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Central High School

Q: Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 593 rd of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

593^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida High Schools

Better than 29% of Florida high schools

Summary

Central High School in Brooksville, FL, is a large public high school serving 1,444 students in grades 9-12 within the Hernando school district, which has a 2-star rating. While the school boasts a high graduation rate of 95% for the 2024-2025 school year, this positive figure is contradicted by alarmingly low academic proficiency and a chronic absenteeism rate of 46.9%, meaning nearly half of its students miss a significant number of school days. This makes Central the lowest-performing comprehensive high school in the district, with a 1-star rating and a state ranking that has steadily declined over the past decade from the 53rd percentile to the 29th percentile.

The school's most significant challenges are in mathematics, where only 27% of students are proficient in Algebra 1 and 36% in Geometry—the weakest scores in the district. This is dramatically lower than the top-performing Nature Coast Technical High, which achieves 51% and 55% proficiency in those subjects, respectively. Central also trails Weeki Wachee High School in math, despite spending more per student ($10,673) than any other comprehensive high school in the district. In contrast, Frank W. Springstead High School spends significantly less ($9,204) but outperforms Central in several subjects, highlighting that higher spending is not translating into better results.

Interestingly, Central shows a clear disparity between subjects: while math scores are critically low, proficiency in Biology 1 (59%) and US History (61%) is much closer to the district average. This suggests the problem is not a school-wide inability to teach, but a specific and persistent challenge in mathematics instruction and student readiness. The high chronic absenteeism rate—the highest among district comprehensive high schools—is likely a primary driver of these poor outcomes. The school's high graduation rate, despite low test scores, points to a "diploma gap" where students may be pushed through without acquiring necessary academic skills, making it crucial for parents to investigate how the school plans to improve attendance and math instruction.

1,444

Students ?

18.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,673

Per pupil spending ?

46.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

14075 Ken Austin Pkwy
Brooksville, FL 34613

(352) 797-7020

District: Hernando

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:

John D. Floyd Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.5%

Hispanic:

34.3%

African American:

10.0%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 29th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (48% vs 64% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (47% vs 31% Florida)

!Ranking has slipped — down 24 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg56%

Florida avg64%

593^rd of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Bottom 29%▼ down 24 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to bottom 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5High Schools in the Hernando

46^th of 70Hernando among Florida 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	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	29.0	593 of 838	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.2	576 of 844	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.8	496 of 807	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.7	463 of 792	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.6	484 of 774	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.3	408 of 746	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.4	434 of 734	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.8	406 of 716	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.6	367 of 714	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.9	327 of 693	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	54.7	279 of 687	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	37.6	396 of 648	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.3	264 of 606	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.7	298 of 622	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	59.0	276 of 620	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	55.5	284 of 587	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	53.1	284 of 577	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	51.5	286 of 563	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.0	224 of 477	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	53.3	243 of 487	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	58.3	212 of 484	56.2%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

US History61%-13 vs state

Biology 159%-15 vs state

English Language Arts50%-11 vs state

Geometry36%-20 vs state

Algebra 127%-36 vs state

★

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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)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High School	Public	9-12	14075 Ken Austin Pkwy	Brooksville	34613	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	No	(352) 797-7020	1,444	77	18.7	46.7%	700 (48.5%)	145 (10.0%)	495 (34.3%)	28 (1.9%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	73 (5.1%)	29	593^rd of 838 public high schools	29.2%		31.2	576^th of 844 public high schools	31.8%	17	50.0	49.0	27.0	36.0	59.0	61.0	$10,673	$358	$10,315
Weeki Wachee High School	Public	9-12	12150 Vespa Way	Weeki Wachee	34614	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	No	(352) 797-7029	1,437	65	22.1	47.6%	886 (61.7%)	90 (6.3%)	362 (25.2%)	10 (0.7%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	86 (6.0%)	38.6	489^th of 838 public high schools	41.6%		32.2	562^nd of 844 public high schools	33.4%	73	51.0	53.0	35.0	50.0	70.0	68.0	$10,032	$303	$9,729
Nature Coast Technical High	Public, Magnet	9-12	4057 California St	Brooksville	34604	Hernando County	Hernando	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 797-7088	1,293	63	20.5	33.8%	727 (56.2%)	68 (5.3%)	388 (30.0%)	30 (2.3%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	76 (5.9%)	51.8	314^th of 838 public high schools	62.5%		46.9	373^rd of 844 public high schools	55.8%	59	70.0	62.0	51.0	55.0	74.0	68.0	$10,638	$512	$10,126
Pace Center For Girls	Public	6-12	3139 Dumont Ave	Spring Hill	34609	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 667-1918	20	4	4.6	60.0%	12 (60.0%)	3 (15.0%)	4 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.0%)								(n/a)
Hernando County Jail	Public	8-12	16425 Spring Hill Dr	Brooksville	34604	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	No	(352) 797-3408	5	0			3 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Frank W. Springstead High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	3300 Mariner Blvd	Spring Hill	34609	Hernando County	Hernando	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 797-7010	1,853	85	21.8	46.5%	904 (48.8%)	131 (7.1%)	633 (34.2%)	53 (2.9%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	128 (6.9%)	33.9	546^th of 838 public high schools	34.8%		39.9	466^th of 844 public high schools	44.8%	80	56.0	42.0	17.0	41.0	64.0	68.0	$9,204	$242	$8,963
Hernando High School	Public	6-12	700 Bell Ave	Brooksville	34601	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	No	(352) 797-7015	1,299	60	21.6	51.7%	786 (60.5%)	181 (13.9%)	242 (18.6%)	14 (1.1%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	70 (5.4%)	30.4	579^th of 838 public high schools	30.9%		26.9	619^th of 844 public high schools	26.7%	40	55.0	49.0	18.0	28.0	62.0	61.0	$9,858	$320	$9,539
Camp E-Nini Hassee	Public	6-12	7027 E Stagecoach Tr	Floral City	34436	Citrus County	Citrus	No	No	No	Yes	(888) 726-3883	17	2	8.5	17.6%	12 (70.6%)	1 (5.9%)	2 (11.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (11.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Hudson High School	Public, Magnet	6-12	14410 Cobra Way	Hudson	34669	Pasco County	Pasco	No	Yes	No	Yes	(727) 774-4200	1,497	71	21.2	48.3%	1,016 (67.9%)	76 (5.1%)	299 (20.0%)	20 (1.3%)	11 (0.7%)	2 (0.1%)	73 (4.9%)	31.8	567^th of 838 public high schools	32.3%		35.7	516^th of 844 public high schools	38.9%	51	45.0	47.0	28.0	40.0	64.0	70.0	$9,827	$1,160	$8,667
Pace Center For Girls	Public	6-12	3630 W Educational Path	Lecanto	34461	Citrus County	Citrus	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 464-6520	29	2	14.5	86.2%	21 (72.4%)	1 (3.4%)	4 (13.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (10.3%)								(n/a)							$9,893	$3,223	$6,670

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : John D. Floyd Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 48% White, 34% Hispanic, 10% African American, 5% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 593^rd of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,444 students attended Central High School.

What district is Central High School in?

Hernando

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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