River Oaks Academy in Westlake Village

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	8/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
College Readiness	6/10	The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using 2019 SAT percent college ready data from California Department of Education, using 2019 Average ACT score data from California Department of Education, using 2019 ACT percent college ready data from California Department of Education, using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from California Department of Education, using 2025 Percent of students who meet UC/CSU entrance requirements data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 demographic data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth	3/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: May 19, 2023

Homeschooling with ROA. Staff are very friendly and supportive, curriculum is rigorous. Provides variety of classes and activities for homeschoolers.

Posted: May 19, 2023

Our son is a student at River Oaks Academy. His Coaching Teacher is Kathy Jackson.

We cannot say enough good things about ROA. It focuses on the important subjects our son needs: Math, English, History, Chemistry, etc. Because of how ROA is structured, he is positioned to excel because he can do his studies on his own time. That, as well as the fact that he is an athlete which requires much travel, the freedom afforded him allows him to succeed academically and in his athletic pursuits.

We are thrilled with River Oaks Academy and we love being a part of this community.

Craig and Jana Levy

Posted: May 19, 2023

Our family feels very fortunate to have discovered River Oaks Academy. It has been a lifesaver for my child, providing a safe, supportive environment. Here, interests and talents are recognized and celebrated. And we are guided by a wonderful supervisory teacher, Kathy Jackson; she is deeply caring and ensures that academic progress and planning continue on target. Also, River Oaks offers a diversity of workshop opportunities, both virtual and in-person, taught by experienced and engaged instructors. My childs past workshop subjects have included beginning and advanced photography, screenwriting, filmmaking, public speaking, and both creative and academic writing. These supplementary, freely offered classes not only have further developed my childs interests but also have provided the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers. Truly, I would recommend River Oaks to any family that believes their childs needs be them learning, emotional, or safety -- havent been met in their current setting.

Posted: May 19, 2023

Posted: April 9, 2023

River Oaks Academy is a home based program but despite getting full funding for each kid from the state they provide very little in terms of educational resources. You meet monthly with a teacher and your "curriculum" consists of some workbooks the school provides, but there is pretty much nothing in terms of material for science projects or anything hands on. The school runs some enrichment classes for the younger grades but only for around 2/3 of the school year. The enrichment workshops are almost entirely done by vendors the school hires and are more or less the same thing semester to semester which I think gets boring for the kids. They are also non-academic with no serious academic offerings available to the students by the teachers at the school (what are they doing exactly?) To make it even worse the enrichment workshops have limited capacity which they refuse to increase which has meant that many kids get left out. Enrollment for the workshops is done online and you have to fight for them by enrolling the minute enrollment is opened with most of the offerings filling up in 5~10 minutes.

Overall I just found the lack of support and offerings at this school baffling given that they are receiving similar levels of funding for their students as a traditional public school. A student at a traditional school will be receive 5~6 hours of instruction from credentialed teacher but at River Oaks your child gets around 30~40 minutes a month. And then there is the limited capacity on the courses that they do provide which are only done for around 2/3 of the school year. What exactly are the teachers doing here? Why is the school using vendors instead of having their actual teachers run workshops?

For those that are dedicated to home-schooling and want some support I think the charters that provide you with funds that you can spend at vendors are a much better choice. These schools also provide support and educational materials but you have access to a much bigger variety of enrichment courses and won't be left with nothing due to capacity limits.

Posted: April 9, 2023

Posted: February 7, 2022

I never felt that even one single teacher at my sons previous high school had any interest in whether he succeeded in school or not. At River Oaks, I feel that ALL the staff, including the Director, are very vested in ensuring that every student succeeds academically, and emotionally. Some students do just fine in a traditional school setting, and thats great. My childs GPA went up a full 1.0 his first semester at River Oaks, even though he was doing the same curriculum, with the same state standards that he was doing at his traditional high school. I credit this to the nurturing caring staff, and not having the stress and distractions that he had in the traditional high school setting. We have been enrolled in several home school programs in the past, but River Oaks is exceptional in comparison because of their staff involvement, their emphasis on social/emotional health, and the in-person and on-line enrichment class opportunities they offer the students with instructors that are working professionals in their field. Students attend River Oaks for a variety of reasons; some benefit from the individual attention and support available, some children like to be away from the stress of peer-pressure and aggressive classroom environments, some children are world-class athletes and need to have a flexible school schedule. Whatever the reason is that a traditional school is not working the best for your childs academic and emotional needs, River Oaks is an alternative safe environment with high academic standards. I cannot recommend River Oaks enough.

