Conejo Valley’s private schools provide students with a range of offerings in addition to strong, academic curriculums.
Ascension Lutheran School
Ascension Lutheran offers transitional kindergarten through 8th grade and is committed to growing the next generation of bold, compassionate leaders.
“Students thrive in a caring Christian community where they are challenged academically through an educational approach that focuses on the whole child,” says Principal Karen Jonas. “The result is graduates who are servant-minded confident leaders who prove to be high achievers in high school and beyond.”
Special programs include the outdoor classroom and organic teaching garden, dynamic nature-based learning spaces that instill a sense of stewardship for God's world while inspiring creativity.
“Math, science, art, literature and entrepreneurship are a few of the skills enriched through outdoor learning experiences,” Jonas says.
Additionally, the Makerspace is where students develop 21st-century skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, persistence and collaboration through hands-on learning and exploration.
Technology is integrated at all grade levels. For instance, an interactive board and Apple TV capabilities are used in all classrooms, and a MacBook Pro Mobile Computer Lab provides additional options.
Ascension also participates in the Tri-Valley Christian Athletic League with sports teams for Grades 5 through 8.
“More than 60% of students choose to participate in at least one sport,” says Jonas, noting the school offers teams for football, volleyball, basketball, soccer and co-ed volleyball.
Research shows there are many benefits for students who experience a transitional kindergarten through 8th grade learning environment, she adds.
“As children grow through our program each year at Ascension, we are instilling in them a love of learning and a foundation of leadership coupled with a passion for service,” Jonas says. “As a result, our graduates leave here as confident leaders who have a clear sense of who they are and how they want to make a difference in the world.”
Ascension Lutheran School is located at 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. Call 805.496.2419 or visit ALSchool.org/ to learn more.
La Reina High School and Middle School
La Reina offers an educational environment that gives every girl a chance to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
“With an average class size of 20, students at La Reina are guaranteed individual attention, ensuring that they develop their natural gifts and excel academically,” says Renee Biezins, Director of Admissions.
Teachers at La Reina are experts in girls’ education—and the results speak for themselves.
“La Reina students outperform their public school peers on several key metrics, including earning SAT scores that are 195 points above the national average and having a 100% acceptance rate to 4-year colleges and universities,” Biezins says. “Additionally, graduates of La Reina are more than twice as likely as their peers to choose to major in STEM fields in college or university.”
La Reina’s flagship program is its English Department, which offers vigorous college-prep and AP courses that encourage students to hone their writing skills and reasoning capacity, and to find their voice.
La Reina also offers award-winning speech, debate and mock trial programs as co-curriculars.
“With fewer than 20% of public schools offering speech and debate, La Reina students have a clear advantage in these important areas,” says Biezins.
La Reina’s mock trial team is one of the most successful teams in California, having won the Ventura County Championship 21 times, the State Championship four times and the World Championship twice.
“Similarly, our speech and debate team is ranked in the top 10% nationally,” Biezins says.
The girls at La Reina also thrive in other school offerings, including the academic decathlon team, as well as their Catholic education, which encourages community service.
“At La Reina High School and Middle School, we educate the whole girl—mind, body and spirit,” Biezins emphasizes. “By offering girls a challenging curriculum, diverse co-curricular activities, competitive athletics and hands-on learning opportunities, La Reina develops competent, confident and compassionate leaders, ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.”
La Reina High School and Middle School is located at 106 W. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. Contact them at 805.495.6494 or visit LaReina.com.
Oaks Christian School
Oaks Christian School is built on three pillars—academic excellence, artistic expression and athletic distinction—and has grown at a phenomenal rate since its founding, adding unique programs and opportunities for its ever-growing student body.
“Oaks Christian has stayed true to its founding mission of ‘preparing minds for leadership and hearts for service’,” says Maria Cowell, Director of Communications and Media Relations. “We are unique in that we are able to offer an outstanding education that is recognized nationally, while maintaining our core values and perspective.”
Besides a strong academic core, some unique high school offerings include entrepreneurial leadership and film academies that pair students with business mentors and industry leaders in real-life projects.
Additionally, both the middle and high school feature state-of-the-art Makerspace innovation labs where students participate in problem-solving and hands-on activities that foster design skills and creativity.
This fall, Oaks Christian will open an IDEA Lab (Innovation, Design, Engineering and Aeronautics). The central hub is the 4,000-square-foot fabrication lab for metal and wood fabrication machines, 3D printers. Students can create robots, aerial and underwater drones, rockets and even basic prosthetics.
The IDEA Lab will also house five classrooms: physics, robotics, electrical engineering, computer science and a flex classroom.
“With the advent of internet search engines, it isn’t enough to just recall facts and information. Students need to possess skills and talents that involve 21st century critical thinking, a curious and innovative spirit, grit, collaboration and strong character,” says Associate Head of School for Academics Dr. Matt Northrop.
The Engineering Department will provide four pathways: aerospace and rocketry, robotics, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. In addition to the program that already exists in the middle school, the middle school robotics team will have access to the new VEX robotics lab.
A residential hall housing approximately 160 domestic and international students is slated as the campus’ newest addition in 2019.
Oaks Christian School is located at 31749 La Tienda Drive in Westlake Village. For more information, call 818.575.9900 or visit OaksChristian.org/.
