Pre-Schools and Day Care Centers
Parents who work need childcare. There are a number of day-care centers in the county from which to choose. Many of the facilities take children as young as a few weeks old. They also offer various pre-school curriculum, music, crafts, motor and social skills, nutritious meals and snacks, nap and play time, etc. Pre-school and day-care centers are required to be licensed.
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| Special Needs Schools There are private and non-profit programs and schools for children and adults with special needs:
For example, the city of Ventura has 11 private elementary schools, Ventura Christian Academy and St. Bonaventure High School.
Adult Schools & Continuing Education Recognizing that adult learning needs are different, Ventura Adult and Continuing Education has designed training programs that are comprehensive, supportive and flexible. Therefore, Ventura adults are offered a wide range of opportunities to further their education through adult schools and continuing education classes. The Technology Development Center works with many businesses and public agencies to provide job-preparation classes from accounting to website design. Financial aid, job placement and career counselors are available to answer any questions students may have.
Colleges & Universities The Ventura County Community College District, with campuses in Ventura, Oxnard and Moorpark, has a total enrollment in excess of 30,000 students. The District Administration Center is located in Camarillo. It serves three two-year campuses in Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura. Ventura College, founded in 1925, is one of the oldest community colleges in California. Moorpark College, established in 1963, opened its doors four years later on 134 acres in the foothills between Moorpark and Simi Valley. Oxnard College, located on 118 acres, opened its doors in 1975 to serve the cities of Oxnard, Camarillo and Port Hueneme. The three two-year colleges offer programs in general education for transfer to four-year universities, occupational and vocational training with certificate programs, guidance assistance, and community service. Both the University of California Santa Barbara and California State University Northridge have off-campus centers in Ventura, each offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a variety of majors. Nearby public universities and their distances from West Ventura are University of California Los Angeles (1.5 hours), University of California Santa Barbara (45 minutes to 1 hour); and California State University, Northridge (1 hour). Nearby private institutions are California Lutheran University (half hour); University of La Verne (half hour); and Pepperdine University in Malibu (1 hour). In 1999 the California State University system opened a new campus, California State University Northridge at Channel Islands, a precursor to California State University, Channel Islands, the newest California State University campus.
CSUCI’s first-year aademic programs include classes in art, biology, business, computer science, English, environmental science & resource management, mathematics, liberal studies and teaching credential. Other colleges of distinction include Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, named one of Insight magazine’s top-15 colleges in the country, and California Lutheran University, which consistently rates among the top-25 colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings. There is no place more satisfying and enriching for everyone — children and parents — than a library. |
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Adults who want to finish high school, study for citizenship exams or take individual classes for personal enrichment will find adult education schools that are located conveniently throughout the county. The list of adult education classes ranges from adult basics and parenting skills to physical fitness and vocational training. In addition, the Learning Edge vehicle will even visit students to tutor them in basic citizenship skills, English as a Second Language, and math.
CSUCI opened in the fall of 2002 with approximately 1,320 full-time transfer students enrolled for its first year. Freshmen were admitted in fall 2003. When the first four-year class graduates, total enrollment is projected to be more than 4,000. At full capacity in 2025, CSUCI will serve more than 15,000 full-time equivalent students, many of whom will be the first in their families to attend a university. The university is located at 1 University Drive in Camarillo.