Central High School

Central High School in Rockford, AL, is a small school serving 354 students in grades 7 through 12 within the Coosa County district. The school has experienced significant ups and downs in recent years, making it a school in flux that parents should watch closely.

One of the most striking things about Central High is how much its performance swings from year to year. After a period of low ratings, the school jumped to a 55th percentile ranking in 2024-2025, only to fall back to the 31st percentile the following year. This volatility is much more pronounced than at nearby schools like Benjamin Russell High School or Sylacauga High School, which have shown more stable trajectories. On a positive note, the school has made remarkable progress in reducing chronic absenteeism, dropping from a staggering 44.7% to just 11.2%—now below the state average. The graduation rate also rebounded from a concerning 62.5% to 87.1%, though it still trails the state average of 91.5%.

Academically, Central High struggles most in math and science, where proficiency rates are well below state averages and neighboring schools. For example, 11th-grade math proficiency (12.5%) is less than half of BB Comer Memorial High School's rate (30.16%), even though both schools serve similar grade ranges and student demographics. English is a relative bright spot, with proficiency rates that have at times exceeded the state average. The school also shows uneven results across student groups, with some subgroups performing much better than others. Notably, Central spends more per student ($11,807) than nearby schools yet achieves lower outcomes, suggesting that financial resources alone aren't the answer. For parents, this is a school with clear challenges but also signs of improvement—particularly in attendance and graduation—that deserve attention.