Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks in the bottom 17.9% of Connecticut high schools.

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,704 students attended Central High School.

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 56% Hispanic, 30% African American, 9% White, 3% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Blackham School Elementary : Hallen School Elementary : John Winthrop School Elementary : Madison School Alternative : Wilbur Cross School

Central High School

Summary:

Central High School is a public high school in Bridgeport, Connecticut, serving 1,677 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Bridgeport School District, which is ranked 152 out of 158 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central High School faces significant challenges, including a student population that is 31.19% African American, 53.91% Hispanic, and only 9.9% White - a much higher percentage of minority students compared to the state average. Academically, the school's performance is well below the state average, with only 34.1% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT/English Language Arts and just 10.1% proficient or better in SAT/Math. Additionally, 73.94% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. As a result, Central High School has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Connecticut high schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Information Technology & Software Engineering Magnet High School, Bridgeport Military Academy, and Warren Harding High School, also have low academic performance and high percentages of minority and low-income students, suggesting that the challenges faced by Central High School are not unique but rather a systemic issue within the Bridgeport School District. However, the data also indicates that there may be opportunities for improvement, as the school's performance on the NGSS/Science assessment has shown some progress in recent years.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1 Lincoln Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06606

(203) 576-7377

District: Bridgeport School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
119^th of 145 Connecticut High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,189

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:	Blackham School
	Hallen School
	John Winthrop School
	Madison School
Alternative:	Wilbur Cross School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.7

Number of students: 1,704

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

56.5%

African American:

29.6%

White:

9.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 79.3%

See top rated Connecticut high schools

Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Central High School ranks worse than 82.1% of high schools in Connecticut. It also ranks 3^rd among 4 ranked high schools in the Bridgeport School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 16.44. (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.

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 largest high school student body size in the Bridgeport School District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (56.5%), African American (29.6%), White (9.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 79.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central High School is 17.7, which is the highest among 7 high schools in the Bridgeport School District! (See more...)

Compare Central High School employs 96 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central High School is $15,189, which is the lowest among 7 high schools in the Bridgeport School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Central High School 119^th of 145 Connecticut public high schools. (See Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

Bridgeport School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Bridgeport School District 152^nd of 158 Connecticut school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Central High School?

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Rank History for Central High School

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Rank History for all students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2007	9.83	160^th	176	9.1%
2008	7.49	163^rd	176	7.4%
2009	10.25	162^nd	176	8.0%
2010	8.28	170^th	186	8.6%
2011	10.76	172^nd	189	9.0%
2012	6.75	172^nd	188	8.5%
2013	6.06	177^th	193	8.3%
2015	15.37	175^th	196	10.7%
2016	14.57	111^th	132	15.9%
2017	16.23	119^th	140	15.0%
2018	13.73	112^th	121	7.4%
2019	13.60	109^th	121	9.9%
2021	9.00	183^rd	200	8.5%
2022	18.46	105^th	139	24.5%
2023	16.43	113^th	142	20.4%
2024	16.44	119^th	145	17.9%

See the entire list of Connecticut High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	24.79	11^th	11	0.0%
2022	18.55	3^rd	17	82.4%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	21.74	4^th	13	69.2%
2021	15.41	150^th	175	14.3%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut 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	CT State Percentile
2021	21.65	124^th	155	20.0%
2022	33.63	41^st	63	34.9%
2023	18.72	63^rd	70	10.0%
2024	29.26	42^nd	65	35.4%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut 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	CT State Percentile
2021	8.23	174^th	189	7.9%
2022	17.39	84^th	106	20.8%
2023	9.37	94^th	103	8.7%
2024	15.38	87^th	102	14.7%

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

Rank History for Male students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2021	8.69	165^th	182	9.3%
2022	8.41	95^th	102	6.9%
2023	8.66	93^rd	100	7.0%
2024	11.51	90^th	100	10.0%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut 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	CT State Percentile
2019	34.10	11^th	13	15.4%
2021	27.15	46^th	58	20.7%
2022	38.16	19^th	25	24.0%
2023	32.86	21^st	25	16.0%
2024	39.61	14^th	24	41.7%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2018	60.76	4^th	18	77.8%
2021	26.47	79^th	104	24.0%
2022	47.04	23^rd	59	61.0%
2023	22.72	54^th	63	14.3%
2024	40.05	34^th	63	46.0%

See the entire list of Best Connecticut High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CT State Percentile
2018	1.25	103^rd	105	1.9%
2019	2.09	112^th	113	0.9%
2021	1.21	154^th	155	0.6%
2022	5.57	113^th	117	3.4%

