Century High School received an honor not generally given to a school only five years old when it was recognized by the California State Department of Education as a California Distinguished School. This recognition reflects the dedication and commitment made by our parents, students and staff. Century is striving to ensure that students are prepared for responsible citizenship and productive participation in our society. In these times of higher expectations, it is especially important to recognize public schools that are addressing the complex challenges our students will face in the future. The 1994 Distinguished Schools were involved in an exceptional competitive selection process conducted by the California Department of Education with the help of county offices of education and educators from throughout the state. Century High School achieved this level of excellence and is sucessfully meeting the great challenges of education today. This is truly an honor which should be shared by all! Century is a very special inner-city school in Santa Ana, California. We are very proud of the many accomplishments of our students and staff, including both state and national recognition. During the past fourteen years, Century has been visited by over 3,000 educators from around the world who come to see our technology and to learn about our many unique programs. Visitors have come from the Soviet Union, Mexico, Denmark, Australia, Korea, and Japan, as well as from across the United States. The Century student body of 2,500 students is diverse. They are composed of 93% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 2% Caucasian, and includes 14 different languages spoken. The campus environment is both peaceful and positive. Century places a strong emphasis on good daily attendance. Our interdisciplinary teams, Senior Exit Interviews, cross-curricular portfolios, 4-year Planning Folder, Academies (T.E.A.C.H., E-Business, and CISCO) , Career Pathways courses, school-wide learning and behavior results, and Rennaissance academic and citizenship recognition activities are but a few programs that motivate Century students to be successful. Century's Academic Decathlon, MESA (math, engineering, and science) MUN (Model United Nations), and Cheer teams have won district, county, state, and national competitions.