Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks in the bottom 22.8% of Alabama high schools.

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 834 students attended Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 89% African American, 5% Hispanic, 5% White.

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Central Elementary School Elementary : Martin L King Junior Elementary School Elementary : Oakdale Elementary School Elementary : University Place Elementary School Middle : Westlawn Middle School

Central High School

Summary:

Central High School is a public high school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, serving 783 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Tuscaloosa City School District, which is ranked 86 out of 137 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central High School faces significant challenges, including a highly disadvantaged student population, persistent academic underperformance, and stark racial disparities. The school has a significantly higher percentage of African American students (89.53%) compared to nearby schools like Northridge High School and Brookwood High School, which have more diverse racial compositions. Central High School consistently underperforms compared to the Tuscaloosa City and Alabama state averages in proficiency rates for 11th-grade Summative Assessments, with only 8.99% of students proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 17.77% for Tuscaloosa City and 23.12% for the state.

The challenges faced by Central High School are particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, such as African American students and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The school has an exceptionally high percentage of students (over 84%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Despite this, Central High School spends $14,113 per student, significantly higher than the nearby schools in the Tuscaloosa County district, which spend around $9,000 per student. This suggests that additional resources are being directed to the school, but these resources do not appear to be translating into improved academic outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

905 15th Street
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

(205) 759-3720

District: Tuscaloosa City

SchoolDigger Rank:
292^nd of 378 Alabama High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,113

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:	Central Elementary School
	Martin L King Junior Elementary School
	Oakdale Elementary School
	University Place Elementary School
Middle:	Westlawn Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.7

Number of students: 834

Racial breakdown:

African American:

89.1%

Hispanic:

5.0%

White:

4.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 84.1%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Central High School ranks worse than 77.2% of high schools in Alabama. It also ranks 2^nd among 3 ranked high schools in the Tuscaloosa City School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 23.07. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Central High School has the smallest high school student body size in the Tuscaloosa City School District. Racial makeup is: African American (89.1%), Hispanic (5%), White (4.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 84.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Tuscaloosa City School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central High School is 16.7, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Tuscaloosa City School District! (See more...)

Compare Central High School employs 49.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central High School is $14,113, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Tuscaloosa City School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Central High School 292^nd of 378 Alabama public high schools. (See Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Tuscaloosa City:

SchoolDigger ranks Tuscaloosa City 86^th of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Central High School.

What do you think?

Your rating for Central High School?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Central High School

Compare

Rank History for all students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2004	9.78	343^rd	357	3.9%
2005	5.42	354^th	359	1.4%
2006	9.91	349^th	357	2.2%
2007	3.47	356^th	358	0.6%
2008	10.64	352^nd	359	1.9%
2009	11.55	349^th	357	2.2%
2010	16.32	338^th	358	5.6%
2011	8.51	347^th	360	3.6%
2012	0.67	358^th	358	0.0%
2013	10.15	353^rd	358	1.4%
2014	13.08	312^th	358	12.8%
2015	6.67	340^th	353	3.7%
2016	6.52	344^th	351	2.0%
2017	13.45	316^th	353	10.5%
2018	13.17	307^th	356	13.8%
2019	17.81	298^th	366	18.6%
2021	27.40	273^rd	371	26.4%
2023	15.38	328^th	371	11.6%
2024	23.07	292^nd	378	22.8%

See the entire list of Alabama High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2018	19.96	130^th	160	18.8%
2019	12.56	158^th	171	7.6%
2021	59.46	58^th	196	70.4%
2023	31.33	121^st	182	33.5%
2024	38.41	117^th	198	40.9%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	20.84	269^th	315	14.6%
2018	26.06	261^st	349	25.2%
2019	24.45	277^th	358	22.6%
2021	31.39	249^th	361	31.0%
2023	16.65	312^th	349	10.6%
2024	16.40	339^th	375	9.6%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	16.64	294^th	343	14.3%
2018	15.83	289^th	347	16.7%
2019	20.95	284^th	354	19.8%
2021	39.51	214^th	359	40.4%
2023	13.43	324^th	358	9.5%
2024	23.47	286^th	366	21.9%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	10.71	314^th	339	7.4%
2018	10.55	313^th	350	10.6%
2019	11.46	318^th	357	10.9%
2021	19.06	302^nd	366	17.5%
2023	18.28	302^nd	358	15.6%
2024	24.11	274^th	368	25.5%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile
2017	35.23	121^st	189	36.0%
2018	42.23	116^th	223	48.0%
2019	41.64	115^th	224	48.7%
2021	58.12	59^th	228	74.1%
2023	33.43	147^th	224	34.4%
2024	29.11	166^th	231	28.1%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for White students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	AL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	95.63	18^th	326	94.5%
2024	99.30	7^th	325	97.8%