Posted: February 7, 2022

Posted: February 3, 2022

My daughter has been there for a decade since kindergarten. Shes now in high school and weve seen positive changes through the years. My daughter absolutely loves the school, friends, and staff. Her mentor/teachers are a great encouragement and the academic program is wonderful. They strive to help your kids' passions and are always open to suggestions.
ROA and my family are structured. Parents always need to be involved with the kids' schooling. We always have great communication with our mentor and the school.

They have amazing workshops! The kids will suggest a class/forum club and ROA will see if they can provide it. Covid has brought changes such as the rest of the world.
ROA has strived to make the online and workshop classes interesting during these times.
Were proud of ROA also opening a new 2nd facility! It shows how much the school has established. Though it is a small school, it allows for a lower student-to-teacher ratio, giving kids more confidence when asking questions, engaging in group activities, and opportunities for one-on-one time with the teachers. The administration is open-minded and thinks outside the box to make ROA a successful educational experience for the students.

ROA brings out the best in every child by tapping into their individual strengths while creating an environment of kindness, responsibility, and leadership. Education has been a very positive experience for our family and were very grateful for them! :D

Posted: February 3, 2022

Posted: March 19, 2021

My son attended River Oaks from the second half of Freshman year through now (his senior year). We wanted to create a more custom learning experience where he would have the time for extra STEM electives and college classes. He was able to take programming, FAA drone flying, get Microsoft certification, his auto technician certification will be completed in May and this year he has taken college classes. His supervising teaching was amazing at teaching him to be an independent learner. She worked hard with us to find effective systems to keep him on track and up to date in classes which I was worried about in a system where they meet less. The counselor is also amazing and helped us so much with applications, SAT cancellations and was also there just to talk and support my son through Covid. If I had one fear about home school it was that colleges would look at it as easier, not the case. However the unique curriculum River Oaks allowed for gave him a really unique college application. He got into his top choice but also all of his other choices!

Posted: March 19, 2021

Posted: March 7, 2019

My experience at this school was sub par. Due to personal circumstances, we needed to pull our kids out of this school and place them in public schools. Ultimately, our children were not prepared for the rigor that public school places on students, nor was our oldest prepared to graduate with the required A-G requirements needed for UC college applications.

Posted: May 22, 2018

We have been at River Oaks for four years and have never seen any bullying of any kind.

Posted: May 22, 2018

Our overall experience at River Oaks Academy has been excellent! My son attended all 4 years of high school at ROA and got accepted into his first choice college! His teacher and high school counselor supported and encouraged him every step of the way, and they were there for me as a parent, too, whenever I had questions or doubts or needed help with anything. They both truly went above and beyond to help us navigate the high school years and make sure he was prepared for college, since they knew that was his goal. My younger child has her own unique set of goals, and her teacher has always gone above and beyond to support her following her passions, too! Going to River Oaks has given them both opportunities, and opened doors for them to do things they never would have been able to do if they attended a traditional school. We are very happy they had the chance to attend ROA!

Posted: May 22, 2018

Home work is not an issue all work is done in class

Posted: May 22, 2018

The teachers really care about their students.

Posted: May 22, 2018

This school has a great atmosphere of learning. The teachers care about each students eduction. We have been working with ROA for five years they really make a difference one child at a time.

Posted: November 7, 2017

This is our first year at ROA. The best decision we have ever made. This school is amazing! Both our kids love this school, because their teachers have a passion for teaching and care about their students. The staff here is very professional and kind. They make an effort to learn all the students' and parents' names, and provide so much support/resources. Students are kind, respectful, polite, and no bad language or bullying! We couldn't have selected a better program as a first time homeschooler! This school has been a Blessing for our family.

Posted: November 7, 2017

Posted: September 21, 2017

Excellent School environment. They take students who are struggling in the traditional school setting and help bring them up to and in many cases exceed the levels of other schools. My son when here did very well went on to CLU and received a 1/2 scholarship for academics and graduated from CLU last June with honors.

Posted: April 20, 2017

My daughter has grown immensely in the importance of compassion for others and respect because that they model.

