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Central High School

Public Grades 9-12

318^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 367 Missouri High Schools

Better than 13% of Missouri high schools

Summary

Central High School is a public high school in Kansas City, Missouri, serving 534 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Kansas City 33 school district, which is ranked 305 out of 367 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Central High School has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Missouri high schools over the past decade, indicating significant academic challenges.

Central High School's academic performance is significantly below state and district averages across all subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 24.4% of students were proficient or better in Algebra I, compared to 45.4% statewide and 25.1% in the Kansas City 33 district. Similarly, only 12.8% were proficient or better in Biology I, compared to 37.3% statewide and 24.2% in the district. The school's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated between 66.4% and 86.5% over the past few years, consistently lagging behind the state and district averages. Additionally, Central High School has extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 47.0% to 83.2% in recent years, significantly higher than the state and district averages.

When comparing Central High School to other nearby schools in the Kansas City 33 district, the academic performance gap is stark. Lincoln College Prep, a public magnet school, consistently outperforms Central High School and the district as a whole, with significantly higher proficiency rates in core subjects. East High School, another traditional public high school, also outperforms Central High School, though not to the same degree as Lincoln College Prep. Despite the relatively high spending per student at Central High School, ranging from $14,983 to $17,481 in recent years, the increased funding does not appear to translate into improved academic outcomes, suggesting the need for a re-evaluation of the school's resource allocation and instructional strategies.

519

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,511

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3221 Indiana
Kansas City, MO 64128-2062

(816) 418-2005

District: Kansas City 33

Racial breakdown:

African American:

78.6%

Hispanic:

11.6%

White:

5.6%

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Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 2nd percentile in 2014 → 13th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Missouri average (21% vs 45% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!English II scores 27 pts below the Missouri average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school21%

District avg30%

Missouri avg45%

318^th of 367

Missouri public high schools ?

Bottom 13%▲ up 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 3% (2015) to bottom 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Missouri High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 6High Schools in the Kansas City 33

305^th of 367Kansas City 33 among Missouri 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	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	14.8	318 of 367	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	5.1	368 of 378	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.1	338 of 352	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.6	348 of 361	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	6.2	341 of 358	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.2	458 of 460	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.3	463 of 468	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	1.0	393 of 401	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	1.8	489 of 504	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	1.1	512 of 521	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	2.2	509 of 523	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.4	515 of 522	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	1.9	511 of 528	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	2.2	503 of 516	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	1.5	505 of 507	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	3.7	524 of 539	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	3.8	521 of 538	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	2.5	524 of 534	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	57.5	40 of 105	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	26.8	90 of 105	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.8	87 of 99	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.2	74 of 105	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.8	88 of 96	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.6	98 of 106	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.0	108 of 111	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2019	12.5	94 of 103	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	26.4	58 of 74	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	29.4	212 of 279	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.8	253 of 274	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.4	247 of 268	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.8	219 of 250	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.6	249 of 255	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.5	367 of 368	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.3	378 of 382	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Missouri percentile	Rating
2025	83.1	17 of 138	87.7%	★★★★☆
2023	27.4	104 of 127	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)88th percentile+74 vs school

African American (2025)62nd percentile+49 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)24th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2025)22nd percentile+8 vs school

Disabled (2019)9th percentile+8 vs school

By subject vs Missouri (2024-2025) ?

