Central Senior High

Summary:

Central Senior High is a public high school in Saint Paul Public Schools serving 1,691 students in grades 9-12. The school consistently outperforms the district and state in academic metrics, with strong test scores, graduation rates, and a diverse student population.

Central Senior High stands out for its academic excellence, with 60.92% of 10th-graders proficient in reading and 43% proficient in science, compared to the district's 41.74% and 30.59%, respectively. The school also maintains a higher graduation rate, ranging from 87.5% to 92.1% in recent years, and a lower dropout rate than the district. Notably, Central Senior High's diverse student body, with a racial makeup of 42.11% White, 29.04% African American, 8.34% Hispanic, 12.12% Asian, and 7.63% two or more races, is more balanced compared to nearby schools like Leap High School, which has a predominantly Hispanic student population.

While Central Senior High performs well overall, there is room for improvement in addressing the achievement gap for African American students, who consistently rank lower than their peers in various academic metrics. Targeted interventions and support programs could help to close this gap and ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students. Nonetheless, Central Senior High stands out as a high-performing school within the Saint Paul Public Schools district, offering a quality education to its diverse student population.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 275 Lexington Pkwy N
       Saint Paul, MN  55104-5400


(651) 744-4900

District: Saint Paul Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
139th of 480 Minnesota High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,683 Help


Feeder schools for Central Senior High:

Elementary:    Groveland Park Elementary
    Maxfield Elementary School
    Randolph Heights Elementary
Middle:    Hidden River Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  21.3 Help
Number of students:  1,574

Racial breakdown:

White:
44.7%
African American:
27.1%
Asian:
10.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  46.1% Help


 See top rated Minnesota high schools

 Compare Central Senior High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Central Senior High ranks better than 71% of high schools in Minnesota. It also ranks 3rd among 10 ranked high schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.8. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Central Senior High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (44.7%), African American (27.1%), Asian (10.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 46.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Senior High is 21.3. 13 high schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Central Senior High employs 73.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Senior High is $14,683. 14 high schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central Senior High:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Senior High 139th of 480 Minnesota public high schools. (See Central Senior High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Saint Paul Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Saint Paul Public Schools 346th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Central Senior High.

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Rank History for Central Senior High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 66.36 203rd 433 53.1%
2005 63.40 247th 452 45.4%
2006 71.80 146th 450 67.6%
2007 69.43 158th 463 65.9%
2008 66.79 188th 460 59.1%
2010 59.32 265th 540 50.9%
2011 61.02 265th 545 51.4%
2012 63.70 231st 539 57.1%
2013 59.35 253rd 534 52.6%
2014 60.38 224th 483 53.6%
2015 55.14 267th 504 47.0%
2016 59.41 239th 489 51.1%
2017 69.83 160th 489 67.3%
2018 67.00 178th 494 64.0%
2019 66.79 172nd 492 65.0%
2021 81.32 51st 428 88.1%
2022 63.27 179th 472 62.1%
2023 59.12 200th 476 58.0%
2024 69.80 139th 480 71.0%
See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 49.65 34th 66 48.5%
2022 54.99 30th 74 59.5%
2023 53.29 30th 64 53.1%
2024 70.08 19th 72 73.6%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.84 10th 78 87.2%
2019 66.44 16th 85 81.2%
2022 80.30 6th 87 93.1%
2023 64.25 17th 90 81.1%
2024 80.92 9th 102 91.2%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 59.37 68th 195 65.1%
2019 44.38 127th 220 42.3%
2021 99.06 2nd 173 98.8%
2022 62.95 63rd 214 70.6%
2023 44.12 126th 216 41.7%
2024 78.79 25th 221 88.7%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.11 246th 374 34.2%
2019 40.46 238th 370 35.7%
2021 46.36 150th 270 44.4%
2022 40.57 189th 312 39.4%
2023 24.17 325th 393 17.3%
2024 32.55 277th 389 28.8%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.24 213th 395 46.1%
2019 57.41 191st 401 52.4%
2021 64.40 122nd 339 64.0%
2022 57.34 183rd 388 52.8%
2023 50.80 209th 396 47.2%
2024 65.21 131st 403 67.5%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.37 143rd 398 64.1%
2019 63.05 164th 411 60.1%
2021 87.32 21st 351 94.0%
2022 57.87 169th 403 58.1%
2023 56.41 177th 398 55.5%
2024 62.87 141st 405 65.2%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.53 52nd 76 31.6%
2019 26.60 60th 78 23.1%
2021 60.18 20th 49 59.2%
2022 30.13 47th 68 30.9%
2023 31.86 50th 71 29.6%
2024 43.11 38th 78 51.3%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.16 54th 106 49.1%
2019 44.53 59th 103 42.7%
2021 35.87 45th 68 33.8%
2022 23.93 85th 102 16.7%
2023 21.68 81st 98 17.3%
2024 24.01 83rd 109 23.9%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.68 22nd 129 82.9%
2019 67.26 35th 132 73.5%
2022 39.99 81st 135 40.0%
2023 53.30 54th 136 60.3%
2024 89.41 13th 145 91.0%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Central Senior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.78 7th 414 98.3%
2019 89.84 17th 412 95.9%
2021 93.57 8th 364 97.8%
2022 87.07 22nd 401 94.5%
2023 80.47 54th 398 86.4%
2024 78.00 60th 402 85.1%
See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota 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 Senior High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, October 3, 2016

