Best High Schools in Champaign, IL

The city of Champaign, Illinois is home to two high schools that serve students in grades 9-12: Central High School and Centennial High School. Based on the available data, Central High School emerges as the standout school in the Champaign area, ranking in the top 18% of Illinois high schools and outperforming Centennial High School on key academic metrics.

Central High School boasts a more diverse student body, with a higher percentage of African American, Hispanic, and Asian students compared to Centennial High School. Academically, Central High School's 11th-grade students outperformed the district and state averages in SAT Math and English Language Arts. Additionally, Central High School had a higher 4-year graduation rate and a lower dropout rate than Centennial High School. However, both schools scored below the state averages in SAT Math and ELA, suggesting a need for targeted interventions to raise academic achievement.

While Central High School spent more per student than Centennial High School, it had a higher student-teacher ratio, indicating that the higher spending did not necessarily translate to better outcomes. Both schools face challenges, such as high chronic absenteeism rates, that may be contributing to their lower academic performance and graduation rates. Overall, the data suggests that Champaign CUSD 4 should focus on addressing attendance issues and implementing strategies to improve student outcomes at both high schools.