See the entire list of Best Alabama High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Central High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	1289	1289
1989	525	783	5	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	1315
1990	457	730	8	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	1195
1991	429	698	7	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	1135
1992	438	712	8	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1160
1993	410	691	9	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	1113
1994	431	701	10	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	1145
1995	398	692	12	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1105
1996	398	692	12	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	1105
1997	387	740	9	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	1138
1998	419	795	14	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	1235
1999	414	899	14	5	1	n/a	n/a	1	1334
2000	363	716	14	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	1099
2001	327	646	18	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	997
2002	324	609	11	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	950
2003	324	609	11	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	950
2004	16	633	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	654
2005	10	600	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	616
2006	5	613	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	623
2007	4	653	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	660
2008	5	711	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	717
2009	4	737	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	742
2010	6	755	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	762
2011	3	762	0	0	0	0	0	0	765
2012	3	713	0	0	0	0	0	0	716
2013	3	717	0	0	0	0	0	0	720
2014	4	656	0	0	0	0	1	0	661
2015	7	678	0	4	0	0	1	0	690
2016	5	658	0	3	0	0	0	0	666
2017	7	722	0	9	0	0	0	0	738
2018	28	715	2	10	0	0	0	0	755
2019	35	676	1	15	0	0	0	0	727
2020	43	655	2	28	4	0	0	0	732
2021	48	655	1	35	3	0	3	0	745
2022	44	673	4	36	5	0	2	0	764
2023	39	701	5	34	2	0	2	0	783
2024	40	743	6	42	1	0	2	0	834

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1289	66.2	19.4	0
1989	1315	71.1	18.4	n/a
1990	1195	67.0	17.8	0
1991	1135	64.0	17.7	n/a
1992	1160	60.0	19.3	n/a
1993	1113	62.0	18.0	n/a
1994	1145	64.9	17.6	n/a
1995	1105	64.0	17.3	n/a
1996	1105	64.0	17.3	n/a
1997	1138	62.7	18.1	28.9
1998	1235	64.3	19.2	26.6
1999	1334	66.2	20.2	29.3
2000	1099	64.0	17.2	32.8
2001	997	59.0	16.9	40.2
2002	950	56.5	16.8	46
2003	950	56.5	16.8	46
2004	654	43.5	15.0	77.7
2005	616	50.5	12.2	79.1
2006	623	53.0	11.8	77.2
2007	660	40.8	16.2	86.2
2008	717	46.3	15.5	67.8
2009	742	43.0	17.1	82.3
2010	762	40.1	18.9	75.6
2011	765	49.0	15.6	83.4
2012	716	48.1	14.8	81.7
2013	720	46.2	15.5	86.7
2014	661	46.9	14.0	84.1
2015	690	40.0	17.2	63
2016	666	35.0	19.0	58.4
2017	738	40.7	18.1	58.7
2018	755	39.5	19.0	84.1
2019	727	47.3	15.3	83.9
2020	732	46.2	15.8	84
2021	745	46.7	15.9	84
2022	764	42.2	18.0	84
2023	783	46.5	16.8	84
2024	834	49.6	16.7	84.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1289	66.2	19.4	0
1989	1315	71.1	18.4	n/a
1990	1195	67.0	17.8	0
1991	1135	64.0	17.7	n/a
1992	1160	60.0	19.3	n/a
1993	1113	62.0	18.0	n/a
1994	1145	64.9	17.6	n/a
1995	1105	64.0	17.3	n/a
1996	1105	64.0	17.3	n/a
1997	1138	62.7	18.1	28.9
1998	1235	64.3	19.2	26.6
1999	1334	66.2	20.2	29.3
2000	1099	64.0	17.2	32.8
2001	997	59.0	16.9	40.2
2002	950	56.5	16.8	46
2003	950	56.5	16.8	46
2004	654	43.5	15.0	77.7
2005	616	50.5	12.2	79.1
2006	623	53.0	11.8	77.2
2007	660	40.8	16.2	86.2
2008	717	46.3	15.5	67.8
2009	742	43.0	17.1	82.3
2010	762	40.1	18.9	75.6
2011	765	49.0	15.6	83.4
2012	716	48.1	14.8	81.7
2013	720	46.2	15.5	86.7
2014	661	46.9	14.0	84.1
2015	690	40.0	17.2	63
2016	666	35.0	19.0	58.4
2017	738	40.7	18.1	58.7
2018	755	39.5	19.0	84.1
2019	727	47.3	15.3	83.9
2020	732	46.2	15.8	84
2021	745	46.7	15.9	84
2022	764	42.2	18.0	84
2023	783	46.5	16.8	84
2024	834	49.6	16.7	84.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$2,234 (15.8%)	$11,666 (82.7%)	$14,113

