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Central High School

Q: Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 202 nd of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,265 students attended Central High School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 51% White, 21% Hispanic, 19% African American, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Q: What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Fountain City Elementary School Elementary : Inskip Elementary School Elementary : Lonsdale Elementary School Elementary : Shannondale Elementary School Elementary : Sterchi Elementary School Middle : Gresham Middle School

Public Grades 9-12

202^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 400 Tennessee High Schools

Better than 50% of Tennessee high schools

Summary

Central High School is a large, comprehensive public high school in Knoxville, TN, serving 1,265 students in grades 9–12 as part of Knox County Schools. The school ranks 202nd out of 400 Tennessee high schools, placing it right at the state median, and has improved significantly from a ranking of 266th during the 2023-24 school year. Academic performance is mixed: students score near state averages in Algebra II, Biology I, and English I, but proficiency in Algebra I (11.2%), Geometry (33.3%), and US History (34.4%) falls well below state norms.

The most pressing concerns are graduation and attendance. Central's graduation rate of 81.6% is roughly nine points below the state average and the lowest among nearby comprehensive high schools, including West High School (92.7%), Powell High School (91.8%), Gibbs High School (88.9%), and Halls High School (88.3%). Its dropout rate of 15.4% is more than double the state average, and 32% of students are chronically absent, well above the 18.3% state figure.

Central functions as something of a "two-track" school academically. Students in advanced coursework perform very well—10th-grade Algebra II proficiency is 91.1%—while students in foundational classes struggle, with only 12.2% of 9th graders proficient in Algebra I and 9.1% of 11th graders proficient in Geometry. Per-pupil spending of $13,026 is similar to West and Halls, yet those schools post stronger graduation outcomes, indicating that Central's primary challenge involves student engagement and supports rather than funding. For parents, this means Central offers strong opportunities for students on accelerated pathways, but families should pay close attention to whether their child receives the support needed to stay on track for graduation.

1,265

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,026

Per pupil spending ?

22.8%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

5321 Jacksboro Pike
Knoxville, TN 37918

(865) 689-1400

District: Knox County Schools

Feeder schools for Central High School:

Elementary:	Fountain City Elementary School
	Inskip Elementary School
	Lonsdale Elementary School
	Shannondale Elementary School
	More...
	Sterchi Elementary School
Middle:	Gresham Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

51.2%

Hispanic:

20.9%

African American:

18.9%

See top rated Tennessee high schools

Compare Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 39th percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Tennessee average (36% vs 43% meeting standards)

!Graduation rate below the Tennessee average (82% vs 90%)

!Dropout rate above the Tennessee average (15% vs 7%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg45%

Tennessee avg43%

202^nd of 400

Tennessee public high schools ?

Top 50%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From bottom 39% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Tennessee High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 17High Schools in the Knox County Schools

78^th of 141Knox County Schools among Tennessee 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	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	47.2	202 of 400	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.1	205 of 389	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.4	266 of 392	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.9	248 of 384	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.6	253 of 358	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.1	193 of 347	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.4	194 of 342	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.9	199 of 341	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	33.9	182 of 273	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	41.7	213 of 351	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	36.6	246 of 300	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	36.5	231 of 296	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	45.3	200 of 285	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	53.7	154 of 269	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.5	202 of 273	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	41.7	196 of 267	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	33.4	151 of 230	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.9	170 of 233	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.7	214 of 240	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	188 of 239	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.0	177 of 222	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.8	130 of 208	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.1	139 of 187	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.4	121 of 199	39.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	25.8	42 of 50	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	34.9	245 of 365	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.1	268 of 365	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.5	240 of 366	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.4	253 of 350	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.9	184 of 340	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.3	188 of 337	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	34.0	155 of 229	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	29.6	161 of 213	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.5	182 of 209	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	179 of 202	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.2	171 of 189	9.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.1	148 of 180	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.4	112 of 153	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.5	104 of 159	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	23.3	262 of 308	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.9	264 of 324	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.2	294 of 337	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.5	219 of 330	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.4	261 of 322	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.6	220 of 317	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.5	221 of 302	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.8	194 of 308	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2025	46.3	177 of 368	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.5	237 of 366	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.7	248 of 359	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.8	239 of 349	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.1	192 of 332	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.2	169 of 329	48.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	40.6	110 of 210	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.8	166 of 198	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.1	134 of 183	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.4	96 of 154	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.9	145 of 151	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	49.4	39 of 125	68.8%	★★★★☆
2019	26.6	104 of 127	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.5	121 of 159	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Tennessee percentile	Rating
2026	54.2	119 of 330	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.2	151 of 323	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.0	210 of 326	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.1	189 of 325	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.8	210 of 312	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.1	151 of 306	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.4	115 of 301	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.1	163 of 307	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2026)64th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2025)52nd percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2026)48th percentile~ school

African American (2026)34th percentile-15 vs school

Female (2025)33rd percentile-14 vs school

Hispanic (2026)32nd percentile-17 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)16th percentile-31 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)15th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Tennessee (2025-2026) ?