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

Data source: test scores: Connecticut 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: Connecticut State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Central High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	468	749	70	465	1	n/a	n/a	0	1753
1989	390	730	84	453	2	n/a	n/a	0	1659
1990	350	736	120	511	2	n/a	n/a	0	1719
1991	364	722	117	517	9	n/a	n/a	0	1729
1992	376	777	120	610	13	n/a	n/a	0	1896
1993	339	830	111	605	12	n/a	n/a	0	1897
1994	271	750	116	593	5	n/a	n/a	0	1735
1995	300	888	132	658	3	n/a	n/a	0	1981
1996	300	888	132	658	3	n/a	n/a	0	1981
1997	343	888	182	739	2	n/a	n/a	0	2154
1998	363	950	143	726	4	n/a	n/a	0	2186
1999	363	927	127	740	38	n/a	n/a	0	2195
2000	414	913	144	725	3	n/a	n/a	0	2199
2001	427	902	122	715	5	n/a	n/a	0	2171
2002	379	953	109	701	4	n/a	n/a	0	2146
2003	379	953	109	701	4	n/a	n/a	0	2146
2004	386	1028	96	703	4	n/a	n/a	0	2217
2005	337	1109	103	793	1	n/a	n/a	0	2343
2006	244	867	75	622	0	n/a	n/a	0	1808
2007	344	1149	101	845	3	n/a	n/a	0	2442
2008	306	1094	97	838	4	n/a	n/a	0	2339
2009	317	1058	95	812	5	n/a	n/a	0	2287
2010	284	1047	96	786	5	n/a	n/a	0	2218
2011	202	876	90	936	203	3	0	0	2310
2012	212	872	82	892	121	3	4	0	2186
2013	225	909	81	867	49	2	7	0	2140
2014	209	818	63	724	11	1	12	0	1838
2015	189	732	74	663	7	0	7	0	1672
2016	170	652	68	612	7	0	8	0	1517
2017	201	619	59	618	10	2	6	0	1515
2018	216	654	61	657	12	3	9	0	1612
2019	211	591	44	639	13	4	13	0	1515
2020	223	594	47	683	15	4	11	0	1577
2021	196	551	38	730	10	3	17	0	1545
2022	172	546	46	784	8	2	17	0	1575
2023	166	523	56	904	7	1	20	0	1677
2024	155	504	51	962	9	3	18	2	1704

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	1753	141.0	12.4	n/a
1989	1659	142.5	11.6	n/a
1990	1719	145.0	11.8	n/a
1991	1729	138.0	12.5	n/a
1992	1896	134.3	14.1	33.9
1993	1897	136.3	13.9	3.2
1994	1735	135.2	12.8	45.6
1995	1981	141.4	14.0	44.7
1996	1981	141.4	14.0	44.7
1997	2154	147.7	14.6	26.7
1998	2186	153.5	14.2	37.3
1999	2195	157.7	13.9	95
2000	2199	154.4	14.2	68.4
2001	2171	152.4	14.2	n/a
2002	2146	155.2	13.8	98.8
2003	2146	155.2	13.8	98.8
2004	2217	152.4	14.5	99.9
2005	2343	130.1	18.0	n/a
2006	1808	138.9	13.0	99.8
2007	2442	139.9	17.5	95.4
2008	2339	147.0	15.9	96.3
2009	2287	154.8	16.0	96.3
2010	2218	140.0	15.8	96.4
2011	2310	129.0	17.9	96.7
2012	2186	122.0	17.9	96.8
2013	2140	123.1	17.3	99.9
2014	1838	110.1	16.6	99.7
2015	1672	98.0	17.0	99.8
2016	1517	99.0	15.3	100
2017	1515	103.5	14.6	41.8
2018	1612	109.0	14.7	46.1
2019	1515	94.0	16.1	64.8
2020	1577	101.0	15.6	61.2
2021	1545	97.0	15.9	56.6
2022	1575	99.5	15.8	55.4
2023	1677	95.5	17.5	73.9
2024	1704	96.0	17.7	79.3

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	1753	141.0	12.4	n/a
1989	1659	142.5	11.6	n/a
1990	1719	145.0	11.8	n/a
1991	1729	138.0	12.5	n/a
1992	1896	134.3	14.1	33.9
1993	1897	136.3	13.9	3.2
1994	1735	135.2	12.8	45.6
1995	1981	141.4	14.0	44.7
1996	1981	141.4	14.0	44.7
1997	2154	147.7	14.6	26.7
1998	2186	153.5	14.2	37.3
1999	2195	157.7	13.9	95
2000	2199	154.4	14.2	68.4
2001	2171	152.4	14.2	n/a
2002	2146	155.2	13.8	98.8
2003	2146	155.2	13.8	98.8
2004	2217	152.4	14.5	99.9
2005	2343	130.1	18.0	n/a
2006	1808	138.9	13.0	99.8
2007	2442	139.9	17.5	95.4
2008	2339	147.0	15.9	96.3
2009	2287	154.8	16.0	96.3
2010	2218	140.0	15.8	96.4
2011	2310	129.0	17.9	96.7
2012	2186	122.0	17.9	96.8
2013	2140	123.1	17.3	99.9
2014	1838	110.1	16.6	99.7
2015	1672	98.0	17.0	99.8
2016	1517	99.0	15.3	100
2017	1515	103.5	14.6	41.8
2018	1612	109.0	14.7	46.1
2019	1515	94.0	16.1	64.8
2020	1577	101.0	15.6	61.2
2021	1545	97.0	15.9	56.6
2022	1575	99.5	15.8	55.4
2023	1677	95.5	17.5	73.9
2024	1704	96.0	17.7	79.3

