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Central Senior High

Q: Is Central Senior High a good school?

Central Senior High ranks 160 th of 450 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

160^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 450 Minnesota High Schools

Better than 64% of Minnesota high schools

Summary

Central Senior High is a public high school in Saint Paul Public Schools serving 1,574 students in grades 9-12. The school consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic performance, particularly in reading, and has a relatively high graduation rate and low dropout rate.

Central Senior High's strengths include its support for English Language Learner (ELL) students, ranking among the top 5% of Minnesota high schools in this subgroup, as well as strong performance for its Hispanic and White student populations. However, the school struggles to support its African American and Multi-racial student populations, ranking in the bottom 20% of Minnesota high schools for these subgroups. The school's significant population of low-socioeconomic status students, with 46.12% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, presents challenges that the school and district will need to address.

Compared to nearby schools, Central Senior High performs significantly better than Gordon Parks High School and A.G.A.P.E. Teen Parent, both of which are part of the Saint Paul Public Schools district. In contrast, the nearby Career Pathways and Minnesota Connections Academy 7-12 schools, which are public charter schools, have lower academic performance than Central Senior High.

1,682

Students ?

26.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,683

Per pupil spending ?

39.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

275 Lexington Pkwy N
Saint Paul, MN 55104-5400

(651) 744-4900

District: Saint Paul Public Schools

Feeder schools for Central Senior High:

Elementary:	Groveland Park Elementary
	Maxfield Elementary School
	Randolph Heights Elementary
Middle:	Hidden River Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.6%

African American:

24.1%

Two or more races:

10.6%

See top rated Minnesota high schools

Compare Central Senior High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 47th percentile in 2015 → 64th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Minnesota median (64th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Math scores 16 pts below the Minnesota average

!Large classes — about 26 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg31%

Minnesota avg47%

160^th of 450

Minnesota public high schools ?

Top 36%▲ up 17 pts since 2015

From bottom 47% (2015) to top 36% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Minnesota High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 9High Schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools

345^th of 446Saint Paul Public Schools among Minnesota 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	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	66.2	160 of 450	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.8	139 of 480	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	59.1	200 of 476	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.3	179 of 472	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	81.3	51 of 428	88.1%	★★★★☆
2019	66.8	172 of 492	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.0	178 of 494	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.8	160 of 489	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.4	239 of 489	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.1	267 of 504	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	60.4	224 of 483	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.3	253 of 534	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.7	231 of 539	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.0	265 of 545	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	59.3	265 of 540	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	66.8	188 of 460	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	69.4	158 of 463	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	71.8	146 of 450	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	63.4	247 of 452	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2004	66.4	203 of 433	53.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	27.3	76 of 95	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.0	83 of 109	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.7	81 of 98	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.9	85 of 102	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.9	45 of 68	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.5	59 of 103	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.2	54 of 106	49.1%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	40.4	38 of 70	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.1	38 of 78	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.9	50 of 71	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.1	47 of 68	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.2	20 of 49	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.6	60 of 78	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.5	52 of 76	31.6%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	87.2	4 of 94	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	80.9	9 of 102	91.2%	★★★★★
2023	64.3	17 of 90	81.1%	★★★★☆
2022	80.3	6 of 87	93.1%	★★★★★
2019	66.4	16 of 85	81.2%	★★★★☆
2018	76.8	10 of 78	87.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	54.1	178 of 358	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.2	131 of 403	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.8	209 of 396	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.3	183 of 388	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.4	122 of 339	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.4	191 of 401	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.2	213 of 395	46.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	57.7	46 of 124	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	89.4	13 of 145	91.0%	★★★★★
2023	53.3	54 of 136	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.0	81 of 135	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.3	35 of 132	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	73.7	22 of 129	82.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	34.0	236 of 333	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.6	277 of 389	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.2	325 of 393	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.6	189 of 312	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.4	150 of 270	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.5	238 of 370	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.1	246 of 374	34.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	65.8	119 of 377	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.9	141 of 405	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.4	177 of 398	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.9	169 of 403	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	87.3	21 of 351	94.0%	★★★★★
2019	63.1	164 of 411	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.4	143 of 398	64.1%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	28.5	46 of 62	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	70.1	19 of 72	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	53.3	30 of 64	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.0	30 of 74	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.7	34 of 66	48.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	56.2	66 of 178	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.8	25 of 221	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	44.1	126 of 216	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.9	63 of 214	70.6%	★★★★☆
2021	99.1	2 of 173	98.8%	★★★★★
2019	44.4	127 of 220	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.4	68 of 195	65.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Minnesota percentile	Rating
2025	81.5	49 of 376	87.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.0	60 of 402	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	80.5	54 of 398	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	87.1	22 of 401	94.5%	★★★★★
2021	93.6	8 of 364	97.8%	★★★★★
2019	89.8	17 of 412	95.9%	★★★★★
2018	92.8	7 of 414	98.3%	★★★★★

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)

English Language Learner (2025)96th percentile+31 vs school

White (2025)87th percentile+23 vs school

Male (2025)68th percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2025)63rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)63rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)50th percentile-14 vs school

Asian (2025)46th percentile-19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)29th percentile-35 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)26th percentile-39 vs school

African American (2025)20th percentile-44 vs school

By subject vs Minnesota (2024-2025) ?