English II53%-5 vs state

Biology I48%~ state avg

Algebra II38%~ state avg

English I38%~ state avg

US History34%-8 vs state

Geometry33%-9 vs state

Algebra I11%-21 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, July 7, 2014

The implementation of the Freshman Academy was a very welcome program to help prepare students for success in high school. The staff is well -qualified to teach at the high school level and develop a rapport with the students. They are responsive to the requests of both students and parents alike and have always made themselves adequately available to students and parents.

Dual-path courses allow qualified students to earn college credits while completing their high school requirements and offer skill/trades alternatives for those students not desiring to continue a higher academic path. Opportunities in the performing arts include the Award winning Bobcat Company and three highly acclaimed chorus groups.

The atmosphere at CHS welcoming and conducive to learning including a beautiful and well maintained campus. Close Quote

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)				TNReady Mathematics (2026)			TNReady English Language Arts (2026)			TNReady Algebra I (2026)					TNReady Algebra II (2026)					TNReady Biology I (2026)					TNReady US History (2026)				TNReady English I (2026)					TNReady English II (2026)				TNReady Geometry (2026)						TNReady Science (2026)			TNReady Social Studies (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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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	TNReady Mathematics 7th Grade	TNReady Mathematics 8th Grade	TNReady Mathematics All Grades	TNReady English Language Arts 7th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts 8th Grade	TNReady English Language Arts All Grades	TNReady Algebra I 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra I 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra I All Grades	TNReady Algebra II 9th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 10th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 11th Grade	TNReady Algebra II 12th Grade	TNReady Algebra II All Grades	TNReady Biology I 9th Grade	TNReady Biology I 10th Grade	TNReady Biology I 11th Grade	TNReady Biology I 12th Grade	TNReady Biology I All Grades	TNReady US History 10th Grade	TNReady US History 11th Grade	TNReady US History 12th Grade	TNReady US History All Grades	TNReady English I 9th Grade	TNReady English I 10th Grade	TNReady English I 11th Grade	TNReady English I 12th Grade	TNReady English I All Grades	TNReady English II 10th Grade	TNReady English II 11th Grade	TNReady English II 12th Grade	TNReady English II All Grades	TNReady Geometry 8th Grade	TNReady Geometry 9th Grade	TNReady Geometry 10th Grade	TNReady Geometry 11th Grade	TNReady Geometry 12th Grade	TNReady Geometry All Grades	TNReady Science 7th Grade	TNReady Science 8th Grade	TNReady Science All Grades	TNReady Social Studies 7th Grade	TNReady Social Studies 8th Grade	TNReady Social Studies All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High School	Public	9-12	5321 Jacksboro Pike	Knoxville	37918	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 689-1400	1,296	86	15.0	22.8%	707 (54.6%)	223 (17.2%)	257 (19.8%)	16 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (7.0%)	47.2	202^nd of 400 public high schools	49.5%		43.1	205^th of 389 public high schools	47.3%	3							12.2	< 5%			11.2		91.1	27.0	< 5%	37.7		69.9	40.3		48.5		34.6		34.4	39.4	< 5%			37.5	57.2	< 5%		52.8		≥ 95%	26.8	9.1		33.3							$13,026	$718	$11,854
Richard Yoakley School	Public	6-12	4415 Washington Pike	Knoxville	37917	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 594-3790	105	19	5.5	42.0%	46 (43.8%)	34 (32.4%)	17 (16.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.6%)	3.6	400^th of 400 public high schools	0.0%		12.8	355^th of 389 public high schools	8.7%	45	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%				< 5%			< 5%		< 5%			9.1		13.6		< 5%		6.3	< 5%				< 5%	5.3			9.5			< 5%			< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	$46,952	$2,986	$43,119
Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy	Public	9-12	535 Chickamauga Avenue Avenue	Knoxville	37917	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 525-0069	72	10	7.2	27.4%	39 (54.2%)	20 (27.8%)	10 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.2%)	6.9	391^st of 400 public high schools	2.3%					(n/a)														< 5%	< 5%	< 5%			< 5%	10.0	6.1		5.9		< 5%			< 5%		< 5%								< 5%		< 5%							$34,515	$1,011	$33,156
