Central High School

Summary:

Central High School is a public high school located in Traverse City, Michigan, serving grades 8-12 with a total enrollment of 1,387 students. The school is part of the Traverse City Area Public Schools district, which is ranked 168 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central High School is a standout in the Traverse City area, consistently ranking among the top high schools in Michigan and maintaining a 4- or 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's students consistently outperform the state and district averages in standardized test scores, and it has a relatively diverse student population, with 88.97% White, 1.23% African American, 3.6% Hispanic, 1.51% Asian, and 2.96% two or more races. This diversity is higher than the nearby West Senior High and Traverse City High School, which have student populations that are predominantly White. Central High School also boasts exceptional graduation rates, ranging from 87.0% to 96.3% over the past five years, and low dropout rates, ranging from 0.0% to 3.8% during the same period.

While Central High School has experienced an increase in chronic absenteeism over the past few years, reaching 33.1% in the 2022-2023 school year, it is still lower than the nearby Traverse City High School, which had a 67.4% chronic absenteeism rate. The significant differences in performance between Central High School and Traverse City High School within the same district highlight the importance of understanding the unique characteristics and needs of individual schools. Additionally, the steady increase in spending per student and the maintenance of a relatively low student-teacher ratio at Central High School suggest that the school is investing in resources and support to ensure student success.


Detail:

Public 8-12

 1150 Milliken Dr
       Traverse City, MI  49686-2875


(231) 933-6500

District: Traverse City Area Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
136th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,922 Help


Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:    Blair Elementary School
    Cherry Knoll Elementary School
    Courtade Elementary School
    Eastern Elementary School
    More...
Middle:    East Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  24.6 Help
Number of students:  1,387

Racial breakdown:

White:
89.0%
Hispanic:
3.6%
Two or more races:
3.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  28.6% Help


 See top rated Michigan high schools

 Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Central High School ranks better than 81.7% of high schools in Michigan. It also ranks first among 3 ranked high schools in the Traverse City Area Public Schools District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 77.09. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Central High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a high 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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (89%), Hispanic (3.6%), two or more races (3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 28.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Traverse City Area Public Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central High School is 24.6. 1 high schools in the Traverse City Area Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Central High School employs 56.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central High School is $12,922. 1 high schools in the Traverse City Area Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Central High School 136th of 743 Michigan 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:
White students:


Traverse City Area Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Traverse City Area Public Schools 168th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Central High School?

Rank History for Central High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 72.39 215th 705 69.5%
2007 79.13 133rd 767 82.7%
2008 85.56 86th 750 88.5%
2009 86.22 85th 754 88.7%
2010 83.40 92nd 765 88.0%
2011 84.51 79th 784 89.9%
2012 82.40 111th 773 85.6%
2013 82.63 114th 805 85.8%
2014 83.39 102nd 799 87.2%
2015 72.69 220th 832 73.6%
2016 87.22 83rd 852 90.3%
2017 89.64 59th 835 92.9%
2018 87.44 78th 824 90.5%
2019 86.03 80th 666 88.0%
2021 90.67 42nd 561 92.5%
2022 91.38 48th 531 91.0%
2023 81.68 111th 735 84.9%
2024 77.09 136th 743 81.7%
See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.99 35th 102 65.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan 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 MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.27 26th 315 91.7%
2023 73.82 22nd 116 81.0%
2024 19.40 106th 130 18.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan 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 MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.70 35th 755 95.4%
2019 73.21 112th 532 78.9%
2021 68.47 96th 417 77.0%
2022 87.87 36th 369 90.2%
2023 70.90 128th 614 79.2%
2024 69.43 150th 654 77.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan 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 MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.66 70th 710 90.1%
2019 84.78 68th 554 87.7%
2021 87.37 44th 462 90.5%
2022 89.09 44th 416 89.4%
2023 79.38 87th 611 85.8%
2024 71.58 133rd 619 78.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.37 90th 707 87.3%
2019 82.33 77th 543 85.8%
2021 88.22 45th 472 90.5%
2022 90.22 45th 440 89.8%
2023 77.93 110th 611 82.0%
2024 76.26 124th 633 80.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.19 67th 87 23.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.45 86th 708 87.9%
2019 87.29 68th 582 88.3%
2021 89.32 47th 516 90.9%
2022 91.71 45th 492 90.9%
2023 77.58 117th 647 81.9%
2024 71.00 149th 638 76.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White 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.

