Preparing the next generation of students for success in an ever-growing world takes planning and foresight. So Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) and the agricultural communities of Camarillo and Somis, Calif. took a proactive, research-based approach when envisioning Rancho Campana High School. Together with community leaders, district representatives, and teachers, OUHSD developed an educational vision for this new high school that aligns with career opportunities now and into the future. Our design solutions bring OUHSD’s vision to life and plants the seeds for Rancho Campana High School’s students to succeed.
OUHSD’s vision for Rancho Campana High School digs in on three enrichment themes to prepare their students—arts and entertainment, health and biological sciences, and engineering. Our team designed specialized labs and classrooms for subjects ranging from health informatics to biotechnology and environmental sciences. A ceramics classroom, a woodshop that also serves as a scene shop for the theater, and a media arts computer lab augment the arts and entertainment theme. A technology classroom outfitted for robotics projects and the above-mentioned computer lab enrich the engineering theme. Classroom buildings are clustered around “village greens” and have roll-up garage doors that make it easy for teachers to move learning opportunities out of the classroom and into nature, an important feature for this community’s agriculture roots. The Mediterranean climate allows for natural ventilation, and students are encouraged to open windows, roll up the doors, and interact with the outdoor environment.