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Central High School

Q: Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 169 th of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

169^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 698 Illinois High Schools

Better than 76% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Central High School is a public high school located in Champaign, Illinois, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,642 students. The school is part of the Champaign CUSD 4 district, which is ranked 631 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central High School consistently ranks in the top 20-25% of Illinois high schools, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's students outperform the district and state averages in several key academic areas, including ACT/English Language Arts, ACT/Mathematics, and ACT/Science. Central High School also has consistently high four-year graduation rates, ranging from 81.5% to 89.0%, and relatively low dropout rates, ranging from 2.4% to 7.0%. Additionally, the school has lower chronic absenteeism rates compared to the district.

While Central High School performs well overall, it faces some challenges. The school's performance for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds is generally lower than its overall academic performance, suggesting the need for targeted interventions and support. Compared to nearby high-performing schools, such as Mahomet-Seymour High School and Unity High School, Central High School's academic performance is still below that of these top-performing schools.

1,666

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,648

Per pupil spending ?

44.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

610 W University Ave
Champaign, IL 61820-3918

(217) 351-3914

District: Champaign CUSD 4

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:	Bottenfield Elementary School
	Carrie Busey Elementary School
	Dr Howard Elementary School
	Kenwood Elementary School
	More...
	Robeson Elementary School
	South Side Elementary School
	Stratton Elementary School
	Vernon L Barkstall Elementary School
	Westview Elementary School
Middle:	Edison Middle School
	Franklin Middle School
	Jefferson Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

37.8%

African American:

26.0%

Hispanic:

19.3%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 63rd percentile in 2015 → 76th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Illinois high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 13 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the Illinois average (82% vs 89%)

!Dropout rate above the Illinois average (7% vs 2%)

!High chronic absenteeism (46% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg46%

Illinois avg48%

169^th of 698

Illinois public high schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From top 37% (2015) to top 24% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Champaign CUSD 4

631^st of 811Champaign CUSD 4 among Illinois 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	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	70.6	169 of 698	75.8%	★★★★☆
2024	72.8	149 of 697	78.6%	★★★★☆
2023	78.6	124 of 699	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	75.0	138 of 699	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	78.2	119 of 688	82.7%	★★★★☆
2019	67.4	184 of 701	73.8%	★★★★☆
2018	69.2	178 of 647	72.5%	★★★★☆
2017	64.2	197 of 642	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	39.5	400 of 643	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	55.7	228 of 614	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	52.2	350 of 670	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	51.5	365 of 670	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	43.1	436 of 665	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	54.9	333 of 655	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	49.1	391 of 643	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	62.7	257 of 632	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.6	267 of 624	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	62.3	238 of 612	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	69.4	172 of 596	71.1%	★★★★☆
2005	58.9	273 of 590	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.4	206 of 592	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2003	72.7	145 of 586	75.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	42.2	157 of 323	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.2	137 of 299	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.2	130 of 301	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.9	139 of 294	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.2	117 of 281	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.2	180 of 299	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.2	169 of 253	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	58.7	63 of 148	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.9	72 of 137	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	69.7	42 of 134	68.7%	★★★★☆
2022	87.2	15 of 141	89.4%	★★★★★
2021	63.7	49 of 135	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.0	55 of 130	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.3	43 of 132	67.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	59.1	117 of 491	76.2%	★★★★☆
2024	94.6	25 of 429	94.2%	★★★★★
2023	36.9	227 of 428	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	29.7	217 of 284	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	53.3	72 of 248	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	23.1	201 of 217	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	62.8	40 of 205	80.5%	★★★★☆
2021	49.2	60 of 189	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.2	114 of 183	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.6	41 of 151	72.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	64.8	211 of 685	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.7	194 of 664	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	78.3	119 of 656	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	74.7	139 of 658	78.9%	★★★★☆
2021	79.2	117 of 639	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	200 of 665	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	71.0	164 of 620	73.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	40.1	213 of 366	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.7	158 of 336	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.3	166 of 333	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	19.6	281 of 335	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.7	221 of 317	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.5	203 of 317	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.8	168 of 291	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	48.1	345 of 672	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.3	181 of 639	71.7%	★★★★☆
2023	49.6	292 of 644	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.6	348 of 626	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.1	484 of 611	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.2	443 of 639	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.9	383 of 585	34.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	73.4	149 of 685	78.2%	★★★★☆
2024	78.4	117 of 668	82.5%	★★★★☆
2023	75.7	125 of 668	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	72.2	138 of 664	79.2%	★★★★☆
2021	72.8	138 of 653	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.2	177 of 675	73.8%	★★★★☆
2018	63.7	199 of 619	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	52.9	93 of 211	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	26.0	127 of 182	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.6	83 of 163	49.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.5	86 of 170	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.5	80 of 160	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.6	96 of 165	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	66.6	51 of 154	66.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	81.6	72 of 527	86.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.7	61 of 482	87.3%	★★★★☆
2023	91.6	43 of 476	91.0%	★★★★★
2022	55.0	124 of 493	74.8%	★★★★☆
2021	76.9	51 of 453	88.7%	★★★★☆
2019	33.8	282 of 473	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.7	92 of 374	75.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	88.4	58 of 564	89.7%	★★★★☆
2024	90.9	52 of 554	90.6%	★★★★★
2023	91.7	36 of 557	93.5%	★★★★★
2022	84.7	71 of 560	87.3%	★★★★☆
2021	92.7	51 of 553	90.8%	★★★★★
2019	87.6	62 of 552	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	84.7	68 of 548	87.6%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)90th percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2025)86th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2025)78th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)76th percentile~ school

