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Nova Academy Early College High

Q: Is Nova Academy Early College High a good school?

Nova Academy Early College High ranks 1441 st of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 9-12

1441^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 33% of California high schools

Summary

Nova Academy Early College High is a small public high school serving 288 students in grades 9-12 in Santa Ana, operating within its own Nova Academy Early College High District.

The school presents a complex picture, with a very strong 96% graduation rate but alarmingly low and declining academic proficiency, especially in math where only 2% of students met standards in 2025. This creates a puzzling disconnect, as students are graduating but not demonstrating core academic skills. Furthermore, the school has shown extreme year-to-year volatility in its test scores and rankings, dropping from a 4-star to a 2-star rating in recent years, and it struggles significantly with chronic absenteeism and supporting English learners and special education students.

Compared to nearby schools, Nova Academy Early College High's challenges are notable. While it spends more per student than some peers like Samueli Academy, its outcomes are far weaker than other "college-prep" models like the exceptionally high-performing Middle College High. This suggests the school's "early college" mission may not be effectively translating into academic success, and it faces significant systemic challenges in instruction and student support that require urgent attention.

288

Students ?

19.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

88.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

500 West Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92701-4580

(714) 569-0948

District: Nova Academy Early College High District

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

94.1%

Two or more races:

2.4%

White:

1.4%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Nova Academy Early College High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 76th percentile in 2019 → 33rd in 2025

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (86%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (20% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 43 percentile points since 2019

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school20%

California avg41%

1,441^st of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 33%▼ down 43 pts since 2019

From top 24% (2019) to bottom 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1111^th of 1,543Nova Academy Early College High District among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.3	1441 of 2162	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.6	1009 of 2159	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.8	720 of 2170	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.6	570 of 2123	73.2%	★★★★☆
2021	42.0	735 of 1290	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	71.3	510 of 2133	76.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2021	77.7	72 of 555	87.0%	★★★★☆
2019	51.5	393 of 1117	64.8%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	23.8	1059 of 1085	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	59.8	206 of 1044	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	46.8	199 of 467	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.6	899 of 941	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.3	1384 of 1906	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.3	841 of 1915	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.8	870 of 1915	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.9	562 of 1858	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.5	650 of 1054	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.4	530 of 1833	71.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.4	1222 of 1900	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.0	730 of 1902	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.1	529 of 1917	72.4%	★★★★☆
2022	78.7	289 of 1861	84.5%	★★★★☆
2019	81.4	246 of 1814	86.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.3	1369 of 2013	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.3	895 of 2026	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.2	534 of 2030	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	78.5	306 of 1943	84.3%	★★★★☆
2021	51.9	520 of 1126	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.0	252 of 1937	87.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	28.8	1365 of 1942	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	44.7	996 of 1948	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	68.0	547 of 1963	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	67.0	531 of 1916	72.3%	★★★★☆
2021	40.4	651 of 1122	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	69.3	496 of 1880	73.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	14.6	1227 of 1252	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2021)87th percentile+44 vs school

Hispanic (2025)36th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)32nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)30th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile-6 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)2nd percentile-51 vs school

Special Education (2025)2nd percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy32%-17 vs state

Science27%-5 vs state

Mathematics2%-35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Nova Academy Early College High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Nova Academy Early College High	Public, Charter	9-12	500 West Santa Ana Blvd.	Santa Ana	92701	Orange County	Nova Academy Early College High District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 569-0948	288	15	19.0	88.9%	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	271 (94.1%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	32.3	1441^st of 2162 public high schools	33.3%		49.6	1009^th of 2159 public high schools	53.3%	432				27.3	27.3			31.5	31.5			2.2	2.2
Santa Ana High	Public	9-12	520 West Walnut	Santa Ana	92701	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 567-4900	2,505	127	19.7	90.6%	10 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	2,474 (98.8%)	8 (0.3%)	7 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	33.7	1408^th of 2162 public high schools	34.9%		33.2	1418^th of 2159 public high schools	34.3%	10			17.4	0.0	16.9			41.6	41.6			14.8	14.8	$27,618	$26,612	$1,006
Ocsa	Public, Charter	7-12	1010 North Main St.	Santa Ana	92701	Orange County	OCSA District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 560-9000	2,346	130	18.0	15.8%	537 (22.9%)	17 (0.7%)	487 (20.8%)	1,019 (43.4%)	3 (0.1%)	9 (0.4%)	246 (10.5%)	96.9	59^th of 2162 public high schools	97.3%		98.2	37^th of 2159 public high schools	98.3%	22	68.3	63.7			65.5	83.6	81.7	85.1	83.7	73.1	73.9	65.5	69.9	$43,188	$42,968	$220
Middle College High	Public	9-12	1530 West 17th St.	Santa Ana	92706	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 953-3900	448	22	20.0	86.4%	7 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	405 (90.4%)	31 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	96.6	66^th of 2162 public high schools	96.9%		98.1	40^th of 2159 public high schools	98.1%	26			67.7		67.7			97.0	97.0			53.5	53.5	$21,517	$20,830	$687
REACH Academy	Public	6-12	1325 East 4th St.	Santa Ana	92701	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 431-1800	36	7	4.9	94.4%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					0.0				6.3				6.3
Vista Meridian Global Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	1300 S. Bristol St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Vista Meridian Global Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 988-2719	260	11	24.7	99.2%	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	252 (96.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)								(n/a)		5.7			5.2			23.6	23.6			0.0	0.0	$40,596	$39,752	$844
Lorin Griset Academy	Public	9-12	1915 West McFadden	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 648-2900	283	17	16.3	93.6%	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	279 (98.6%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9.9	2024^th of 2162 public high schools	6.4%		9.8	2084^th of 2159 public high schools	3.5%	60			2.9		2.7			11.6	11.6			2.4	2.4	$36,289	$35,616	$673
Ednovate - Legacy College Prep.	Public, Charter	9-12	1450 17th St.	Santa Ana	92705	Orange County	Ednovate - Legacy College Prep. District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 988-2775	427	19	22.4	74.7%	6 (1.4%)	6 (1.4%)	411 (96.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	56.5	899^th of 2162 public high schools	58.4%		55.2	873^rd of 2159 public high schools	59.6%	26		23.4		32.1	27.8			59.8	59.8			15.0	15.0
Century High	Public	9-12	1401 South Grand Ave.	Santa Ana	92705	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 568-7000	1,519	93	16.3	89.6%	9 (0.6%)	4 (0.3%)	1,450 (95.5%)	42 (2.8%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	5 (0.3%)	28.9	1503^rd of 2162 public high schools	30.5%		20.7	1688^th of 2159 public high schools	21.8%	185			13.5		13.4			33.2	33.2			17.0	17.0	$28,861	$27,956	$905
Samueli Academy	Public, Charter	7-12	1901 North Fairview St.	Santa Ana	92706	Orange County	Samueli Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 619-0245	842	40	21.2	74.3%	43 (5.1%)	9 (1.1%)	691 (82.1%)	65 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.2%)	63.9	718^th of 2162 public high schools	66.8%		53.5	919^th of 2159 public high schools	57.4%	201	15.7		38.6		27.9	61.7	35.9	57.8	52.5	33.1	16.8	25.9	25.6

Frequently Asked Questions about Nova Academy Early College High

What is the racial makeup of Nova Academy Early College High?

Students at Nova Academy Early College High are 94% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% White.

How many students attend Nova Academy Early College High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 288 students attended Nova Academy Early College High.

Is Nova Academy Early College High a good school?

Nova Academy Early College High ranks 1441^st of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Nova Academy Early College High in?

Nova Academy Early College High District

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.