Data source: Alabama Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 298^th of 366 High schools	Ranks 328^th of 371 High schools	7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	727	783	7.7%
African American	676	701	3.7%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	1	5	400%
Hispanic	15	34	126.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	35	39	11.4%
Two or More Races	0	2
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	83.9%	84%	0.1%

Schools Near Central High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2024)	Summative Assessment Science (2024)	Summative Assessment English (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High School	Public	9-12	905 15th Street	Tuscaloosa	35401	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 759-3720	834	50	16.7	84.1%	40 (4.8%)	743 (89.1%)	42 (5.0%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	23.1	292^nd of 378 public high schools	22.8%		15.4	328^th of 371 public high schools	11.6%	36	9.0	14.0	14.4	$14,113	$2,234	$11,666
Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy	Public	9-12	2800 Martin Luther King Jr Bou	Tuscaloosa	35401	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	No	(205) 759-3649	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Northridge High School	Public	9-12	2901 Northridge Rd	Tuscaloosa	35406	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	No	(205) 759-3590	1,158	55	21.0	35.1%	625 (54.0%)	411 (35.5%)	64 (5.5%)	39 (3.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	15 (1.3%)	89.2	36^th of 378 public high schools	90.5%		95.7	22^nd of 371 public high schools	94.1%	14	35.5	46.6	43.1	$9,436	$579	$8,838
Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center	Public	7-12	5941 12th Ave East	Tuscaloosa	35405	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 349-3131	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Holt High School	Public	9-12	301 44th Ct NE	Tuscaloosa	35404	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 342-2768	424	29	14.5	73.1%	90 (21.2%)	184 (43.4%)	147 (34.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	15.7	326^th of 378 public high schools	13.8%		17	319^th of 371 public high schools	14.0%	7	6.2	13.4	6.5	$17,319	$5,702	$9,624
Hillcrest High School	Public	9-12	300 Patriot Pkwy	Tuscaloosa	35405	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2800	1,422	77	18.4	64.1%	491 (34.5%)	815 (57.3%)	72 (5.1%)	23 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (1.5%)	55.6	146^th of 378 public high schools	61.4%		55.9	137^th of 371 public high schools	63.1%	9	18.3	32.3	26.2	$8,119	$806	$7,290
Paul W Bryant High School	Public	9-12	6315 Mary Harmon Bryant Drive	Cottondale	35453	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa City	No	No	No	Yes	(205) 759-3538	1,072	56	19.3	48.4%	48 (4.5%)	930 (86.8%)	78 (7.3%)	8 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.6%)	17.1	316^th of 378 public high schools	16.4%		21	299^th of 371 public high schools	19.4%	17	4.6	13.0	10.9	$9,385	$1,183	$8,183
Tuscaloosa County High School	Public	9-12	12500 Wildcat Dr	Northport	35475	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2670	1,562	88	17.7	54.6%	805 (51.5%)	433 (27.7%)	292 (18.7%)	16 (1.0%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	13 (0.8%)	56.4	140^th of 378 public high schools	63.0%		64	113^th of 371 public high schools	69.5%	27	20.1	33.2	24.4	$8,263	$719	$7,482
Sipsey Valley High School	Public	9-12	15815 Romulus Rd	Buhl	35446	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2850	510	28	18.1	57.6%	356 (69.8%)	98 (19.2%)	51 (10.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	57.3	135^th of 378 public high schools	64.3%		46.1	174^th of 371 public high schools	53.1%	39	19.1	30.5	29.3	$9,890	$1,116	$8,750
Brookwood High School	Public	9-12	12250 George Richmond Parkway	Brookwood	35444	Tuscaloosa County	Tuscaloosa County	No	No	No	No	(205) 342-2777	1,094	61	17.9	57.9%	824 (75.3%)	157 (14.4%)	89 (8.1%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	19 (1.7%)	28.9	268^th of 378 public high schools	29.1%		55.4	141^st of 371 public high schools	62.0%	127	9.2	19.8	17.1	$9,429	$1,042	$8,363

Central High School

Central High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Tuscaloosa City:

Average Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Central High School

Rank History for all students at Central High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Central High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central High School

Rank History for Female students at Central High School

Rank History for Male students at Central High School

Rank History for African American students at Central High School

Rank History for White students at Central High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Central High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Central High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Central High School

Rankings

Student Body

Schools Near Central High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

Rate Central High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Sign up for updates!