Fulton High School	Public	9-12	2509 North Broadway	Knoxville	37917	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 594-1240	927	74	12.6	37.8%	217 (23.4%)	289 (31.2%)	355 (38.3%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (6.7%)	12.4	363^rd of 400 public high schools	9.3%		13.4	352^nd of 389 public high schools	9.5%	11							5.5	< 5%			5.1		30.0	< 5%	5.6	5.1			21.4		11.1		13.3		13.2	15.7				15.5	38.8	< 5%		31.8		76.9	9.0	< 5%		11.6							$15,766	$1,492	$13,732
Halls High School	Public	9-12	4321 East Emory Road	Knoxville	37938	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 922-7757	1,252	72	17.3	11.1%	1,034 (82.6%)	25 (2.0%)	147 (11.7%)	13 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (2.6%)	43.2	228^th of 400 public high schools	43.0%		41.9	210^th of 389 public high schools	46.0%	18							13.1	< 5%			11.8		75.3	14.1	< 5%	29.9	81.2				75.6		46.2		46.3	40.7				40.2	50.7	33.3		49.8		91.8	13.8	< 5%		31.3							$12,421	$795	$11,320
Austin East High/Magnet School	Public, Magnet	9-12	2800 M L King Jr Avenue	Knoxville	37914	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(865) 594-3792	666	64	10.3	49.3%	59 (8.9%)	490 (73.6%)	73 (11.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	41 (6.2%)	8.4	384^th of 400 public high schools	4.0%		9.4	372^nd of 389 public high schools	4.4%	12							5.6	7.1			6.4		21.4	5.2		6.4		12.6	9.1		13.7		12.6		13.8	6.8				6.8	30.2	10.0		28.7			12.0	< 5%		11.3							$19,014	$2,168	$16,285
L N STEM Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	800 World's Fair Park Drive	Knoxville	37902	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(865) 329-8440	581	33	17.4	4.6%	457 (78.7%)	28 (4.8%)	39 (6.7%)	27 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.2%)	98.2	3^rd of 400 public high schools	99.3%		89.2	23^rd of 389 public high schools	94.1%	20							54.0				54.7		≥ 95%	56.2		77.5		≥ 95%	85.9		92.6		88.6		88.6	83.4				83.6	93.0			93.1		≥ 95%	64.1			83.4							$12,335	$744	$11,269
Powell High School	Public	9-12	2136 West Emory Road	Powell	37849	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	No	No	No	(865) 938-2171	1,292	80	16.1	14.6%	868 (67.2%)	111 (8.6%)	223 (17.3%)	23 (1.8%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (5.0%)	48	198^th of 400 public high schools	50.5%		51.2	171^st of 389 public high schools	56.0%	27							17.0	7.7			16.5		83.8	27.8	< 5%	34.2		71.9	45.8		51.7		44.0		44.0	30.3				30.3	53.7			51.5		85.3	23.4		9.1	30.3							$13,352	$906	$11,906
Tennessee School for the Deaf High School	Public	9-12	2725 Island Home Boulevard	Knoxville	37920	Knox County	Tennessee Schools for the Deaf	No	No	No	Yes	(865) 440-8195	63	20	3.1	13.3%	19 (30.2%)	20 (31.7%)	12 (19.0%)	7 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	4 (6.3%)								(n/a)
West High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	3300 Sutherland Avenue	Knoxville	37919	Knox County	Knox County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(865) 594-4477	1,509	88	17.0	17.2%	876 (58.1%)	312 (20.7%)	196 (13.0%)	34 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.3%)	86 (5.7%)	60.2	125^th of 400 public high schools	68.8%		62.6	108^th of 389 public high schools	72.2%	17							11.7	< 5%			10.7		89.0	17.1	9.1	44.7	83.8	70.4	29.4	10.0	61.7		49.3		49.1	56.0				54.8	67.9			65.9		≥ 95%	26.4	7.7		48.4							$12,616	$827	$11,481

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High School

How many students attend Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,265 students attended Central High School.

Is Central High School a good school?

Central High School ranks 202^nd of 400 Tennessee high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Central High School in?

Knox County Schools

What schools feed into Central High School?

Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Fountain City Elementary School
Elementary : Inskip Elementary School
Elementary : Lonsdale Elementary School
Elementary : Shannondale Elementary School
Elementary : Sterchi Elementary School
Middle : Gresham Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Central High School?

Students at Central High School are 51% White, 21% Hispanic, 19% African American, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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Latest Tennessee data All new data »

2025–26 TNReady test scoresAug 25, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesApr 2, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataFeb 27, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataDec 18, 2025

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