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

The Olive Crest NOVA charter school works in partnership with Olive Crest, Santa Ana Unified School District and Santa Ana College (SAC), which means that the Olive Crest Academy students receive both high school and college credits.  NOVA is one of 60 schools awarded by the US News and World Report to receive the 2010 Bronze Medal for the Best High Schools in California.

There are many exciting new additions in the NOVA instructional program for the 2012-2013 school year, including:

• Freshman Study Skills: Transitional year long class for all 9th graders to stay organized, take notes and learn how to successfully navigate high school
• Sophomore CAHSEE Prep: A year long class to prepare 10th grade students to score advanced/proficient on the English and Math CAHSEE in March 2013
• Senior Seminar: A year long class to support students with college applications and their senior exit portfolio
• Extended Days: Students on Academic Improvement Plans (AIP) and/or Academic Probation (AP) will now have TWO extended school days per week on Tuesday and Wednesday. These students will receive additional support in the classes they need the most help and will be released at 4:30 pm each Tuesday and Wednesday.

Over the summer, all new ninth grade students completed the NOVA Summer Advantage program, multiple 10th – 12th grade students took courses at community colleges, and qualifying 12th graders were invited to participate in NOVA’s Summer College Pathways workshops to get a head start on the college application process.

According to the O.C. Register’s 2013 High School report card, the NOVA school has an 88% graduation rate, but their API score is at 713, a dip by two points from the year before – and not at the state minimum API of 788.

Click here to find out how to apply. This is a tuition free public charter school located at 2609 W. 5th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703.

Our series on Santa Ana’s Charter Schools:

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

• The Pacific Tech Charter School offers free tuition to Santa Ana students