Posted: April 20, 2017

Claudia runs a well oiled educational program with care, compassion and support.

Posted: April 20, 2017

Yes, my daughter has an IEP and was tested at the 3rd grade level at the beginning of the year and is now at her grade level

Posted: April 20, 2017

Absolutely, bullying is not acceptable here and any sign of bullying is nipped in the bud with love and compassion.

Posted: April 20, 2017

This school is an all around 10 for us. We tried another independent school last year and were not happy with the results we will continue with this school for as long as we continue to get the same results and support.

Posted: April 20, 2017

The school is able to learn how the the student learns and is able to create a specific learning program for them.

Posted: April 20, 2017

If one way doesn't work with the student they will bend over backwards to find another way. they don't give up on them.

Posted: March 29, 2017

My son is in 10th grade and this is our second year at River Oaks. It has been a great experience. We appreciate the one-on-one time that his teacher can spend with my son. In addition to regular classes, there are many workshops to choose from. The counselor helps prepare the students for college. We are very happy here and highly recommend this school!

Posted: March 23, 2017

First year homeschooling and I think the school is great! My daughters teacher comes to our house. The free workshops and the free tutoring are amazing! She can go at her own pace and not be left behind like she was in a large classroom at her previous school.

Posted: March 23, 2017

Posted: March 21, 2017

This is our first year homeschooling and being a part of River Oaks family has been a blessing. The teachers get to know the children and help each family according to their specific needs.

Posted: March 21, 2017

Didn't see any bullying. The chidren are very considerate of each other.

Posted: March 21, 2017

River Oaks Academy has a great approach to homeschooling. There's enough support for parents and many opportunities for children to meet and socialize.

Posted: June 4, 2016

ROA is an amazing school that provides meaningful support and resources to its families. We highly recommend it and look forward to another great year!

Posted: June 4, 2016

We've just finished our first year of homeschool. ROA was the perfect choice to accommodate our son for kindergarten. It's given him, and us, all the support and resources we've needed and wanted to truly customize an education that works well for our family. We've been thrilled with our turn-in teacher, as well as the teachers for the workshops he's taken. It's been an incredibly positive experience, allowing him to feel plugged into a school community, but work at a pace and with material that's right for him. We couldn't be happier with ROA, and look forward to first grade!

Posted: June 3, 2016

This year was our first year homeschooling 3 of our 4 kids, TK, 4th and 6th. My husband and I have always talked about going down this path and struggled to make a decision for a long time due to "fear". To be honest I thought it was going to be too hard, comparing all the hours my kids were going to public school in a day and not being a certified teacher scared me. We had good teacher experiences in public schools but sadly not child social experiences in school! So to make a long, long story short we had to make a decision. We took a deep breathe and dived into homeschooling head first. We can truly say it was the best decision we ever made!! I have found over the year that you "DON'T have to be a certified teacher and it doesn't take 6-7 hours of my day.. It is so much easier in all aspects of life I can't say it enough!! I wish I wasn't so fearful before and my only regret is that I wish I had started this earlier. Needless to say I will be homeschooling all 4 next year. :) Thank you to our wonderful teacher Mrs. Teri that is helping us on this journey and to the ROA staff for all your kindness and support in every way to show that anyone can do this.

Posted: May 26, 2016

The teachers here really work to create a customized program based on each child's needs.

Posted: May 26, 2016

River Oaks is a great school for people who want to begin home schooling, but aren't sure where to start. They provide curriculum guidelines by grade and have lots of resources (textbooks, workbooks, DVDs, access to online educational sites). The teachers are caring and supportive and help you design a customized educational program for your child, and are always willing to find alternatives if you are having difficulty with something. The school also holds group workshop classes in various subjects, from sketching to science labs to Latin.

Posted: March 31, 2016

The most support iprovided in any school we've been to. Attentive and responsive staff. Friendly, active families. A great public school for progressive learning.

Posted: June 5, 2015

My daughter has been in three other independent study programs and River Oaks Academy was by far the best experience for her. The entire staff is so friendly and helpful, and her supervising teacher Maria was so great to work with. She helped my daughter learn to take ownership of her work, and helped create a curriculum based on my daughters interests. She also attended workshops in writing, Robotics, and animal behavior. I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a supportive, customized educational and fun program for their child.

