part of Thousand Oaks. It feeds into Thousand Oaks High School and is generally well-regarded by families in that part of the city.
SEQUOIA MIDDLE SCHOOL | NEWBURY PARK
Overall 3/10 | Test 7/10
Serves Newbury Park neighborhoods and feeds into Newbury Park High School. Test scores are stronger than the overall rating suggests, and most families in the area view it as a solid neighborhood middle school.
SYCAMORE CANYON | NEWBURY PARK (K-8)
Overall 9/10 | Test 10/10
Serves the Dos Vientos area of Newbury Park and operates as both the elementary and middle school for the neighborhood. It’s the assigned school for most Dos Vientos homes and one of the highest-rated schools in that part of the district.
HIGH SCHOOLS | 9-12
This is where CVUSD’s reputation is strongest. Three high schools, each with a distinct identity, and one that draws buyers specifically because of it.
WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL | THOUSAND OAKS & WESTLAKE VILLAGE
Overall 10/10 | Test 9/10
CVUSD is also home to Westlake High School, which many local parents consider the most well-rounded high school in the Conejo Valley. Westlake High is strong across the board: academics, athletics, performing arts, and electives. It’s the most complete program of any high school in the Conejo Valley.
I’ll put it this way: after I moved my kids to Medea Creek in Oak Park for middle school, they chose to come back to CVUSD for high school to attend Westlake High. Oak Park’s academics are excellent, but Westlake had the sports, social life, and overall high school experience they were looking for.
Westlake High serves students from the Ventura County side of Westlake Village and the Lang Ranch neighborhoods in Thousand Oaks. If Westlake High is your priority, those are the areas to focus your search. Many neighborhoods feed to Westlake High. Here are a couple to check out: North Pointe Homes & Hidden Canyon Townhomes
THOUSAND OAKS HIGH SCHOOL | THOUSAND OAKS
Overall 8/10 | Test 7/10
Serves many of the central Thousand Oaks neighborhoods like Wildwood Homes and Lynn Ranch Homes. It’s a very good high school that sometimes gets overshadowed because Westlake High gets so much attention locally. Academics are strong, athletics are competitive, and most families I work with feel very comfortable landing here.
NEWBURY PARK HIGH SCHOOL | NEWBURY PARK
Overall 9/10 | Test 9/10
Serves Newbury Park neighborhoods including Twin Oak Homes and Rancho Conejo Homes. A strong high school with good academics, athletics, and programs overall. Most families in Newbury Park feel very comfortable landing here. The school also added an International Baccalaureate (IB) program in recent years for students who want a more academically challenging option.
The Lang Ranch Detail
This Affects Home Prices
If you’re searching in Thousand Oaks with Westlake High as a priority, this section is for you.
Most of Thousand Oaks feeds into Thousand Oaks High School. But there’s one exception: Lang Ranch, a group of neighborhoods in eastern Thousand Oaks, feeds into Westlake High instead.
That matters because it gives buyers another way to access Westlake High without paying Westlake Village prices. Homes in Lang Ranch are usually less expensive than comparable homes in Westlake Village, but they come with the same Westlake High feeder pattern.
It’s one of those little local details that can make a big difference depending on what you are prioritizing.
The trade-off is location. Lang Ranch sits further east in Thousand Oaks, so you’re a little further out from our best centers and restaurants.
But for buyers who want Westlake High specifically, Lang Ranch is often the area we end up looking at.
Explore Lang Ranch NeighborhoodsWhat Makes CVUSD Different From the Other Districts?
It has Westlake High. It’s the school most parents in the Conejo Valley point to when they talk about the strongest overall high school experience. Academics are strong, athletics are competitive, the arts programs are serious, and there’s a wide range of electives. It’s the most well-rounded high school in the area.
It’s the most affordable district. CVUSD is also more accessible price-wise than the other districts. Most of Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park is priced lower than comparable homes in Oak Park or the Agoura Hills / Westlake Village areas within LVUSD. You can still land in a very good school zone here without paying the premium that comes with Oak Park.
