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Central High School

Q: Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 116 th of 293 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

116^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 293 Arkansas High Schools

Better than 60% of Arkansas high schools

Summary

Central High School in Little Rock, AR, is a large public high school serving 2,371 students in grades 9-12 within the Little Rock School District, a district ranked in the bottom third of the state. While historically a high-performing school with 4-star ratings, it has experienced a clear downward trend, dropping from the 84th percentile in state rankings to the 60th percentile and earning a 3-star rating. Over 55% of its students come from low-income backgrounds, and the school's graduation rate has fallen to 85.3%, nearly 5 percentage points below the state average.

The most striking feature of Central High is a dramatic split in academic performance. The school excels in English Language Arts (42.6% proficient) and Reading (46.5%), outperforming both the district and state averages. However, it faces a severe crisis in Algebra, where only 9.4% of students are proficient—less than half the district average and a quarter of the state average. This is not a one-year issue but a persistent three-year trend of extreme underperformance. In contrast, the nearby North Little Rock Center of Excellence, a smaller school with 100% free/reduced lunch rates, achieves higher graduation rates (92.2%) and better test scores in English and Reading, proving that strong results are possible even in challenging socioeconomic conditions.

Another concern is that per-student spending at Central High has risen significantly to $16,165, yet academic performance and graduation rates continue to decline. This suggests the issue is not a lack of resources but how they are allocated. For comparison, Estem High School spends less per student ($12,219) but earns a 4-star rating with a very low dropout rate of 0.4%. Meanwhile, schools like Graduate Arkansas Charter High and Premier High School of Little Rock are in crisis with abysmal graduation rates (46.7% and 24.2%, respectively), highlighting that Central High, while declining, still performs better than these alternatives. The school's most urgent need is a targeted intervention in Algebra instruction to reverse its downward trajectory.

2,371

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,165

Per pupil spending ?

56%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1500 Little Rock Nine Way
Little Rock, AR 72202

(501) 447-1400

District: Little Rock School District

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:	Brady Elementary School
	Dr Martin Luther King Junior Leadership & Language Magnet Academy
	Forest Park Elementary School
	Jefferson Elementary School
	More...
	McDermott Elementary School
	Pulaski Heights Elementary School
	Stephens Elementary
	Washington Elementary School
Middle:	Dunbar Magnet Middle School
	Pulaski Heights Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

46.3%

White:

29.0%

Asian:

11.2%

See top rated Arkansas high schools

Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 75th percentile in 2016 → 60th in 2026

Strengths

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Little Rock School District

✓Above the Arkansas median (60th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2016

!Algebra scores 28 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg31%

Arkansas avg39%

116^th of 293

Arkansas public high schools ?

Top 40%▼ down 14 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to top 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 4High Schools in the Little Rock School District

178^th of 251Little Rock School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	57.1	116 of 293	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.7	129 of 291	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.9	129 of 305	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.2	92 of 295	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.8	62 of 282	78.0%	★★★★☆
2021	75.1	47 of 290	83.8%	★★★★☆
2019	71.8	46 of 282	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	70.0	54 of 263	79.5%	★★★★☆
2017	67.9	65 of 264	75.4%	★★★★☆
2016	69.7	68 of 269	74.7%	★★★★☆
2015	60.5	64 of 267	76.0%	★★★★☆
2014	50.5	134 of 268	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	52.8	114 of 271	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.6	120 of 266	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.8	136 of 266	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	42.8	155 of 262	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.4	142 of 261	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	31.2	192 of 256	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	46.1	126 of 258	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	39.3	144 of 232	37.9%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Reading46%+6 vs state

