Central High School

Summary:

Central High School is a public magnet high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,364 students. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top 5 high schools in the state, despite the Philadelphia City School District being ranked 494 out of 610 districts in Pennsylvania and having a 1-star rating.

Central High School's students significantly outperform their peers in the district and the state on Keystone Exams, with 89.4% of 11th-graders proficient or better in Algebra I, compared to just 25.7% in the district and 41.6% statewide. The school also boasts high graduation rates, ranging from 87.0% to 96.5% in recent years, and low dropout rates, from 0.8% to 5.9%. Additionally, Central High School excels in serving diverse student populations, ranking among the top 2-5 high schools in Pennsylvania for African American, Hispanic, and multi-racial students, as well as for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Compared to nearby schools like Parkway Northwest, Olney High School, and Philadelphia Learning Academy - North, Central High School's academic performance is exceptional, with significantly higher Keystone Exam proficiency and statewide rankings. This success can be attributed to factors such as the school's relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $11,064 to $14,222 in recent years, and its student-teacher ratio of 20.3 to 24.4, which is within a reasonable range for a large high school.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

 1700 W Olney Ave
       Philadelphia, PA  19141-1105


(215) 400-3590

District: Philadelphia City School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
4th of 686 Pennsylvania High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,222 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  20.4 Help
Number of students:  2,287

Racial breakdown:

Asian:
36.2%
White:
27.6%
African American:
21.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Central High School ranks better than 99.4% of high schools in Pennsylvania. It also ranks 2nd among 54 ranked high schools in the Philadelphia City School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 98.13. (See more...)
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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.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Central High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (36.2%), White (27.6%), African American (21.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central High School is 20.4. 52 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Central High School employs 111.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central High School is $14,222. 48 high schools in the Philadelphia City School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Central High School 4th of 686 Pennsylvania public high schools. (See Central High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Philadelphia City School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Philadelphia City School District 494th of 610 Pennsylvania 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 PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 98.10 2nd 583 99.7%
2004 97.62 3rd 590 99.5%
2005 95.21 5th 593 99.2%
2006 94.00 3rd 604 99.5%
2007 94.17 2nd 615 99.7%
2008 95.99 2nd 621 99.7%
2009 96.43 2nd 632 99.7%
2010 96.12 1st 649 99.8%
2011 95.20 2nd 660 99.7%
2012 94.35 3rd 664 99.5%
2013 96.72 3rd 591 99.5%
2014 95.90 3rd 580 99.5%
2015 95.07 3rd 680 99.6%
2016 93.13 3rd 677 99.6%
2017 93.90 3rd 663 99.5%
2018 94.41 3rd 673 99.6%
2019 94.97 4th 693 99.4%
2021 92.63 5th 537 99.1%
2022 94.53 4th 634 99.4%
2023 97.06 5th 674 99.3%
2024 98.13 4th 686 99.4%
See the entire list of Pennsylvania High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 94.86 4th 129 96.9%
2024 98.28 2nd 150 98.7%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 99.63 2nd 652 99.7%
2024 99.80 3rd 664 99.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania 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 PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 96.96 3rd 665 99.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 98.49 3rd 662 99.5%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 81.25 22nd 112 80.4%
2024 85.09 5th 121 95.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 99.42 2nd 260 99.2%
2024 99.68 2nd 284 99.3%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania 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 PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 99.67 1st 252 99.6%
2024 98.88 3rd 274 98.9%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Central High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools PA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 97.39 7th 577 98.8%
2024 98.62 5th 595 99.2%
See the entire list of Best Pennsylvania High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania Department of Education

Review counts

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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 900 714 349 60 2 n/a n/a -1 2024
1989 942 722 381 53 3 n/a n/a 0 2101
1990 883 713 347 63 2 n/a n/a 0 2008
1991 882 742 325 66 4 n/a n/a 0 2019
1992 898 818 342 77 5 n/a n/a 0 2140
1993 966 780 374 80 4 n/a n/a 0 2204
1994 1024 756 404 82 6 n/a n/a 0 2272
1995 1061 648 475 78 3 n/a n/a 0 2265
1996 1061 648 475 78 3 n/a n/a 0 2265
1997 1028 695 461 95 5 n/a n/a 0 2284
1998 996 738 463 125 6 n/a n/a 0 2328
1999 1019 770 486 124 9 n/a n/a 0 2408
2000 1063 838 502 132 8 n/a n/a 0 2543
2001 1017 834 552 132 6 n/a n/a 0 2541
2002 942 782 574 133 5 n/a n/a 0 2436
2003 942 782 574 133 5 n/a n/a 0 2436
2004 894 774 563 151 3 n/a n/a 0 2385
2005 854 740 555 160 5 n/a n/a 0 2314
2006 785 744 562 158 4 n/a n/a 0 2253
2007 739 723 572 184 5 n/a n/a 0 2223
2008 719 684 613 176 6 n/a n/a 22 2220
2009 699 682 636 168 3 n/a n/a 24 2212
2010 676 756 697 166 5 n/a n/a 31 2331
2011 678 764 719 179 7 0 37 0 2384
2012 626 768 723 178 6 0 59 0 2360
2013 584 721 746 203 9 0 66 0 2329
2014 590 710 716 204 8 0 83 0 2311
2015 532 669 729 192 4 0 101 0 2227
2016 531 602 772 193 5 0 138 0 2241
2017 551 611 824 187 7 0 136 0 2316
2018 593 564 875 185 7 0 147 0 2371
2019 634 499 925 174 7 1 157 0 2397
2020 683 472 934 182 6 1 134 0 2412
2021 732 435 938 187 3 2 119 0 2416
2022 744 427 910 191 4 2 103 0 2381
2023 662 517 836 240 8 2 99 0 2364
2024 632 493 828 230 5 2 97 0 2287

