Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.
- Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue
A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.
Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.
- Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness
Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.
Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.
- Direct Employment and Local Spending
Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.
Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.
- Reducing Long-Term Public Costs
Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.
Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.
- Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses
Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.
Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.
Conclusion
The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.
The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.
Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
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Cuyama Joint Unified School District |
El Tejon Unified School District |
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Las Virgenes Unified School District |
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Ojai Unified School District |
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Fillmore Unified School District |
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Oak Park Unified School District |
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Santa Paula Unified School District |
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Moorpark Unified School District |
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Ventura Unified School District |
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Simi Valley Unified School District |
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Conejo Valley Unified School District |
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Grade Span of Agency Number of Schools Total Classroom Teachers Student/Teachers
Prekindergarten Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 PK thru 12 Students Ungraded Students Adult Education and Other Students Special Ed IEP Students Total Students
White Black Asian Hispanic Native American Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Undefined or Multiple Races
Prekindergarten Teachers Kindergarten Teachers Elementary Teachers Secondary Teachers Ungraded Class Teachers Total FTE Teachers
Elementary School Counselors Secondary School Counselors School Counselors Total Counselors
School Administrators School Administrative Support Staff Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff Student Support Services Staff Librarians/media specialists Library/Media Support Staff School Psychologists Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides Total School Staff
LEA Administrators LEA Administrative Support Staff Total LEA Staff
All Other Support Staff Total Other Staff
|
KG-12
27
763
21.16
0
1,466
926
955
1,064
1,052
1,018
1,090
1,153
1,213
1,365
1,444
1,579
1,674
15,999
0
0
144
16,143
7,843
191
1,559
5,218
41
30
1,093
0
76
404
283
0
763
9
19
10
38
54
111
3
31
2
0
25
144
367
18
79
100
282
282 |
KG-12
27
704
22.65
0
1,589
1,047
1,019
1,092
1,144
1,095
1,124
1,135
1,158
1,215
1,259
1,307
1,493
15,677
0
0
267
15,944
6,229
230
1,530
6,915
14
28
710
0
77
391
236
0
704
13
16
3
32
41
100
6
41
0
0
16
267
465
15
66
87
309
309 |
KG-12
27
600
24.78
0
1,152
917
1,027
1,095
1,069
1,060
1,076
1,066
1,092
1,284
1,255
1,248
1,331
14,672
0
0
199
14,871
5,127
164
501
8,149
48
27
622
0
54
332
214
0
600
26
25
3
54
43
84
13
47
4
0
29
199
405
15
19
47
440
440 |
KG-12
10
245
23.78
0
582
385
391
398
432
426
376
437
399
459
485
497
482
5,749
0
0
77
5,826
2,086
51
368
2,939
6
10
286
0
29
141
75
0
245
10
7
1
18
22
29
0
15
1
0
8
77
152
8
17
25
143
143 |
KG-12
10
227
21.64
0
462
298
301
321
320
318
332
318
354
406
415
444
519
4,808
0
0
104
4,912
178
13
23
4,563
6
4
21
0
26
119
82
0
227
11
8
5
24
16
35
0
7
1
0
10
104
173
10
46
56
115
115 |
KG-12
8
182
24.24
0
352
236
255
279
261
288
367
340
382
391
412
392
383
4,338
0
0
74
4,412
2,254
60
1,144
490
5
12
366
0
16
95
71
0
182
8
8
1
17
9
16
3
6
0
0
6
74
111
7
15
25
86
86 |
KG-12
9
173
21.65
0
386
272
268
278
283
282
260
276
276
260
270
280
303
3,694
0
0
51
3,745
183
8
35
3,431
7
0
30
0
21
99
53
0
173
7
6
1
14
13
32
0
9
0
0
5
51
110
7
15
22
87
87 |
KG-12
8
98
21.83
0
218
117
136
139
136
159
134
154
158
176
160
192
206
2,085
0
0
54
2,139
1,111
17
31
823
6
2
88
0
11
46
41
0
98
0
3
0
3
8
12
0
2
0
0
5
54
81
3
12
15
68
68 |
KG-12
17
397
24.58
0
869
538
628
609
626
666
737
746
778
844
813
890
916
9,660
0
0
97
9,757
6,479
178
574
1,405
31
9
977
0
41
219
137
0
397
15
7
2
24
22
40
6
16
1
0
16
97
191
6
27
39
215
215 |
KG-12
3
36
20.20
0
71
44
40
52
45
50
55
52
61
57
58
63
64
712
0
0
15
727
307
6
15
347
5
3
27
0
4
20
12
0
36
0
0
0
0
3
7
0
0
0
0
1
15
26
1
7
7
36
36 |
KG-12
3
10
17.48
0
8
13
12
17
9
15
6
16
12
16
16
16
15
171
0
0
4
175
38
0
0
129
0
0
4
0
1
5
4
0
10
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
4
6
1
2
2
3
3 |
Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus
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