Ojai Unified School District

What Ojai Unified School District does

Ojai Unified School District is a public K-12 school district serving the Ojai Valley in Ventura County, California, operating eight school sites that span preschool through high school, including Nordhoff Junior High & High School, two elementary schools (Mira Monte, Topa Topa), an early education center (Meiners Oaks), an alternative high school (Legacy), an independent study program (Summit), and an adult education program (Ojai Adult School). The district also operates supporting service lines including Child Nutrition Services, Transportation, Mental Health Services, Special Education, Multilingual Learners, and Career Technical Education Pathways. Its enrollment is geographically defined by attendance boundaries, with intradistrict and interdistrict transfer options available.

The district's technology stack is built on commodity education platforms: Google Apps for Education serves as the core communication and collaboration environment, Canvas (Instructure) operates as the learning management system, and Apptegy powers the public-facing website and mobile apps. Supplemental integrations include Edgenuity for online coursework, Frontline Education for substitute teacher management, Facilitron for facility reservations, Parent Connect/Student Connect for grade access, EdJoin for recruitment, and Quality Bidders for construction procurement. The district holds no proprietary technology and operates no APIs or developer-facing platform.

Financially, Ojai Unified School District is a public government entity funded through California state aid, local property taxes, and voter-approved general obligation bonds. It has raised $80 million in cumulative bond funding across Measure J ($35M in 2014) and Measure K ($45M in November 2020), with more than 50 construction projects completed and additional large projects in progress. The district is governed by a five-member elected Board of Education, with Dr. Sherrill Knox serving as Superintendent since July 2023, and is subject to Williams Lawsuit settlement compliance and Citizens' Oversight Committee governance for bond expenditures.

Name

Ojai Unified School District

Legal name

Ojai Unified School District

Website

https://ojaiusd.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ojai Unified School District is a public K-12 school district operating eight school sites across Ventura County, California, serving preschool through adult education students funded via state aid, property taxes, and voter-approved bonds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• School district services
• Early childhood education
• Special education programs
• Adult education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ojai

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Bond Measures (Measure J and Measure K): General obligation bonds approved by the community for facility construction and renovation projects. Measure J (2014): $35,000,000 for repairs and upgrades. Measure K (2020): $45,000,000 general obligation bond.
2. State and Federal Education Funding: Annual funding from California state budget and federal education programs including Title I, Title IX, and other categorical programs.
3. Local Property Taxes: Local property tax revenues supporting school district operations and debt service for bond measures.
4. Education Protection Account (EPA): State funding from Proposition 30/55 deposited into EPA; 89% for K-12 education, 11% for community colleges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ojai Unified School District is a public K-12 school district that provides comprehensive educational services to students from preschool through adult education across 8 school sites in the Ojai Valley of Ventura County, California. Core offerings include early education, elementary education, junior high and high school instruction, alternative education, independent study, adult education, and supplemental support services such as special education, mental health counseling, multilingual learner support, transportation, and child nutrition. The district is government-funded and serves in-district students tuition-free, with additional services offered to the broader community such as summer swim programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nordhoff: Nordhoff Junior High & High School serving grades 7-12
• Legacy High School
• Ojai Adult Education