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	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$12,957
2019	$13,491
2020	$13,567
2021	$15,119
2022	$16,458
2023	$15,189

Data source: Connecticut 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 109^th of 121 High schools	Ranks 113^th of 142 High schools	10.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (Central High School)	34.7	33.9	0.8%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Bridgeport School District)	30.1	23.9	6.2%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Connecticut)	61.6	52.4	9.2%
11th Grade Math (Central High School)	13.9	10.4	3.5%
11th Grade Math (Bridgeport School District)	12.6	8.3	4.3%
11th Grade Math (Connecticut)	40.6	34.1	6.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1515	1677	10.7%
African American	591	523	11.5%
American Indian	13	7	46.2%
Asian	44	56	27.3%
Hispanic	639	904	41.5%
Pacific Islander	4	1	75%
White	211	166	21.3%
Two or More Races	13	20	53.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	64.8%	73.9%	9.2%

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)				NGSS Science (2024)		SAT English Language Arts (2024)	SAT Math (2024)	SBAC English Language Arts (2024)			SBAC Mathematics (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
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	NGSS Science 8th Grade	NGSS Science 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	SAT Math 11th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Central High School	Public	9-12	1 Lincoln Blvd.	Bridgeport	06606	Fairfield County	Bridgeport School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 576-7377	1,704	96	17.7	79.3%	155 (9.1%)	504 (29.6%)	962 (56.5%)	51 (3.0%)	9 (0.5%)	3 (0.2%)	18 (1.1%)	16.4	119^th of 145 public high schools	17.9%		16.4	113^th of 142 public high schools	20.4%	6		24.5	34.1	10.1							$15,189
Bridgeport Residential Center	Public	8-12	60 Housatonic Ave	Bridgeport	06604	Fairfield County	Judicial Centers	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(203) 579-3671	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
REGIONS secure Bridgeport	Public	5-12	60 Housatonic Ave	Bridgeport	06604	Fairfield County	Judicial Centers	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(203) 579-6548	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Bassick High School	Public	9-12	1181 Fairfield Ave.	Bridgeport	06605	Fairfield County	Bridgeport School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 576-7350	1,033	63	16.5	90.9%	51 (4.9%)	315 (30.5%)	637 (61.7%)	12 (1.2%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (1.4%)								(n/a)			6.7								$16,991
The Bridge Academy	Public, Charter	7-12	160 Pulaski Street	Bridgeport	06608	Fairfield County	The Bridge Academy District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(203) 336-9999	281	17	16.9	86.1%	2 (0.7%)	139 (49.5%)	129 (45.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	6 (2.1%)								(n/a)	15.6	17.1				30.6			24.5	40.0	$16,552
Fairfield Warde High School	Public	9-12	755 Melville Ave.	Fairfield	06825	Fairfield County	Fairfield School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 255-8449	1,370	123	11.1	22.9%	880 (64.2%)	67 (4.9%)	253 (18.5%)	97 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (5.0%)								(n/a)		67.9									$23,237
Great Oaks Charter School	Public, Charter	6-12	375 Howard Avenue	Bridgeport	06605	Fairfield County	Great Oaks Charter School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(203) 870-8188	659	41	16.0	52.4%	31 (4.7%)	288 (43.7%)	327 (49.6%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.4%)	4.6	142^nd of 145 public high schools	2.1%					(n/a)	28.0	10.1	15.6		31.6	34.8	33.0	14.0	23.9	15.0	$17,634
Bridgeport Military Academy	Public	9-12	160 Iranistan Avenue	Bridgeport	06605	Fairfield County	Bridgeport School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 275-3961	296	22	13.7	86.8%	27 (9.1%)	65 (22.0%)	195 (65.9%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)								(n/a)		9.4									$18,322
Warren Harding High School	Public	9-12	379 Bond St	Bridgeport	06610	Fairfield County	Bridgeport School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 275-2751	1,201	68	17.5	86.7%	53 (4.4%)	410 (34.1%)	707 (58.9%)	9 (0.7%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (1.4%)	5.3	141^st of 145 public high schools	2.8%		5.4	138^th of 142 public high schools	2.8%	3		11.4	17.2								$16,782
Bullard-Havens Technical High School	Public	9-12	500 Palisade Ave.	Bridgeport	06610	Fairfield County	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 579-6333	818	75	10.9	66.0%	20 (2.4%)	211 (25.8%)	551 (67.4%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.7%)	9.3	131^st of 145 public high schools	9.7%		11.6	124^th of 142 public high schools	12.7%	7		21.1	22.6	3.0							$27,417

Central High School

Central High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Bridgeport School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Central High School

Rank History for all students at Central High School

Rank History for English Language Learner 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 Hispanic students at Central High School

Rank History for White students at Central High School

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

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Central High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

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