Ventura County Area Schools in U.S. News 2015 Ranking of Nation's Top High Schools

In May, U.S. News & World Report published its 2015 ranking of the nation's best public high schools. The rankings were based on data from 29,070 public high schools and from that total, 19,753 schools with high enough enrollment and sufficient data to be ranked.

As in 2012, 2013 and 2014, schools were ranked based on: (1) how well students tested in state-level reading and math proficiency*, taking into account disadvantaged student scores (who tend to score lower on tests); and (2) college readiness index (CRI), based on how well schools prepare students for college-level work.

* However, in 2015, the threshold for determining performance was reduced from 1/2 to 1/3rd of a standard deviation about the average school; this was done to reduce year-over-year volatility of the rankings.

The median CRI, measured on a scale of 0 to 100, was 19.42 (it was 18.17, 14.8 and 16.3 in 2014, 2013 and 2012 - looks like a positive trend). A CRI of 100 means that all 12th graders took and passed at least 1 Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test.

There were 2,199 California high schools and over 2 million students enrolled during the 2012-2013 survey period. To be ranked in California, schools must receive either a gold (top 500 nationally) or silver (top 501 to 2,527 nationally) medal, representing schools with CRI values at or above the 19.42 median.

Rankings of local high schools in the Conejo Valley, Ventura County and adjacent areas and summarized in the table above. There were 17 local schools that received gold or silver medal status and thus were ranked nationally and in California.  

Topping the local school rankings was Malibu High School at #68 in the state, leapfrogging Westlake High School (#76) and Foothill Technology High School (which was the top local area school the last two years). Rounding out the top 5 were Oak Park and Moorpark. 

Overall, our local schools did great. Aggregate College Readiness scores jumped by 4 1/2% as compared to the previous year.

While the rankings and underlying detailed information are interesting and informative, before coming to any conclusions, do check out the detailed school information available at www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california.

First Rainstorm of Fall 2015 Brings Rainbows to Ventura County

Kevin Herold of Oak Park captured this promising looking full rainbow in Oak Park yesterday, the 2nd and final day of clouds and light rains here in the Conejo Valley, Ventura County area. Although this fickle weather we're seeing is forecast to jump towards triple digit heat yet again towards the weekend, we were happy to see the rain and rainbows and hopeful for much more to come.

Ventura County Sheriff's Office Releases Crime Data For First Half of 2015

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has released its six-month 2015 Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) statistics for "Part I" Crimes in all Sheriff’s jurisdictions. Overall, Part I Crimes are up 8%, specifically Violent Crime is up 30% and Property Crime is up 6% for the period January through June 2015.

Violent crime was up in all categories in the contract cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai and unincorporated areas. The city of Moorpark had no increase and Thousand Oaks had a decline.

The cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, and Moorpark saw significant increases in burglaries, both residential and commercial type. Additionally, all jurisdictions saw an increase in stolen vehicles, with the exception of Ojai.

The city of Ojai had significant declines in all property crimes with the exception of residential burglaries. Although the city of Thousand Oaks showed a decline in overall violent crimes, property crimes increased in the areas of grand/petty thefts and stolen vehicles. The unincorporated areas experienced increases in all violent and property crime categories with the exception of Grand Thefts.

The Sheriff’s jurisdictions are experiencing gang “crew” members from outside Ventura County coming in and committing residential burglaries and other thefts. Several of these crews committed “knock knock” burglaries and were apprehended after extensive investigations by investigators. Additionally, one person was arrested for approx. 8 robberies in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Los Angeles. Much of the increase in Aggravated Assaults was due to these robberies and Domestic Violence.

As a reminder, in January of 2014, the definition for Rape changed and the UCR Program started collecting uniform information from law enforcement agencies with the new definition which broadened the scope of the previously narrow definition. For more information about this change, visit www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/new-rape-fact-sheet.

This new definition redistributed currently captured crime information from the category Part II “Sex Offenses” to the category Part I “Rape.” As predicted, this category in Part 1 showed a significant increase.

