Century High

Century High is a large public high school serving grades 9-12 to about 1,500 students in the Santa Ana Unified district, operating in a high-need community where the vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom third of California high schools with test scores in English, math, and science that are generally below district and state averages; however, it has shown recent improvement in its statewide rank and maintains a graduation rate slightly above the state average. A major area of concern is chronic absenteeism, with a rate of 27.7% that is notably higher than at neighboring schools like Santa Ana High (25.5%) and Saddleback High (20.7%). The school spends more per student than some higher-performing schools in the area, such as Tustin High in the Tustin Unified district, but achieves lower academic results.

When compared to other local schools, a stark pattern emerges: all comprehensive high schools within the Santa Ana Unified district, including Century, rank in the bottom 35% of the state, while nearby schools in other districts like Legacy Magnet Academy and OCSA rank in the top percentiles, suggesting broader district-level challenges. Despite this context, Century High shows strengths in graduating students and has demonstrated improvement in supporting specific student groups, such as those in special education.