New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: charter school

New charter group splits from Santa Ana’s Edward B. Cole elementary school

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charter Schools, Education, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Editor’s Note: This is the third in our series of articles about Santa Ana’s public charter schools

Opening its doors in September, 2003, Edward B. Cole, Sr. Academy (EBC Academy), is a public charter elementary school located at 333 E. Walnut Street in the economically distressed Federal Empowerment Zone of Santa Ana, California. They are a K-5 charter school serving the educational needs of a community consisting predominately of non-English speaking, low income, and Latino families.

Their API (state test score) is 777, which is below the state’s minimum standard of 788. Their score fell by 3 points from the year before. According to the O.C. Register’s 2013 O.C. Elementary Schools Report Card, their academic rank is 355 and they have a 24.5 to 1 student to teacher ratio. Over 96% of their student body is Latino and that same figure is receiving free school meals. Continue reading→

Olive Crest’s Nova Academy now enrolling for the Fall 2010 semester

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

OLIVE CREST’S NOVA ACADEMY, RECENTLY NAMED ONE OF THE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, NOW REGISTERING STUDENTS FOR FALL SEMESTER

With small classes, personalized attention and the opportunity to take college courses, NOVA helps all students—including at-risk teens—excel in high school

Parents and students invited to learn more about the benefits of NOVA and tour the campus during an Open House on Monday evening, August 9th at 6:30pm

Olive Crest’s NOVA Academy, recently awarded a 2010 Bronze Medal by U.S. News and World Report in their rankings of the Best High Schools in California, is currently registering students for the Fall 2010 semester. Students ages 14– 20 can register to enter grades 9 through 12; school begins on August 30, 2010. Families are invited to:

Pick up an application at the NOVA offices at 2609 W. 5th Street, Santa Ana between the hours of 7:30am and 2:00pm; OR
Call 714.569.0948 to request that an application be mailed to them; OR
Attend an Open House on Monday, August 9th at 6:30pm at the NOVA campus on 5th Street (applications will be available at the meeting).

NOVA Academy is an Early College High School that offers unique opportunities to teens who are not only committed to succeeding in their high school careers, but also want a chance to take college courses as well. These include teens from low-income families, those who will be the first in their families to graduate from high school or college, and at-risk kids. NOVA Academy is the first early college high school (ECHS) model in the country—and currently the only one in Orange County—to address the unique learning, emotional and financial issues of these students The school provides individualized support to assist the students through the complicated college application process. NOVA ECHS serves students in grades 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th.

With 206 students total (2009-10), NOVA is able to offer small classes, personalized attention, extensive teacher involvement, a bilingual English-Spanish environment, and complete financial support to help kids excel in school. NOVA students can begin taking college classes as early as the second semester of their 9th grade year, and also have the opportunity to begin vocational courses. The costs of college tuition and books are completely covered by NOVA.

Founded by Dr. Donald Verleur, a leader in education for at-risk youth and the founder of acclaimed nonprofit Olive Crest, NOVA is funded in part with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

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Media Contact @ CurrentPR

Alison Hill 714.444.9731, ext. 201, alison@currentpr.com

El Sol Science and Arts Academy named a California Distinguished School

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, california, Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

The El Sol Science and Arts Academy has been named a “California Distinguished School,” according to their Executive Director, Monique Daviss.

The 2010 California School Recognition Program (CSRP) directly focuses on California’s students and their entitlement to an equitable and rigorous education. Under the 2010 CSRP, the California Distinguished Schools Award identifies and honors those schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap.

In order to be invited to apply for Distinguished School honors, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), and the Academic Performance Index (API) requirements. Continue reading→

Nova Academy Early College High School’s Open House set for March 22

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Santa Ana’s Nova Academy Early College High School, which serves students from the 8th to the 11th grades, is having an Open House on March 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at their campus, which is located at 2609 W. 5th St., in Santa Ana. Refreshments will be served. Parents are invited!

As a charter school that works in partnership with Olive Crest, Santa Ana Unified School District and Santa Ana College (SAC), NOVA students receive both high school and college credits. Click here to read more about the educational programs* and admission requirements.

Students begin attending courses at Santa Ana College as early as the 10th grade and have the opportunity to begin vocational courses. The 11th and 12th grades (and 13th if needed) will focus on individualized learning and career plans developed by NOVA staff.

Some of the features of this award-winning charter school include: Continue reading→