Although the Sheriff’s Office has recorded an increase in Part 1 crimes for the first six months, Ventura County is still a very safe area to live in. From 2010 to 2014, total Part 1 crimes for Sheriff’s jurisdictions have dropped almost 4%, a total of 1,291 less crimes. During the same time period, the crime rate per 1000 population went from 16.61 to 12.56. Listed below are the crime rates per 1000 for each of the Sheriff’s jurisdictions for the past five years:

As to Proposition 47's consequences, both intended and unintended, they are only beginning to be evaluated. Early indications show that it has not reduced jail populations and has put offenders back out on the streets sooner without the requirement of being on probation or attending substance abuse classes. Sheriff Dean is coordinating on a statewide level through the California State Sheriff’s Association on the identification, retention and collection of Proposition 47 related data and the results will be distributed.

The Sheriff's Office encourages people to actively report suspicious and/or criminal activity immediately by calling 9-1-1. Non-emergency reports can be made through the Sheriff’s Communication Center at (805) 654-9511.

Source: local.nixle.com/alert/5484889

Firefighter Cyclists Passing through Malibu Today for Cancer Awareness Ride

Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography happened to be on PCH in Malibu today when these firefighters came cycling by from the north. They were escorted by a fire truck from Malibu Fire Station #99, the westernmost fire station in Los Angeles County.

This was a group of firefighter cyclists that are part of the National Fire Velo Cycling Club that were on a one week ride from San Francisco Bay to Los Angeles as part of a "Fire Service Cancer Awareness" ride. Today is the final day of their ride, which ends at the Santa Monica Pier.

Visit their Facebook page to learn more, or visit www.firevelo.com.

Meet Clarence the 85 Year Old Galapagos Tortoise at Moorpark College's America's Teaching Zoo

The Exotic Animal Training and Management Program was established at Moorpark College in 1974. Since then, hundreds of students have graduated from the program. Over 150 wild, exotic animals now live on a five acre site overlooking Moorpark College in what is called "America's Teaching Zoo."

The Zoo is open every weekend from 11 am to 5 pm and admission is only $8 for adults, $6 for kids 2 and up and seniors (as of September 2015). Some of the animals you'll encounter are a water buffalo, reptiles, exotic birds, monkeys, lemurs, bobcats, baboons, hyenas, lions and much more.  You'll enjoy the animal shows led by zookeepers in training and live carnivore feeding demonstrations.

One of my family's favorites is Clarence the Galapagos Tortoise. The Galapagos Tortoise is the largest living tortoise, originating from the Galapagos Islands off the coast of South America. Clarence happily weighs in around 500 lbs and seems quite content living in Moorpark.  He is pretty friendly.

Here is an updated photo of Clarence at age 90 in 2015...looking good!

Clarence we discovered is about 85 years old and originally came to this country in 1928 on an expedition by C. H. Townsend, Director of the New York Aquarium, along with 107 of his buddies, in an effort to help save this critically endangered species. Clarence lived for awhile at the Houston Zoo and later moved to the L.A. Zoo. He has been on indefinite loan to America's Teaching Zoo since 2001. Amazingly, Clarence is expected to live another 100 years or so! (Must be his healthy vegan diet or something!)

So stop by and say hello to Clarence and his pals at America's Teaching Zoo. This is not a fancy zoo, but the students, faculty and staff of Ventura County's only zoo love what they do and you will enjoy checking it out, with or without the kids.

California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks Operations Center Located Next to Civic Arts Plaza

NOTE: CMATO moved to a new location at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks in November 2018.

The California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks (CMATO) will provide a world-class cultural experience for visitors and locals alike. Artists, educators, lovers of art, tourists, students and the general public will appreciate the world-class exhibitions of paintings, sculpture, photography, music, drama and dance. CMATO will be located at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza west of City Hall and the Performing Arts Center.

Earlier in 2015, CMATO moved into 1948 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, an interim museum space in what was formerly a Taco Bell location (and more recently a wine store).  The space is being remodeled to create a small multi-purpose gallery in the front portion of the building and office space area in the back. 

The space will provide a place to plan and gain support for the permanent CMATO, which over the next three to five years is in pre-construction phase of development.

CMATO is constantly seeking new members and donors to as they work towards bringing a world-class art venue to the Conejo Valley and the entire region. To learn more, visit www.cmato.org.