Central High School

Summary:

Central High School is a public high school located in Detroit, Michigan, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 353. The school is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, which is ranked 563 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central High School faces significant challenges, including a predominantly low-income and African American student population, low graduation rates ranging from 44.1% to 65.0% over the past five school years, high dropout rates ranging from 8.3% to 28.8%, and extremely high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 42.2% to 91.1%. The school's test scores are also significantly lower than the state and district averages, with only 6% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in M-Step/Science in the 2023-2024 school year, compared to the district score of 14% and the state score of 37.5%. In comparison, nearby schools like Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men and Oakland International Academy High School have significantly higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and better academic performance.

Despite the school's poor performance, there is little evidence of significant improvement over the past five school years. The school spends a relatively high amount per student, with $20,759 spent per student in the 2022-2023 school year, but this does not seem to be translating into improved academic outcomes. The lack of improvement and the disparity in performance compared to nearby schools suggest a need for more comprehensive and effective interventions to address the root causes of the school's challenges and support student success.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2425 Tuxedo St
Detroit, MI 48206-1299

(313) 252-3000

District: Detroit Public Schools Community District

SchoolDigger Rank:
737^th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,759

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:	Durfee ElementaryMiddle School
	Noble ElementaryMiddle School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.4

Number of students: 353

Racial breakdown:

African American:

98.3%

Hispanic:

1.1%

White:

0.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 89.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Central High School ranks worse than 99.2% of high schools in Michigan. It also ranks 14^th among 15 ranked high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 3.26. (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 Racial makeup is: African American (98.3%), Hispanic (1.1%), Asian (0.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 89.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central High School is 17.4. 16 high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Central High School employs 20.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central High School is $20,759. 15 high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Central High School 737^th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

African American students:

Detroit Public Schools Community District:

SchoolDigger ranks Detroit Public Schools Community District 563^rd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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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	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	3.26	737^th	743	0.8%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	2.92	654^th	654	0.0%

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

Rank History for African American students at Central High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	11.27	184^th	188	2.1%

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

Data source: test scores: Michigan 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: Michigan 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	Total
2018	2	359	0	2	1	364
2019	2	302	0	2	0	306
2020	3	264	0	2	0	269
2021	3	303	1	2	1	310
2022	0	311	1	3	0	315
2023	1	347	1	4	0	353

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

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	364	17.0	21.4	82.4
2019	306	21.5	14.2	87.6
2020	269	16.0	16.8	88.8
2021	310	18.0	17.2	90
2022	315	18.8	16.7	87
2023	353	20.2	17.4	89.2

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

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	364	17.0	21.4	82.4
2019	306	21.5	14.2	87.6
2020	269	16.0	16.8	88.8
2021	310	18.0	17.2	90
2022	315	18.8	16.7	87
2023	353	20.2	17.4	89.2

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	$2,822 (19.9%)	$11,348 (80.1%)	$14,169
2020	$2,966 (17.2%)	$14,320 (82.8%)	$17,286
2021	$2,367 (13.4%)	$15,318 (86.6%)	$17,685
2022	$7,583 (34.9%)	$14,138 (65.1%)	$21,722
2023	$6,216 (29.9%)	$14,543 (70.1%)	$20,759

Data source: Michigan 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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	306	353	15.4%
African American	302	347	14.9%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	2	4	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	2	1	50%
Two or More Races	0	0
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	87.6%	89.2%	1.7%

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)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)		M-Step Math (2024)		M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (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	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High School	Public	9-12	2425 Tuxedo St	Detroit	48206	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 252-3000	353	20	17.4	89.2%	1 (0.3%)	347 (98.3%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3.3	737^th of 743 public high schools	0.8%					(n/a)			10.3							6.0		4.6	$20,759	$6,216	$14,543
Covenant School Spectrum	Public, Charter	7-12	1961 Lincoln St	Highland Park	48203	Wayne County	Covenant Schools Detroit	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(313) 558-9022	48	4	10.6	70.8%	16 (33.3%)	31 (64.6%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)													$4,972	$4,972	$00
Northwestern High School	Public	9-12	2200 W Grand Blvd	Detroit	48208	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 596-0700	358	26	13.8	88.3%	5 (1.4%)	347 (96.9%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	6.3	700^th of 743 public high schools	5.8%					(n/a)			10.3							7.7		15.8	$24,036	$6,908	$17,127
University Preparatory Art Design MiddleHigh	Public, Charter	6-12	485 W Milwaukee St	Detroit	48202	Wayne County	University Preparatory Art & Design	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 481-4000	843	51	16.6	78.6%	4 (0.5%)	829 (98.3%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.7%)	11.9	655^th of 743 public high schools	11.8%		7.1	685^th of 735 public high schools	6.8%	30	37.6	5.1	25.0		10.5	15.5	2.7	3.1	20.3	18.2	6.8	11.7	$12,325	$2,788	$9,537
University Preparatory Academy PSAD High School	Public, Magnet, Charter	9-12	600 Antoinette St	Detroit	48202	Wayne County	University Preparatory Academy (PSAD)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	(313) 874-4340	571	41	14.0	77.6%	4 (0.7%)	561 (98.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	14.4	634^th of 743 public high schools	14.7%		6.8	689^th of 735 public high schools	6.3%	55			25.2							14.8		21.5	$14,083	$2,833	$11,250
Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men	Public	9-12	9026 Woodward Ave	Detroit	48202	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 596-3555	76	9	8.2	68.4%	0 (0.0%)	75 (98.7%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)													$44,593	$14,910	$29,683
Oakland International Academy High School	Public, Charter	9-12	2619 Florian St	Hamtramck	48212	Wayne County	Oakland International Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 285-8990	371	18	20.6	98.4%	231 (62.3%)	59 (15.9%)	1 (0.3%)	80 (21.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.6	678^th of 743 public high schools	8.7%		18.1	604^th of 735 public high schools	17.8%	74			17.0	6.3						11.7		17.3	$11,975	$2,628	$9,347
Detroit Lions Academy	Public	6-12	2001 W Warren Ave	Detroit	48208	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 852-9677	238	20	12.0	92.0%	2 (0.8%)	234 (98.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)								(n/a)	15.2					13.5							$26,468	$9,172	$17,296
Bridge Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	3120 Carpenter ST	Hamtramck	48212	Wayne County	Bridge Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 462-6100	368	4	92.0	99.2%	327 (88.9%)	12 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4.2	727^th of 743 public high schools	2.2%		3.8	723^rd of 735 public high schools	1.6%	4			12.7							8.3		5.6	$12,377	$31	$12,345
Horizon High School	Public	9-12	3225 Caniff St	Hamtramck	48212	Wayne County	Hamtramck School District of the City of	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 591-7404	90	10	9.0	84.4%	34 (37.8%)	44 (48.9%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.3%)								(n/a)													$00	$00	$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

What district is Central High School in?

Detroit Public Schools Community District

Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks in the bottom 0.8% of Michigan high schools.

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Durfee ElementaryMiddle School
Elementary : Noble ElementaryMiddle School

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 98% African American, 1% Hispanic.

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 353 students attended Central High School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.