Homestead (Alternative)

Located at 150 Day Rd., in Ventura, California, Homestead (Alternative) is a tiny elementary-level community that caters to 52 students (grades K through 8), run under Ventura Unified. That puts it 89% below the typical public school in California, which averages around 465 students.

Within Ventura Unified, which oversees 27 schools and 14,346 students, Homestead (Alternative) is one campus in the system.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Homestead (Alternative) reports that 48% of students identify as Hispanic, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Other groups include 40% White, 8% multiracial. That composition is broadly in line with Ventura County as a whole.

On the resource side, On paper, Homestead (Alternative) has 3 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 22.3:1, putting Homestead (Alternative) tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 60% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Zooming out to the county, Ventura County reports that median household earnings sit near $109,797, roughly 36% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Across Ventura County's 238 public schools (combined enrollment of about 147,841 students), Homestead (Alternative) is one campus in the mix.

Foothill Technology High is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.1 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in a downtown setting.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked up 44%: 36 students in 2018 compared to 52 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share expanded from 33% to 48%. The student-to-teacher ratio grew from 10.6:1 in 2018 to 17.2:1 today.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.