Posted: June 1, 2015

River Oaks Academy has been a wonderful alternative to our Malibu public school. My son's teacher, Kathy, is warm and supportive and exactly the person my son needed after a disheartening and negative traditional school experience. The administration is intelligent and views parents as partners in education. The workshops offered on campus are amazing - high quality with teachers who are passionate about the material. In particular, my son has enjoyed the Spanish, robotics, and Minecraft modding workshops. It reminds me of a little university, with varied and interesting classes offered by specialized educators.
Furthermore, there is a wonderful and supportive parent community. Initially, I found homeschooling to be a daunting prospect, but with the support of the school and the other parents there it has been a wonderful experience.

Posted: June 1, 2015

The 2014/2015 school year was our first time home schooling. Everyone at River Oaks made the transition so simple for us. They answered all of my question and welcomed my son and I with open arms. Ms. Leina is an amazing advocate, she is so caring and easy to communicate with. We are looking forward to another year.

Posted: September 10, 2014

I am very happy to have my daughter enrolled in River Oaks because she is able to design a course of study she loves and she has time to persue musical interests. Our teacher, Kathy, is wonderful. Patient and encouraging and ready to guide us. We are brand new to homeschooling and coming from a public High School we are so happy!!

Posted: September 5, 2014

My son was having trouble at school and I was searching for an alternative. To my surprise we were not welcome or greeted kindly as I tried to enroll him in multiple public high schools in the area. Granted we were out of District and it was the middle of the year. ROA welcomed us with open arms ! He excelled with independent study His teacher Kathy was more then Helpful. She challenged him every chance she could. Encouraging him to work to his potential. She gave him personal attention, attending outside interest. He attended the workshops in order to have some social time with other kids. Chemistry, Photography and Spanish. The work shops were interesting and fun. He enjoyed going to them and made a few friends he looked forward to seeing. The administration staff were well organized, helpful and kind and they always new who we were which was nice ! Over all we had a Great experience at River Oaks Academy. I believe My son has became more Independent,Organized and Responsible threw our time at this school .

Posted: October 13, 2013

To the staff at ROA, My son said today that he really likes ROA, and so happy to be supported by everyone. He told me for the first time in a long time he is excited about learning. He stated he doesn't feel intimidated to ask questions, he knows that the teachers are there to help him in his education. Thanks for doing such an awesome job!

Posted: August 7, 2013

It is unfortunate that some people choose to trash the school on their way out. ROA is a school of choice. It is also a public charter school and is required to follow guidelines set by the CDE. If you want to teach your child with out any guidance or accountability that is your choice. You have the right to homeschool. However, for ROA to operate within the confines of the law certain standards must be maintained. Even within these confines ROA provides a great amount of freedom in curriculum choice and implementation. Parents are the "teachers" in this program. The teachers are there to assist and guide. Parents are the ones that need to inspire and engage their children. However, some soon realize that true teaching is a skill and craft. In the end it is easier to blame others for ones short comings than look in the mirror. It is a shame that a few parents seem to have made the decision bad mouth those that are the ones keeping the school functioning in this time of transition. Also, for those who are not sure about the direction of school, please leave. The future of ROA is bright and will progress with those who believe in it.

Posted: August 3, 2013

This WAS a great school. So many people who were key to making it great have left. I have no idea what's in store for us. We will see. We were happy when we heard that two of the teachers were leaving. They said they were moving on to other opportunities. Unfortunately, they are back at the school which leaves us wondering. We didn't particularly care for them. They weren't very dynamic or forward-thing (from our experience).

Posted: July 25, 2013

Wonderful teachers? Our turn-in teacher became soured and jaded last September and continually criticized the entire student body for wanting "entertainment/vendor classes" rather than what they were presenting (which, by the way, was recycled material from session to session and class to class.) This teacher was rote and confused about how to teach and inspire. Youtube videos may beautifully supplement a teaching plan. They aren't the substance to form a class around. We were devastated to see this teacher decline and bring their soured attitude to our personal time with them during turn-ins.My kids looked forward to pleasing this teacher and were deeply disappointed. Another teacher misled parents and told them the teachers had been fired. This was a blatant lie engineered to cast doubt and derision. The rest of the teachers are mediocre at best. The essence of the program was to support homeschooling. Somehow, the teachers came to believe that they were integral to the success of the school rather than our students' success being integral. Aside from that, there's a few teachers over there that have a deep fear of the internet and no sense of it's value.