English II26%-27 vs state

Algebra I24%-21 vs state

Biology I13%-24 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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MAP Mathematics (2025)		MAP Science (2025)	MAP English Language Arts (2025)		MAP Algebra I (2025)	MAP Biology I (2025)	MAP English II (2025)	MAP Algebra II (2025)	MAP Government (2025)	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	MAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAP Science 8th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAP Algebra I End of Course	MAP Biology I End of Course	MAP English II End of Course	MAP Algebra II End of Course	MAP Government End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High School	Public	9-12	3221 Indiana	Kansas City	64128	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-2005	519	36	14.5	100.0%	29 (5.6%)	408 (78.6%)	60 (11.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	6 (1.2%)	13 (2.5%)	14.8	318^th of 367 public high schools	13.4%		5.1	368^th of 378 public high schools	2.6%	50						24.4	12.8	26.2			$18,511	$2,023	$16,487
DeLaSalle Charter High School	Public, Charter	9-12	3737 Troost Ave	Kansas City	64109	Jackson County	Delasalle Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 561-4445	196	12	16.3	100.0%	6 (3.1%)	170 (86.7%)	12 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.1%)	5.9	349^th of 367 public high schools	4.9%		3.4	377^th of 378 public high schools	0.3%	28						9.0	11.7	14.6		8.0	$22,307	$1,710	$20,597
Lincoln College Prep.	Public, Magnet	9-12	2111 Woodland	Kansas City	64108	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	Yes	No	No	(816) 418-3000	997	50	19.9	100.0%	260 (26.1%)	401 (40.2%)	240 (24.1%)	53 (5.3%)	2 (0.2%)	11 (1.1%)	30 (3.0%)	80.7	32^nd of 367 public high schools	91.3%		74.7	41^st of 378 public high schools	89.2%	9						48.8	61.8	84.8	50.6		$18,250	$1,855	$16,395
East High School	Public	9-12	1924 Van Brunt Blvd	Kansas City	64127	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	Yes	(816) 418-3125	1,155	73	15.7	100.0%	44 (3.8%)	395 (34.2%)	628 (54.4%)	71 (6.1%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	10 (0.9%)	5.9	350^th of 367 public high schools	4.6%		6.4	358^th of 378 public high schools	5.3%	8						7.7	7.8	12.0		11.6	$18,155	$2,281	$15,874
Jackson County Juvenile Center	Public, Charter	6-12	625 E 26th St	Kansas City	64108	Jackson County	Delasalle Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(816) 561-4445	24	1	24.0	12.5%	3 (12.5%)	18 (75.0%)	2 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.2%)								(n/a)											$9,159	$95	$9,064
Academie Lafayette Armour Ihs	Public, Charter	9-12	201 East Armour Boulevard	Kansas City	64113	Jackson County	Academie Lafayette	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(816) 800-8771	118	21	5.5	42.4%	47 (39.8%)	30 (25.4%)	21 (17.8%)	5 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (12.7%)	38.7	213^th of 367 public high schools	42.0%		74.7	40^th of 378 public high schools	89.4%	173						45.4	24.9				$20,340	$698	$19,642
Guadalupe Centers High School	Public, Charter	9-12	1524 The Paseo	Kansas City	64108	Jackson County	Guadalupe Centers Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(816) 471-2582	458	41	11.1	83.6%	5 (1.1%)	4 (0.9%)	446 (97.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20.8	301^st of 367 public high schools	18.0%		27.2	275^th of 378 public high schools	27.2%	26						26.0	18.3				$23,477	$1,674	$21,802
Paseo Acad. Of Performing Arts	Public, Magnet	7-12	4747 Flora Ave	Kansas City	64110	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	Yes	No	Yes	(816) 418-3525	669	58	11.4	100.0%	78 (11.7%)	285 (42.6%)	269 (40.2%)	11 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.7%)	20 (3.0%)	38.8	211^th of 367 public high schools	42.5%		16	324^th of 378 public high schools	14.3%	113	15.0	2.2	14.4	18.8	18.0	40.6	15.6	54.3			$21,488	$2,432	$19,056
Alternative Resource Center	Public	6-12	3100 Main St Ste 206	Kansas City	64111	Jackson County	Division Of Youth Service	No	No	No	No	(816) 759-4662	2	1	2.0		0 (0.0%)	2 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Manual Career Technical Center	Public	9-12	1215 Truman Rd	Kansas City	64106	Jackson County	Kansas City 33	No	No	No	No	(816) 418-5205	0	12	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

What district is Central High School in?

Kansas City 33

Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks in the bottom 13.4% of Missouri high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 79% African American, 12% Hispanic, 6% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Faxon Elementary
Elementary : George Melcher Elementary
Elementary : M. L. King Elementary

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 519 students attended 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 and the Missouri Department 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.