Open Quote My sons went to Central in the 1990s. I am delighted to see it going strong as always under outstanding leadership. Close Quote


by a citizen
Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Open Quote I graduated from Cental Sr. High in 2008 and I would like to say that I enjoyed school very much. Like every school there are teachers you like and dislike, but you'll definately find that there are more teachers to like than dislike. The teachers and staff are helpful and easy to speak with.

Although the halls are packed and the five flights of stairs are horrible, there is always something to enjoy; whether it be friends or class.

There was a saying in my year-Central isn't Central without Mr. S (I will not name)-even those who did not know Mr. S agreed. If you went to Central you know who I mean. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Central Senior High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 848 528 82 42 20 n/a n/a 0 1520
1989 804 540 79 31 17 n/a n/a 0 1471
1990 813 535 78 36 17 n/a n/a 0 1479
1991 1028 644 117 48 22 n/a n/a -333 1526
1992 916 531 129 39 17 n/a n/a 0 1632
1993 1005 559 144 46 18 n/a n/a 0 1772
1994 1086 583 181 56 17 n/a n/a 0 1923
1995 1136 515 272 48 22 n/a n/a 0 1993
1996 1136 515 272 48 22 n/a n/a 0 1993
1997 1122 464 323 52 20 n/a n/a 0 1981
1998 1104 492 387 60 18 n/a n/a 0 2061
1999 1130 499 451 72 14 n/a n/a 0 2166
2000 1057 506 487 77 15 n/a n/a 0 2142
2001 1034 528 502 77 13 n/a n/a 0 2154
2002 926 612 492 77 17 n/a n/a 0 2124
2003 926 612 492 77 17 n/a n/a 0 2124
2004 853 627 500 78 22 n/a n/a 0 2080
2005 818 646 516 88 23 n/a n/a 0 2091
2006 759 636 541 108 24 n/a n/a 0 2068
2007 760 678 559 98 24 n/a n/a 0 2119
2008 731 697 578 106 22 n/a n/a 0 2134
2009 695 700 597 84 17 n/a n/a 0 2093
2010 714 689 613 92 16 n/a n/a 0 2124
2011 720 706 648 124 14 0 14 0 2226
2012 740 630 652 128 9 0 15 0 2174
2013 725 590 606 125 9 0 20 0 2075
2014 678 596 539 110 17 1 28 0 1969
2015 681 582 483 92 11 0 35 0 1884
2016 688 599 439 90 20 0 27 0 1863
2017 669 591 379 88 9 0 28 0 1764
2018 710 543 373 113 7 0 39 0 1785
2019 737 518 347 118 10 0 65 0 1795
2020 769 540 311 144 13 0 90 0 1867
2021 733 547 284 159 12 0 116 0 1851
2022 760 534 239 165 14 0 133 0 1845
2023 712 491 205 141 13 0 129 0 1691
2024 704 426 165 123 10 0 146 0 1574