Posted: July 25, 2013

90 students? If enrollment drops that low, there won't be a school. Whoever submitted that data is misleading or unclear on the school's budget. Pretty much par for the course with the way things have been going over there the past 3 months. Suddenly, it seems no one knows how to do the math. Spooky.

Posted: July 8, 2013

This is a great charter public school. Yes there is a new director but there are also great new workshops and all the wonderful teachers are returning! We have been attending since ROA opened it's doors 3 years ago and we are looking forward to another exciting year come this Sept. It is absolutely wonderful to have an alternative form of public education, one where the parent gets to choose the direction of their child's education and one where passion is what motivates your child to learn. I highly recommend this school to anyone who is interested in actually participating and guiding their own child through his/her educational journey!

Posted: June 26, 2013

River Oaks is a public charter school in Ventura County. The only change is that there will be a new head of school in the fall. The Charter, Mission and Teachers have been with the school since the beginning, and will be in place in the fall.

Posted: June 23, 2013

WE will not be returning to River Oaks Academy. This was a gift to our children from its creator Resa Steindel Brown but she is no longer with the school. It is not a school I would recommend under the new administration. The teachers are mediocre, at best and this is a Common Core public school. Why would a homeschool family want to do public education at home?

Posted: March 27, 2013

We have been a homeschooling family all of our children's lives. Although we wanted so badly to believe that the River Oaks Academy was a unique blend of Home Schooling and Classroom work, it just wasn't. There seems to be very little foresight in terms of running a program. The first week of every month is used for paperwork turn in. Which if organized could be done in a couple of days. Think about that, No classes over the course of a 9 month school year that is over 2 months of missing school. Now add that with holidays that may conflict and there is another week gone. The classes have no rigor, although the teachers are sincere the only 2 out of 20 classes our children attended they felt were worth their time. The director promised all sorts of expectations but they didnt materialize. The atmosphere is one where you can not point out what seems to be flagrant incompetence, (classes canceled at last minute without any system or program for substitutes in place. Just kids sitting in a class until someone tells them to call their parents. Some classes this semester canceled 3 weeks in a row. I could go on and on) I think the director is an idealist but not a realest.

Posted: October 13, 2012

An excellent director, staff and families that believe in their kids! This academy is such a blessing to our family personally and also to many others that I see on a day to day basis. So much thought, care and belief goes into this structure. At first, I thought maybe it was to good to be true. We went to an introductory meeting, signed up, went to classes for the kids who are in different grades, attended the parent workshops which helps the parent immensely into understanding different learning styles - all the while making new friends while the kids are in classes with great teachers who really care and listen and teach and individualize! I loved homeschooling but I love it even more now with this support system of friends and teachers. It is extremely challenging in so many positive and "challenging" ways to homeschool our precious kids we brought on this earth that we wanted only the best for - and this group is here for full support and to open up so many new paths that we never even imagined. I am SO grateful to have found them and waited it out to get on the list of acceptance. Looking forward to an amazing productive year of teaching, parenting & creating friends!

Posted: December 6, 2011

This is the most innovative program out there for learning. It is everything that the traditional classroom is not. Under the direction of Resa Steindel Brown, students are nurtured educationally to find their passions and to become tomorrow's thinkers, leaders, and geniuses. Learning the way it should be!

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Foothill Park	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Camarillo	CA	13.9 mi
2	Camarillo	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Camarillo	CA	13.9 mi
3	Del Prado Town Homes	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Camarillo	CA	15.2 mi
4	Northridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Northridge	CA	19.5 mi
5	RiverPark	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Oxnard	CA	20.6 mi
6	Hollywood Beach	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Oxnard	CA	23 mi
7	Hollyglen	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Hawthorne	CA	31.4 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Central Camarillo	Camarillo	CA	13.9 mi
2	Oxnard	Oxnard	CA	20.1 mi
3	Ventura	Ventura	CA	24.3 mi

Base	Distance
Point Mugu NAS - Naval Base Ventura County	15.7 mi.
Port Hueneme - Naval Base Ventura County	21.2 mi.
Los Angeles AFB	30.6 mi.
Los Alamitos JFTB	46.6 mi.

River Oaks Academy

Westlake Village, CA 91361

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River Oaks Academy

Westlake Village, CA 91361

School Ratings

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