Biology43%~ state avg

English Language Arts43%+3 vs state

Geometry27%~ state avg

Algebra9%-28 vs state

4.0

1 rating

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Schools Near Central High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2026)			ATLAS Reading (2026)			ATLAS Algebra (2026)			ATLAS Geometry (2026)					ATLAS Biology (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 9th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 10th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 9th Grade	ATLAS Reading 10th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Algebra 9th Grade	ATLAS Algebra 10th Grade	ATLAS Algebra All Grades	ATLAS Geometry 9th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 10th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 11th Grade	ATLAS Geometry 12th Grade	ATLAS Geometry All Grades	ATLAS Biology 9th Grade	ATLAS Biology 10th Grade	ATLAS Biology 11th Grade	ATLAS Biology All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High School	Public	9-12	1500 Little Rock Nine Way	Little Rock	72202	Pulaski County	Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 447-1400	2,371	161	14.6	56.0%	687 (29.0%)	1,097 (46.3%)	255 (10.8%)	266 (11.2%)	15 (0.6%)	3 (0.1%)	48 (2.0%)	57.1	116^th of 293 public high schools	60.4%		51.7	129^th of 291 public high schools	55.7%	13	40.8	44.5	42.6	44.9	48.2	46.5	9.4		9.4	60.4	10.8	5.0		26.7	77.7	22.9		43.3	$16,165	$1,690	$14,476
Premier High School Of Little Rock	Public, Charter	9-12	1621 Martin Luther King Dr	Little Rock	72202	Pulaski County	Premier High Schools Of Arkansas	Yes	No	No	Yes	(501) 246-3161	78	14	5.6	44.9%	0 (0.0%)	78 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.3	281^st of 293 public high schools	4.1%		1.1	291^st of 291 public high schools	0.0%	10	5.9	9.1	7.2	23.5	9.1	17.8													$19,142	$9,520	$9,622
Premier High School Online	Public, Charter	7-12	400 Hardin Rd Suite 120	Little Rock	72202	Pulaski County	Premier High Schools Of Arkansas	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(479) 282-9971	292	13	22.1	21.6%	79 (27.1%)	134 (45.9%)	47 (16.1%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.4%)	3 (1.0%)	24 (8.2%)	26	237^th of 293 public high schools	19.1%		35	204^th of 291 public high schools	29.9%	33	12.2	21.0	17.6	26.0	29.9	28.3	33.3		42.1		18.2	33.3		25.8		7.1		10.3
Arkansas School For The Blind High School	Public	7-12	2600 W Markham	Little Rock	72205	Pulaski County	Arkansas School For The Blind	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 296-1810	32	12	2.7	40.6%	19 (59.4%)	9 (28.1%)	2 (6.3%)	2 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Arkansas Virtual Academy High School	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	717 West 7th Street	Little Rock	72201	Pulaski County	Arkansas Virtual Academy	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(501) 664-4225	2,567	210	12.1	53.0%	1,811 (70.5%)	396 (15.4%)	168 (6.5%)	21 (0.8%)	26 (1.0%)	2 (0.1%)	143 (5.6%)	40.7	187^th of 293 public high schools	36.2%		46.3	153^rd of 291 public high schools	47.4%	34	25.3	29.1	27.2	32.2	34.0	33.1	25.6	31.6	26.0	24.6	22.9	31.0		23.4	43.8	28.7	43.8	31.7
Estem High School	Public, Charter	9-12	112 W 3rd St	Little Rock	72201	Pulaski County	Estem Public Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(501) 478-2800	676	69	9.8	61.7%	108 (16.0%)	424 (62.7%)	93 (13.8%)	7 (1.0%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	37 (5.5%)	65.9	79^th of 293 public high schools	73.0%		59.9	88^th of 291 public high schools	69.8%	9	40.3	49.6	44.6	40.9	50.4	45.3	30.9		30.4	86.7	13.3			22.7	69.3	41.1		58.7	$12,219	$1,018	$11,201
Lisa Academy West High School	Public, Charter	9-12	6711 W. Markham St	Little Rock	72205	Pulaski County	Lisa Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(501) 500-5051	394	32	12.4	76.1%	42 (10.7%)	169 (42.9%)	162 (41.1%)	11 (2.8%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.3%)	43.6	176^th of 293 public high schools	39.9%		57	109^th of 291 public high schools	62.5%	67	35.5	40.4	37.9	36.4	44.5	40.3	6.4		6.4	45.0	3.3			10.7	88.9	26.9		38.0	$12,595	$1,077	$11,518
North Little Rock High School	Public	9-12	201 West 22nd Street	North Little Rock	72114	Pulaski County	North Little Rock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(501) 771-8100	1,652	141	11.7	99.9%	330 (20.0%)	976 (59.1%)	250 (15.1%)	23 (1.4%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	66 (4.0%)	22	247^th of 293 public high schools	15.7%		14.1	268^th of 291 public high schools	7.9%	21	26.4	20.9	24.1	30.3	25.4	28.2	11.1		11.1	17.3	8.3			10.0	46.4	13.7		21.4	$16,410	$2,508	$13,902
North Little Rock Center Of Excellence	Public, Charter	9-12	201 West 22nd Street	North Little Rock	72114	Pulaski County	North Little Rock School District	Yes	No	No	Yes	(501) 975-3895	472	32	14.6	100.0%	139 (29.4%)	236 (50.0%)	70 (14.8%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	54.4	132^nd of 293 public high schools	54.9%		37	195^th of 291 public high schools	33.0%	63	64.6	38.7	46.8	75.1	41.5	52.0	16.0		16.0		8.2			9.6	70.8	19.5		32.3	$10,273	$1,721	$8,552
Graduate Arkansas Charter High	Public, Charter	9-12	6724 Interstate 30	Little Rock	72209	Pulaski County	Graduate Arkansas Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(501) 500-9270	557	10	53.1	99.1%	203 (36.4%)	251 (45.1%)	63 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (7.0%)	20.5	251^st of 293 public high schools	14.3%		20	253^rd of 291 public high schools	13.1%	2	13.5	9.3	11.2	21.2	15.2	18.1	33.7		31.6	32.1	25.9	35.7	46.2	30.0	24.2	16.4	18.2	18.3	$8,304	$1,803	$6,501

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Brady Elementary School
Elementary : Dr Martin Luther King Junior Leadership & Language Magnet Academy
Elementary : Forest Park Elementary School
Elementary : Jefferson Elementary School
Elementary : McDermott Elementary School
Elementary : Pulaski Heights Elementary School
Elementary : Stephens Elementary
Elementary : Washington Elementary School
Middle : Dunbar Magnet Middle School
Middle : Pulaski Heights Middle School

Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 116^th of 293 Arkansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Central High School in?

Little Rock School District

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 46% African American, 29% White, 11% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,371 students attended Central High School.

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Latest Arkansas data All new data »

2025–26 ATLAS test scoresJul 13, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesMar 5, 2026

2019–20 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2017–18 through 2024–25 dropout ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary 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.