Another difference is size. CVUSD has 17 elementary schools, which means more neighborhoods, more price points, and more variety in where you can land. The flip side is that the specific school attached to a home matters more here than it does in Oak Park or LVUSD.
Specialized programs exist here too. The district also has a few unique programs worth knowing about. Newbury Park High recently added an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and there are magnet and alternative programs like EARThS that focus on environmental science.
If you’re curious how charter schools fit into the picture, I explain that here:
Who Is CVUSD Right For?
CVUSD is likely a great fit if:
- Westlake High School is the goal and you want the most direct path to it
- You want strong schools without paying the Oak Park price premium
- You’re looking in Thousand Oaks or Newbury Park and want good neighborhood schools at a wider range of price points
- Lang Ranch appeals to you. It’s one of the few areas where you can get Westlake High access at a Thousand Oaks price point
You might weigh other districts if:
- Pure academics are the top priority (Oak Park tends to edge everyone there)
- You prefer a smaller district where every school feels tightly connected
- You’re focused on Agoura Hills or the LA County side of Westlake Village, which fall into LVUSD
Families can apply for interdistrict transfer through the district’s open enrollment process. Learn more Open Enrollment.
Learn more about the other two school districts serving the Conejo Valley:
Oak Park Unified School District (OPUSD) Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD)Explore CVUSD Towns
The three towns within CVUSD each have a distinct character. Westlake Village is polished and lake-focused. Thousand Oaks is the most diverse in terms of neighborhoods, price points, and lifestyle. Newbury Park is more relaxed, more affordable, and more outdoors-oriented.
FAQs About CVUSD
No. Westlake Village is split by the LA County / Ventura County line.
The Ventura County side feeds into CVUSD (and Westlake High). The LA County side feeds into LVUSD (and Agoura High). A Westlake Village address alone doesn’t tell you which district you’re in. I can confirm the district for any address in seconds.
Lang Ranch is the main part of Thousand Oaks that feeds into Westlake High. Most other Thousand Oaks neighborhoods feed into Thousand Oaks High instead.
If Westlake High is the priority, buyers usually focus on Lang Ranch or the Ventura County side of Westlake Village.
Yes. It sometimes gets overshadowed locally because Westlake High gets so much attention, but it’s a strong school with solid academics, athletics, and programs overall. Most families buying in Thousand Oaks feel very comfortable landing here.
CVUSD has a school locator tool that shows the assigned schools by address. Or just ask me.
Yes. Newbury Park High recently added an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and the district also offers magnet programs like EARThS that focus on environmental science. There are more options here than many buyers realize. Conejo Valley Charter Schools
You can apply through the district’s open enrollment process, but acceptance depends on available space. Popular schools, especially those connected to Westlake High, can have waitlists. Buying in the right school zone is always the most reliable option. Learn more open enrollment.
Westlake High has a reputation locally for being the most well-rounded high school in the Conejo Valley. Academics are strong, athletics are competitive, the arts programs are serious, and there’s a wide range of electives and activities.
Because of that reputation, some buyers specifically target neighborhoods that feed into Westlake High. That usually means looking on the Ventura County side of Westlake Village or in the Lang Ranch area of Thousand Oaks.
That said, the other high schools in the district – Thousand Oaks High and Newbury Park High – are still strong schools that most families feel very comfortable with.
Thinking About Buying in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, or Westlake Village?
CVUSD covers a lot of ground, and which neighborhood you land in shapes the school experience more here than in the other two districts. It’s worth sorting out the school piece early in your search — before you fall in love with a house that’s outside the zone you wanted.
How to Choose Between All 5 Conejo Valley Towns
Or reach out directly. Sorting through school boundaries, neighborhood options, and price points across CVUSD is exactly what I do every week.
If you’re relocating and still getting oriented to the area, this guide walks through the towns, neighborhoods, schools, and what it’s like living in the Conejo Valley.
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I’m Michael Rice, the Conejo Valley Guy. I share practical insights about buying, selling, and living in the Conejo Valley based on 25+ years helping clients navigate this market.
If you find this kind of local perspective helpful, you can get future posts and my monthly market update by email.