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
1988 2024 102.0 19.8 n/a
1989 2101 107.0 19.6 n/a
1990 2008 104.0 19.3 0
1991 2019 97.0 20.8 n/a
1992 2140 95.0 22.5 n/a
1993 2204 97.0 22.7 n/a
1994 2272 93.0 24.4 n/a
1995 2265 96.0 23.6 n/a
1996 2265 96.0 23.6 n/a
1997 2284 95.0 24.0 n/a
1998 2328 91.0 25.6 n/a
1999 2408 100.0 24.1 n/a
2000 2543 114.0 22.3 18.6
2001 2541 117.0 21.7 16.8
2002 2436 110.0 22.1 16.4
2003 2436 110.0 22.1 16.4
2004 2385 106.7 22.4 16.4
2005 2314 104.9 22.1 17.2
2006 2253 104.9 21.5 37
2007 2223 107.1 20.8 29
2008 2220 102.7 21.6 35.9
2009 2212 100.5 22.0 33
2010 2331 107.9 21.6 37.8
2011 2384 111.7 21.3 33.8
2012 2360 102.3 23.0 34.2
2013 2329 98.9 23.5 n/a
2014 2311 95.0 24.3 49.1
2015 2227 94.0 23.6 50.1
2016 2241 56.0 40.0 100
2017 2316 101.1 22.8 100
2018 2371 90.8 26.1 100
2019 2397 97.3 24.6 100
2020 2412 99.8 24.1 100
2021 2416 98.8 24.4 99.9
2022 2381 98.8 24.0 99.9
2023 2364 116.1 20.3 100
2024 2287 111.7 20.4 100

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
1988 2024 102.0 19.8 n/a
1989 2101 107.0 19.6 n/a
1990 2008 104.0 19.3 0
1991 2019 97.0 20.8 n/a
1992 2140 95.0 22.5 n/a
1993 2204 97.0 22.7 n/a
1994 2272 93.0 24.4 n/a
1995 2265 96.0 23.6 n/a
1996 2265 96.0 23.6 n/a
1997 2284 95.0 24.0 n/a
1998 2328 91.0 25.6 n/a
1999 2408 100.0 24.1 n/a
2000 2543 114.0 22.3 18.6
2001 2541 117.0 21.7 16.8
2002 2436 110.0 22.1 16.4
2003 2436 110.0 22.1 16.4
2004 2385 106.7 22.4 16.4
2005 2314 104.9 22.1 17.2
2006 2253 104.9 21.5 37
2007 2223 107.1 20.8 29
2008 2220 102.7 21.6 35.9
2009 2212 100.5 22.0 33
2010 2331 107.9 21.6 37.8
2011 2384 111.7 21.3 33.8
2012 2360 102.3 23.0 34.2
2013 2329 98.9 23.5 n/a
2014 2311 95.0 24.3 49.1
2015 2227 94.0 23.6 50.1
2016 2241 56.0 40.0 100
2017 2316 101.1 22.8 100
2018 2371 90.8 26.1 100
2019 2397 97.3 24.6 100
2020 2412 99.8 24.1 100
2021 2416 98.8 24.4 99.9
2022 2381 98.8 24.0 99.9
2023 2364 116.1 20.3 100
2024 2287 111.7 20.4 100

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 $1,004 (9.1%) $10,060 (90.9%) $11,064
2020 $967 (8.4%) $10,485 (91.6%) $11,452
2021 $2,365 (19.6%) $9,694 (80.4%) $12,059
2022 $7,333 (51.6%) $6,889 (48.4%) $14,222

Data source: Pennsylvania 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 4th of 693 High schoolsRanks 5th of 674 High schools
 0.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade Algebra I (Central High School)99.588.2
 11.3%
   11th Grade Algebra I (Pennsylvania)63.334.1
 29.2%
11th Grade Biology (Central High School)98.380.2
 18.1%
   11th Grade Biology (Pennsylvania)63.250.7
 12.5%
11th Grade Literature (Central High School)99.598.4
 1.1%
   11th Grade Literature (Pennsylvania)71.565.3
 6.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students23972364
 1.4%
African American499517
 3.6%
American Indian78
 14.3%
Asian925836
 9.6%
Hispanic174240
 37.9%
Pacific Islander12
 100%
White634662
 4.4%
Two or More Races15799
 36.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

Students at Central High School are 36% Asian, 28% White, 22% African American, 10% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

Yes! Central High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 4th of 686 Pennsylvania high schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 2,287 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 Pennsylvania 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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