School Closures Advisory Committee Continues Review of Enrollment and School Capacity

At its second meeting on April 23, 2026, the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) School Closures Advisory Committee continued its work to better understand how declining enrollment is impacting schools across the district. The committee reviewed updated data and began a detailed evaluation process for each school site.

Reviewing Enrollment and Capacity

The committee examined current and projected enrollment trends, which show a continued decline over time. District enrollment is projected to reach approximately 12,600 students by the 2031–32 school year.

Members also reviewed school capacity across the district. This included:

• Permanent classroom capacity (brick-and-mortar buildings)
• Total capacity, which includes both permanent buildings and portable classrooms

The data shows that many schools are currently operating below capacity, with some sites significantly underutilized.

Looking at School-Specific Data

To better understand each campus, the committee reviewed detailed information for every school, including:

• Enrollment projections
• Student transfer patterns
• Demographic data
• The impact of housing trends and birth rates

This information is helping the committee build a comprehensive picture of how each school is being used today and what future needs may look like.

Scoring and Ranking Process Begins

During this meeting, the committee worked through six evaluation criteria used to assess each school site. Members:

• Reviewed each criterion in detail
• Discussed the data as a group
• Reached consensus on scores and rankings for each school in each category

These scores and rankings are included in the official meeting materials.

A Process Still in Progress

This work is part of a multi-step process. The committee will continue evaluating schools across additional criteria in future meetings.

No decisions have been made. As previously shared, Buena High School and Ventura High School are not being considered for closure. All other schools remain under review as part of this process.

What’s Next

The committee will continue gathering information to inform its work:

• Meeting 3: The Facilities team will present how spaces are currently used at each campus, including classroom use and overall site functionality.
• Meeting 4: Educational Services will present on programs offered at each school, including specialized programs, and whether those programs could realistically be relocated if needed.

Meeting materials, including agendas and supporting documents, are available on the School Closures Advisory Committee webpage, .