New graduation requirements, automatic promotion in earlier school years, and overcrowded schools are just some of the causes. Many parents work long hours, making them unavailable for homework assistance. Lack of affordable housing and frequent evictions exacerbate the problem, according to a recent series on dropout rates in the Los Angeles Times.

A quality secondary education in our own backyard.

Los Angeles students can do better. In September 2004, with a charter from the Lennox School District, Century opened the Century Community Charter School (CCCS), its first middle school charter. Serving South Los Angeles sixth graders, Century Community Charter School added a seventh grade in Fall 2005, and an eighth grade class will be added in Fall 2006, when the school will serve nearly 375 children. Following the same incremental growth plan as the first school, a second school will open in Fall 2006 with an estimated 125 sixth grade students.

Century Community Charter School achieves higher results through several enhancements, including a full academic calendar of 187 instructional days with 407 classroom minutes per day. The CCCS Saturday School Program offers an additional 10 days of instruction for students needing additional academic support. Furthermore, at traditional public schools the actual student teacher ratio is one teacher for every 30 to 35 students, whereas the exact teacher-student ratio at CCCS is one teacher for every 25 students, offering students more opportunities for individualized instruction.

Century’s efforts are already resulting in improved academic performance by Century Community Charter School students. On the May 2005 Statewide Standardized Tests, which provide measured evaluation of educational programs in schools, CCCS’ first sixth grade class scored higher than students attending neighboring public schools.

Century Community Charter School utilizes the Wiggins and McTighe “Backward Design Process” which encourages curriculum planners to “begin with the end in mind.” This process creates an instructional design that focuses on student achievement, with lessons tailored to the state standards. CCCS subjects include English, History, Geography, Mathematics, Science, Health, Physical Education, Visual Arts,Drama, Music, and American Sign Language. An on-site Century /LIFT^® after-school tutoring program provides homework assistance and supports the academic program.

By providing an educational alternative, Century Community Charter School enables Century to leave another lasting footprint in the community.

The Century Community Charter School is a tuition-free, nonsectarian public school attended by students from Los Angeles, Lennox, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Carson, and Compton.

For more information, please call (310) 412-2286, or visit the website at www.centurycommunitycharter.org.