Female (2025)69th percentile-7 vs school

Asian (2025)57th percentile-18 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)56th percentile-20 vs school

African American (2025)51st percentile-24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)49th percentile-27 vs school

Hispanic (2025)42nd percentile-34 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)24th percentile-52 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science56%+7 vs state

English Language Arts55%+3 vs state

Mathematics48%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2025)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2025)		PreACT Secure Science (2025)		ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	ISA Science (2025)	IAR English Language Arts (2025)		IAR Mathematics (2025)		% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High School	Public	9-12	610 W University Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 351-3914	1,666	126	13.2	44.4%	630 (37.8%)	433 (26.0%)	321 (19.3%)	156 (9.4%)	5 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	113 (6.8%)	70.6	169^th of 698 public high schools	75.8%		72.8	149^th of 697 public high schools	78.6%	20	55.9	64.1	34.3	43.2	49.5	65.0	54.9	47.8	55.7						95.5	96.3	96.3	96.3	95.5	95.4	95.4	96.3	$16,648	$664	$15,983
R E A D Y Program	Public	6-12	45 E University Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign/Ford ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 239-0322	0	11	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
RE-Start Program	Public	9-12	45 E University Ave	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign/Ford ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 893-3219	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Novak Academy	Public	9-12	815 N Randolph St	Champaign	61820	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 352-4328	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
University of Illinois High School	Public	7-12	1212 W Springfield Ave	Urbana	61801	Champaign County	University of Ill Lab School	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 333-2870	319	4	79.7		105 (32.9%)	16 (5.0%)	52 (16.3%)	101 (31.7%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (9.7%)	99.7	2^nd of 698 public high schools	99.7%		100	1^st of 697 public high schools	99.9%	1	100.0	98.4	96.9	90.3	98.4	96.8	96.6	96.6	98.3	93.8	93.8	93.8	84.4	84.4
Centennial High School	Public	9-12	913 Crescent Dr	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign CUSD 4	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 351-3954	1,476	109	13.4	51.4%	388 (26.3%)	651 (44.1%)	191 (12.9%)	113 (7.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	130 (8.8%)	44.7	395^th of 698 public high schools	43.4%		50.8	303^rd of 697 public high schools	56.5%	92	48.9	44.5	26.8	22.8	44.2	40.1	43.0	32.3	44.4						99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	96.2	$18,160	$727	$17,432
Educ for Employment Sys 330	Public	11-12	2400 W Bradley Ave # A113	Champaign	61821	Champaign County	Champaign/Ford ROE	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 355-1382	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Urbana High School	Public	9-12	1002 S Race St	Urbana	61801	Champaign County	Urbana School District 116	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(217) 384-3505	1,176	99	11.8	65.2%	315 (26.8%)	412 (35.0%)	285 (24.2%)	55 (4.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	99 (8.4%)	32.1	498^th of 698 public high schools	28.7%		44.4	361^st of 697 public high schools	48.2%	137	45.2	40.3	14.7	18.8	32.4	45.5	38.7	24.1	28.1						99.3	99.5	99.5	99.5	99.3	99.3	99.2	99.2	$20,031	$1,527	$18,504
Champaign County Detention Center	Public	6-12	400 Art Bartell Rd	Urbana	61802	Champaign County	Urbana School District 116	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(217) 384-3780	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Unity High School	Public	9-12	1127 County Road 800 N	Tolono	61880	Champaign County	Tolono CUSD 7	No	(n/a)	No	No	(217) 485-6230	480	33	14.5	25.0%	423 (88.1%)	13 (2.7%)	13 (2.7%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.6%)	76.6	130^th of 698 public high schools	81.4%		77.4	129^th of 697 public high schools	81.5%	1	72.3	54.4	43.6	41.7	63.4	51.5	61.2	52.7	56.6						99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	98.9	$14,152	$3,014	$11,137

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 169^th of 698 Illinois high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Central High School in?

Champaign CUSD 4

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 38% White, 26% African American, 19% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Central High School?

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,666 students attended Central High School.

Rate 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, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board 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.