Central High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
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100%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Saturday, November 21, 2020

Open Quote I wish zero stars was an option. Here, the prison-like atmosphere is high.

Just by looking at the building alone, you know you gotta do it all again. At Central, the classes are bone dry, and it gives off a 1920s teaching vibe. In some classes, if you turn in an assignment late, despite getting all the questions right, you get an AUTOMATIC C- (70). In the remote situation, you're expected to have cameras on at ALL times, which is strange. I get that teachers have to see if people are actually there, but why is the necessary?

You also get triple the homework in Remote in my perspective, unless you get it done early. Even if you don't have your camera on for a few classes, you get yourself thrown to the wolves with a phone call or an email to your parents about you being absent, or not having your camera on. All in all, even if this (place?) is high ranked in the State of Michigan, don't send your children here if any parents are reading this, they will come home complaining of the homework later, plus remote situation... Remote: unless they're an up and coming streamer, then they won't have issues with the camera expectations. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Central High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 2279 1 18 17 24 n/a n/a 0 2339
1989 2173 1 14 20 23 n/a n/a 0 2231
1990 2039 7 19 12 30 n/a n/a 0 2107
1991 2018 4 11 21 23 n/a n/a 0 2077
1992 1987 10 11 22 33 n/a n/a 0 2063
1993 2054 5 9 19 34 n/a n/a 0 2121
1994 2141 7 9 19 34 n/a n/a 0 2210
1995 2324 13 18 19 42 n/a n/a 0 2416
1996 2324 13 18 19 42 n/a n/a 0 2416
1997 2493 7 15 22 50 n/a n/a 0 2587
1998 1217 1 13 13 16 n/a n/a 0 1260
1999 1210 2 12 14 21 n/a n/a 0 1259
2000 1198 2 15 11 15 n/a n/a 0 1241
2001 1285 2 13 11 22 n/a n/a 0 1333
2002 1307 4 19 16 23 n/a n/a 0 1369
2003 1307 4 19 16 23 n/a n/a 0 1369
2004 1227 3 20 17 17 n/a n/a 0 1284
2005 1203 5 23 20 21 n/a n/a 0 1272
2006 1214 7 20 23 12 n/a n/a 0 1276
2007 1185 11 15 24 17 n/a n/a 0 1252
2008 1140 15 16 26 17 n/a n/a 0 1214
2009 1492 14 22 48 26 n/a n/a 0 1602
2010 1396 15 17 49 32 n/a n/a 0 1509
2011 1357 13 15 51 43 0 4 0 1483
2012 1296 13 13 59 32 1 17 0 1431
2013 1324 13 21 53 29 0 24 0 1464
2014 1336 16 33 56 29 1 34 0 1505
2015 1311 21 45 52 31 0 34 0 1494
2016 1251 16 50 38 25 0 36 0 1416
2017 1215 15 44 40 29 0 32 0 1375
2018 1216 13 47 42 25 3 32 0 1378
2019 1265 19 27 57 22 3 33 0 1426
2020 1266 25 24 65 19 4 38 0 1441
2021 1273 22 22 73 17 3 51 0 1461
2022 1267 21 22 64 20 3 52 0 1449
2023 1234 17 21 50 21 3 41 0 1387