Products and services

• Nordhoff Junior High & High School Comprehensive 7th-12th grade public junior high and high school providing college preparatory education, athletics, arts programs, Career Technical Education pathways, and Advanced Placement courses for students in the Ojai Valley.
• Legacy High School Alternative high school program offering an alternative educational pathway for students seeking non-traditional high school settings within the Ojai Valley.
• Meiners Oaks Early Education School Early education center offering preschool programs for children ages 2-3 and transitional kindergarten for children turning 4 by September 1, operated by Ojai Unified School District.
• Mira Monte Elementary School Public elementary school serving students in kindergarten through 6th grade at a site located in the Mira Monte community.
• Topa Topa Elementary School Public elementary school serving students in kindergarten through 6th grade within the Ojai Unified School District.
• Summit School Independent study program offering personalized education for students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, providing flexible learning pathways outside the traditional classroom setting.
• Ojai Adult School Adult education program offering continuing education, GED preparation, ESL courses, and vocational training for adult learners in the Ojai Valley community.
• Nordhoff Aquatic Center Public swimming facility open during summer months offering open swim hours for community use at $5 per person, with free admission for children under 2.
• Mental Health Services School-based counseling services for students K-12th grade, including individual and group counseling on stress, anxiety, depression, and social relationships, provided under clinical supervision.
• Child Nutrition Services District meal program providing breakfast and lunch to students, with special diet accommodations available for students with food allergies or intolerances and free and reduced-price meal options.
• Transportation Services Bus transportation services for students including routing, transportation requests, and safety protocols for student transport to and from school sites.
• Special Education Services Individualized Education Program (IEP) services providing specialized instruction and support for students with disabilities, coordinated with the Ventura County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).
• Multilingual Learners Program English Language Development (ELD) instruction including Initial and Summative ELPAC testing, structured English immersion, and family support services for emergent bilingual students.
• Career Technical Education Pathways Career Technical Education programs including the Digital Media Academy and other career-focused educational pathways preparing students for the workforce and post-secondary education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates prepared for college and career pathways
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Food For Thought OjaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Garden Education and a garden program at all OUSD elementary schools. Programs provide lessons in nutrition, history, geography, math, and science, integrating hands-on learning with curriculum standards.
• Secure BeginningscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbriendo Las Puertas and Free Diaper Bank programs benefit OUSD families through parent education and resourcing, supporting early childhood development and family stability.
• Ojai Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1993, this 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization supports programs initiated at school sites to improve learning environment, increase instructional effectiveness, and enhance educational experience for students and teachers.
• Ojai Valley Little Library FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstalled Little Free Libraries at Mira Monte Elementary, Meiners Oaks Elementary, Matilija Middle School, Topa Topa Elementary, Summit School, and San Antonio Elementary through grant from Ojai Women's Fund.
• CDR: Head Start PreschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead Start preschools designed to promote school readiness in children ages 2-4 by enhancing physical, social, and cognitive development through educational, health, nutritional, and social services.
• Ojai Family FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% local, volunteer-operated non-profit removing barriers to education and enrichment opportunities for all OUSD students. Donations support emergency needs and subsidize core programs such as CIMI, AP tests, Prom, and Grad night.
• Ventura County Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnering on a joint-use library project at Meiners Oaks Elementary, featuring new storefront windows for indoor/outdoor classroom space.
• Interface Children and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free services for youth in Ventura County including food, hygiene products, clothing, counseling, crisis intervention, and shelter for youth 12-17 years. Operates 24-hour youth crisis hotline at 1-800-636-6738.
• Ventura County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional consortium providing special education services coordination and support for students with disabilities across Ventura County school districts.
• Citizens' Oversight CommitteecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity volunteer committee overseeing administration and execution of Measure J and Measure K bond projects and bond monies, ensuring transparency and compliance with bond requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Emerging players

• KIPP SoCal Public Schools: Charter school network operating tuition-free public schools across Southern California, including in areas adjacent to Ventura County. Comparable as a California public school operator sharing the LCFF funding framework, but differentiated by charter authorization, college-prep focus, and non-traditional district governance.
• Aspire Public Schools: California-based charter public school network operating across multiple counties. Comparable as an alternative public school operator sharing California's LCFF funding framework and serving similar demographics, but differentiated by charter model and emphasis on college-preparatory pathways versus comprehensive K-12.

Direct peers

• Simi Valley Unified School District: Public K-12 school district in Ventura County, California. Highly comparable as a same-county public K-12 district with similar funding, governance, and program portfolio; OUSD's Superintendent Dr. Sherrill Knox previously served Simi Valley USD as Activities Director, Assistant Principal, and Principal, indicating direct labor market and operational overlap.
• Oxnard School District: Public K-8 school district in Ventura County. Comparable as a Ventura County public school district operating under the same LCFF framework; differs in serving only K-8 versus OUSD's K-12+adult education span. Personnel Commissioner David Walker previously served in this district.
• Conejo Valley Unified School District: Public K-12 school district in Ventura County serving Thousand Oaks and surrounding communities. Comparable as a same-county California public K-12 district with bond-funded capital program, comparable LCFF revenue structure, and similar program offerings, though larger in enrollment scale.
• Carpinteria Unified School District: Public K-12 school district in Santa Barbara County serving the Carpinteria Valley. Comparable as a small California coastal-valley public school district with similar catchment geography, demographic profile, and program offerings (CTE, special education, adult education).
• Ventura Unified School District: Public K-12 school district serving the city of Ventura in Ventura County, California. Directly comparable to OUSD as a same-county California public school district with the same LCFF funding model, elected board governance, and full program offerings (CTE, special education, adult education). Closest functional peer for benchmarking academic, operational, and financial outcomes.
• Oak Park Unified School District: Small public K-12 school district in Ventura County, California. Highly comparable to OUSD in enrollment scale, single-valley geographic catchment, affluent demographic profile, community-funded bond model, and program portfolio — likely the closest peer for per-pupil cost and outcome benchmarking.

Broad incumbents

• Ventura County Office of Education: County-level education agency providing oversight, special education coordination, and shared services to all Ventura County school districts including OUSD. Relevant as the regulatory body coordinating SELPA special education services and other inter-district programs that OUSD depends on.
• Los Angeles Unified School District: Second-largest public school district in the United States, operating across Los Angeles. Relevant as a broader California public school district incumbent sharing the same LCFF funding model, Williams settlement compliance requirements, and regulatory framework, though vastly larger in scale and serving a far more diverse urban population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OjaiUnified
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEoJXGz1up7WOIlEokVnghQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ojaiusd.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/ousdcommunications
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ojai-unified-school-district

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ojai Unified School District