Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education, Camarillo CA

Original Research by School Decision on Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education

Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education is a charter school operating K through 12 in a suburban Ventura County setting. The school runs as a single unified school rather than separate campuses, with on-site classes for K through grade 8 and an online high school program for grades 9 through 12 delivered through a partnership with Pearson Connexus.

The school enrolls a moderate total population across all grades, with fairly even distribution through the elementary and middle school years. Just a small handful of students are currently in the high school grades, reflecting the school's recent expansion to add a 9-12 program; previously, the school served only through eighth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with substantial Hispanic and Asian enrollment and a smaller share of students from other backgrounds. About one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.

State testing data shows solid performance across tested grades and subjects. In English language arts, proficiency runs in the low to mid-80s across elementary and middle grades, with eighth graders performing particularly strongly. Math proficiency ranges from the low-70s in third grade to mid-80s by sixth and eighth grades, settling in the mid-70s at seventh grade. Science results, available for fifth and eighth grades only, show proficiency in the upper-70s in fifth grade and in the upper-80s in eighth grade. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Ventura County school districts.

The school identifies itself as progressive in pedagogy, though specific teaching practices or curriculum details were not available in the data. Its recent addition of a high school program positions it as a pathway that can keep families enrolled from kindergarten through diploma. The high school program emphasizes college readiness, life skills, and internships within an online learning structure, which may appeal to families seeking a different high school model but requires parents to assess whether remote instruction fits their student's learning preferences.

Camarillo itself is a suburban, family-oriented city with a small historic downtown along Ventura Boulevard and substantial new residential development, particularly in planned communities like Springville. Housing values in the area are above the state average. The broader Camarillo economy spans advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, and retail, creating a relatively stable middle-to-upper-middle-class residential base. The city offers walkable amenities concentrated in Old Town and regional transit access through Metrolink service.

A parent considering this school might weigh its above-grade proficiency standing and K-12 continuity against the relative newness of its high school program and the fact that grades 9-12 are delivered online rather than on campus. The school would be a fit for families drawn to progressive pedagogy, seeking single-school K-12 enrollment, or comfortable with remote secondary education.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 373%

School 73% · district not reported

▲ 30 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 475%

School 75% · district not reported

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

Grade 582%

School 82% · district not reported

▲ 51 pts above state median · ▲ 55 pts above county median

Grade 685%

School 85% · district not reported

▲ 55 pts above state median · ▲ 52 pts above county median

Grade 775%

School 75% · district not reported

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

Grade 884%

School 84% · district not reported

▲ 56 pts above state median · ▲ 51 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 371%

School 71% · district not reported

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 488%

School 88% · district not reported

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 44 pts above county median

Grade 588%

School 88% · district not reported

▲ 43 pts above state median · ▲ 43 pts above county median

Grade 686%

School 86% · district not reported

▲ 43 pts above state median · ▲ 45 pts above county median

Grade 783%

School 83% · district not reported

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Grade 892%

School 92% · district not reported

▲ 48 pts above state median · ▲ 50 pts above county median

Science

Grade 579%

School 79% · district not reported

▲ 51 pts above state median · ▲ 50 pts above county median

Grade 887%

School 87% · district not reported

▲ 61 pts above state median · ▲ 54 pts above county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income73%Higher-income71%3 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income87%Higher-income88%2 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income77%Higher-income89%12 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income77%Higher-income98%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income60%Higher-income77%17 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income73%Higher-income84%11 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income62%Higher-income91%29 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income65%Higher-income91%26 pp gap