Reading59%+9 vs state

Math29%-16 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★3

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, October 3, 2016

My sons went to Central in the 1990s. I am delighted to see it going strong as always under outstanding leadership. Close Quote

by a citizen
Wednesday, October 21, 2009

I graduated from Cental Sr. High in 2008 and I would like to say that I enjoyed school very much. Like every school there are teachers you like and dislike, but you'll definately find that there are more teachers to like than dislike. The teachers and staff are helpful and easy to speak with.

Although the halls are packed and the five flights of stairs are horrible, there is always something to enjoy; whether it be friends or class.

There was a saying in my year-Central isn't Central without Mr. S (I will not name)-even those who did not know Mr. S agreed. If you went to Central you know who I mean. Close Quote

Schools Near Central Senior High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCA-III Math (2025)					MCA-III Reading (2025)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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	MCA-III Math 6th Grade	MCA-III Math 7th Grade	MCA-III Math 8th Grade	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 6th Grade	MCA-III Reading 7th Grade	MCA-III Reading 8th Grade	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	Total
Central Senior High	Public	9-12	275 Lexington Pkwy N	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-4900	1,682	64	26.2	39.8%	784 (46.6%)	405 (24.1%)	125 (7.4%)	178 (10.6%)	11 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	179 (10.6%)	66.2	160^th of 450 public high schools	64.4%		69.8	139^th of 480 public high schools	71.0%	21				29.4	29.4				59.0	59.0	$14,683
High School For Recording Arts	Public, Charter	9-12	1166 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	High School For Recording Arts	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 287-0890	181	11	16.3	91.7%	6 (3.3%)	132 (72.9%)	18 (9.9%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (12.7%)	16.3	389^th of 450 public high schools	13.6%		4.8	468^th of 480 public high schools	2.5%	79				8.3	8.3				29.4	29.4	$21,455
Gordon Parks High School	Public	7-12	1212 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-1212	217	14	15.0	77.4%	9 (4.1%)	110 (50.7%)	32 (14.7%)	49 (22.6%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.9%)								(n/a)				0.0	0.0						$22,796
Alternative Learning Center Evening High School	Public	9-12	1212 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 744-1210	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)											$17,816
Alternative Learning Center Online School	Public	9-12	1212 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 744-1330	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
A. G. A. P. E. Teen Parent	Public	5-12	1037 University Ave	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Saint Paul Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(651) 744-7970	26	6	4.6	88.5%	1 (3.8%)	13 (50.0%)	7 (26.9%)	2 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (11.5%)								(n/a)				0.0	0.0						$26,767
Career Pathways	Public, Charter	6-12	1355 Pierce Butler Rt	Saint Paul	55104	Ramsey County	Career Pathways	Yes	No	No	Yes	(651) 400-1781	121	11	11.2	87.6%	7 (5.8%)	79 (65.3%)	15 (12.4%)	6 (5.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (10.7%)								(n/a)					4.2			0.0	15.4	5.9	$15,364
Minnesota Connections Academy 7-12	Public, Virtual, Charter	7-12	1350 Energy Lane Suite 230	Saint Paul	55108	Ramsey County	Minnesota Transitions Charter School	Yes	No	Yes	No	(800) 382-6010	3,536	86	41.1	63.3%	2,425 (68.6%)	347 (9.8%)	318 (9.0%)	66 (1.9%)	89 (2.5%)	8 (0.2%)	283 (8.0%)	26.5	353^rd of 450 public high schools	21.6%		27.3	360^th of 480 public high schools	25.0%	7		15.2	11.3	8.5	11.0		37.8	35.8	40.7	38.4	$9,782
Great River School	Public, Charter	7-12	1326 Energy Park Dr	Saint Paul	55108	Ramsey County	Great River School	Yes	No	No	No	(651) 305-2780	411	35	11.7	19.2%	313 (76.2%)	25 (6.1%)	32 (7.8%)	13 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (6.3%)	84.2	61^st of 450 public high schools	86.4%		74.4	110^th of 480 public high schools	77.1%	49		42.7	31.2	34.7	36.5		62.7	69.4	86.7	72.5	$19,563
New Century School Secondary	Public, Charter	6-12	1380 Energy Lane	Saint Paul	55108	Ramsey County	New Century School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(651) 478-4535	284	9	31.5	95.8%	9 (3.2%)	274 (96.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	14.9	13.2	10.7	40.7	16.9	38.3	24.5	28.6	42.6	33.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Senior High

How many students attend Central Senior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,682 students attended Central Senior High.

What schools feed into Central Senior High?

Central Senior High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Groveland Park Elementary
Elementary : Maxfield Elementary School
Elementary : Randolph Heights Elementary
Middle : Hidden River Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Central Senior High?

Students at Central Senior High are 47% White, 24% African American, 11% Two or more races, 11% Asian, 7% Hispanic.

What district is Central Senior High in?

Saint Paul Public Schools

Is Central Senior High a good school?

Central Senior High ranks 160^th of 450 Minnesota high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Central Senior High!

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