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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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2339 n/a n/a n/a
1989 2231 n/a n/a 5.8
1990 2107 111.0 18.9 5.1
1991 2077 n/a n/a n/a
1992 2063 n/a n/a 10.7
1993 2121 n/a 0.0 10.4
1994 2210 89.8 24.6 9
1995 2416 102.4 23.6 9.4
1996 2416 102.4 23.6 9.4
1997 2587 109.0 23.7 9.3
1998 1260 56.0 22.5 17.1
1999 1259 60.0 21.0 5.8
2000 1241 59.4 20.9 10.3
2001 1333 61.4 21.7 9.4
2002 1369 62.1 22.0 11.2
2003 1369 62.1 22.0 11.2
2004 1284 65.4 19.6 14.4
2005 1272 58.7 21.7 16.4
2006 1276 62.2 20.5 17.1
2007 1252 57.2 21.9 19.2
2008 1214 56.6 21.4 21.4
2009 1602 76.3 21.0 28.5
2010 1509 74.1 20.3 29.2
2011 1483 68.4 21.6 33.5
2012 1431 67.7 21.1 34.4
2013 1464 65.9 22.1 33.3
2014 1505 65.2 23.0 35.5
2015 1494 68.0 21.9 27.6
2016 1416 66.0 21.4 22.2
2017 1375 59.9 22.9 28.2
2018 1378 55.6 24.7 29.2
2019 1426 59.3 24.0 26.9
2020 1441 58.9 24.4 26.6
2021 1461 60.7 24.0 25.5
2022 1449 59.0 24.5 25.7
2023 1387 56.3 24.6 28.6

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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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2339 n/a n/a n/a
1989 2231 n/a n/a 5.8
1990 2107 111.0 18.9 5.1
1991 2077 n/a n/a n/a
1992 2063 n/a n/a 10.7
1993 2121 n/a 0.0 10.4
1994 2210 89.8 24.6 9
1995 2416 102.4 23.6 9.4
1996 2416 102.4 23.6 9.4
1997 2587 109.0 23.7 9.3
1998 1260 56.0 22.5 17.1
1999 1259 60.0 21.0 5.8
2000 1241 59.4 20.9 10.3
2001 1333 61.4 21.7 9.4
2002 1369 62.1 22.0 11.2
2003 1369 62.1 22.0 11.2
2004 1284 65.4 19.6 14.4
2005 1272 58.7 21.7 16.4
2006 1276 62.2 20.5 17.1
2007 1252 57.2 21.9 19.2
2008 1214 56.6 21.4 21.4
2009 1602 76.3 21.0 28.5
2010 1509 74.1 20.3 29.2
2011 1483 68.4 21.6 33.5
2012 1431 67.7 21.1 34.4
2013 1464 65.9 22.1 33.3
2014 1505 65.2 23.0 35.5
2015 1494 68.0 21.9 27.6
2016 1416 66.0 21.4 22.2
2017 1375 59.9 22.9 28.2
2018 1378 55.6 24.7 29.2
2019 1426 59.3 24.0 26.9
2020 1441 58.9 24.4 26.6
2021 1461 60.7 24.0 25.5
2022 1449 59.0 24.5 25.7
2023 1387 56.3 24.6 28.6

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

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $356 (3.7%) $9,239 (96.3%) $9,595
2020 $505 (5.2%) $9,178 (94.8%) $9,684
2021 $747 (7.1%) $9,822 (92.9%) $10,569
2022 $1,060 (9.6%) $10,002 (90.4%) $11,062
2023 $1,329 (10.3%) $11,593 (89.7%) $12,922

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.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 80th of 666 High schoolsRanks 111th of 735 High schools
 3.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Social Studies (Central High School)66.749.5
 17.2%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Traverse City Area Public Schools)63.340.8
 22.5%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)46.636.1
 10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Central High School)70.177.4
 7.3%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Traverse City Area Public Schools)68.272
 3.8%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)55.352.2
 3.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Central High School)50.648.5
 2.1%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Traverse City Area Public Schools)51.747
 4.7%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)36.329.9
 6.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students14261387
 2.7%
African American1917
 10.5%
American Indian2221
 4.5%
Asian2721
 22.2%
Hispanic5750
 12.3%
Pacific Islander33
White12651234
 2.5%
Two or More Races3341
 24.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients26.9%28.6%
 1.6%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

Central High School ranks 136th of 743 Michigan high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Central High School are 89% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% American Indian, 1% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,387 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.





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