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 Senior High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1520 73.9 20.5 26.7
1989 1471 60.0 24.5 24.2
1990 1479 67.1 22.0 23
1991 1526 64.4 23.6 33
1992 1632 68.9 23.6 26.9
1993 1772 73.1 24.2 24.2
1994 1923 84.9 22.7 24.5
1995 1993 0.0 0.0 22.1
1996 1993 0.0 0.0 22.1
1997 1981 73.7 26.9 24
1998 2061 n/a 0.0 27.1
1999 2166 110.5 19.6 26
2000 2142 90.6 23.6 34.2
2001 2154 92.8 23.2 37.3
2002 2124 85.9 24.7 41.1
2003 2124 85.9 24.7 41.1
2004 2080 115.0 18.1 44.3
2005 2091 87.1 24.0 48.9
2006 2068 86.8 23.8 52.6
2007 2119 83.2 25.5 50.5
2008 2134 81.2 26.3 54.7
2009 2093 83.4 25.1 53.9
2010 2124 81.6 26.0 57.8
2011 2226 84.8 26.2 57.2
2012 2174 91.1 23.8 55.4
2013 2075 92.5 22.4 54.7
2014 1969 96.3 20.4 55.3
2015 1884 88.0 21.4 53.3
2016 1863 91.0 20.4 51.6
2017 1764 87.1 20.2 50.9
2018 1785 93.8 19.0 48.2
2019 1795 93.9 19.1 45.9
2020 1867 93.8 19.8 44.3
2021 1851 77.6 23.8 43.8
2022 1845 80.0 23.0 42.6
2023 1691 73.2 23.0 49
2024 1574 73.6 21.3 46.1

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 Senior High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1520 73.9 20.5 26.7
1989 1471 60.0 24.5 24.2
1990 1479 67.1 22.0 23
1991 1526 64.4 23.6 33
1992 1632 68.9 23.6 26.9
1993 1772 73.1 24.2 24.2
1994 1923 84.9 22.7 24.5
1995 1993 0.0 0.0 22.1
1996 1993 0.0 0.0 22.1
1997 1981 73.7 26.9 24
1998 2061 n/a 0.0 27.1
1999 2166 110.5 19.6 26
2000 2142 90.6 23.6 34.2
2001 2154 92.8 23.2 37.3
2002 2124 85.9 24.7 41.1
2003 2124 85.9 24.7 41.1
2004 2080 115.0 18.1 44.3
2005 2091 87.1 24.0 48.9
2006 2068 86.8 23.8 52.6
2007 2119 83.2 25.5 50.5
2008 2134 81.2 26.3 54.7
2009 2093 83.4 25.1 53.9
2010 2124 81.6 26.0 57.8
2011 2226 84.8 26.2 57.2
2012 2174 91.1 23.8 55.4
2013 2075 92.5 22.4 54.7
2014 1969 96.3 20.4 55.3
2015 1884 88.0 21.4 53.3
2016 1863 91.0 20.4 51.6
2017 1764 87.1 20.2 50.9
2018 1785 93.8 19.0 48.2
2019 1795 93.9 19.1 45.9
2020 1867 93.8 19.8 44.3
2021 1851 77.6 23.8 43.8
2022 1845 80.0 23.0 42.6
2023 1691 73.2 23.0 49
2024 1574 73.6 21.3 46.1

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 Senior High

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $14,683

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Senior High

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 172nd of 492 High schoolsRanks 200th of 476 High schools
 7.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade Reading (Central Senior High)66.452.2
 14.2%
   10th Grade Reading (Saint Paul Public Schools)45.937.8
 8.1%
   10th Grade Reading (Minnesota)60.451.7
 8.7%
11th Grade Math (Central Senior High)46.630.1
 16.5%
   11th Grade Math (Saint Paul Public Schools)27.419.4
 7.9%
   11th Grade Math (Minnesota)4536
 9%
End of Course Science (Central Senior High)49.637.6
 12%
   End of Course Science (Saint Paul Public Schools)35.426.2
 9.2%
   End of Course Science (Minnesota)54.441.8
 12.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students17951691
 5.8%
African American518491
 5.2%
American Indian1013
 30%
Asian347205
 40.9%
Hispanic118141
 19.5%
Pacific Islander00
White737712
 3.4%
Two or More Races65129
 98.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients45.9%49%
 3.1%


Schools Near Central Senior High









Frequently Asked Questions about Central Senior High

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,574 students attended Central Senior High.

Central Senior High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Groveland Park Elementary
Elementary : Maxfield Elementary School
Elementary : Randolph Heights Elementary
Middle : Hidden River Middle School

Central Senior High ranks 139th of 480 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Central Senior High are 45% White, 27% African American, 10% Asian, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic.


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