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Central High

Q: Is Central High a good school?

Central High ranks 241 st of 431 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

241^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 431 Wisconsin High Schools

Better than 44% of Wisconsin high schools

Summary

Central High is a public high school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 1,014. It is part of the La Crosse School District, which is ranked 320 out of 426 districts in Wisconsin and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central High's performance has been somewhat inconsistent over the years, with its statewide ranking fluctuating between 152 out of 466 Wisconsin high schools in 2014-2015 to 301 out of 391 in 2021-2022. Its SchoolDigger rating has also varied, from a high of 3 stars out of 5 in several years to a low of 1 star in 2021-2022 and 2018-2019. The school's academic performance, as measured by proficiency rates on state assessments, is generally below the state and district averages in core subjects like English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, though its performance in Social Studies is relatively stronger.

Compared to nearby schools like Holmen High and Onalaska High, Central High's performance is generally weaker, with these schools ranked higher and having stronger academic achievement and student outcomes. However, Central High outperforms the nearby La Crosse Polytechnic School, a public charter high school, in several areas, including graduation rates and proficiency rates in some subject areas.

969

Students ?

12.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,463

Per pupil spending ?

39.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1801 Losey Blvd S
La Crosse, WI 54601-6800

(608) 789-7900

District: La Crosse School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.0%

Two or more races:

12.2%

Asian:

8.6%

See top rated Wisconsin high schools

Compare Central High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 23rd percentile in 2022 → 44th in 2025

Strengths

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Wisconsin average (92%)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 44th (2025) from a 23rd-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg45%

Wisconsin avg46%

241^st of 431

Wisconsin public high schools ?

Bottom 44%▼ down 23 pts since 2015

From top 33% (2015) to bottom 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Wisconsin High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3High Schools in the La Crosse School District

320^th of 426La Crosse School District among Wisconsin 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	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	47.6	241 of 431	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.0	151 of 431	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.4	160 of 415	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	29.1	301 of 391	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	45.3	206 of 390	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.6	298 of 400	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.5	215 of 410	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	49.5	199 of 410	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.2	170 of 408	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	67.1	152 of 466	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	57.6	217 of 462	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.0	180 of 457	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	51.0	304 of 452	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	59.0	240 of 445	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	65.9	173 of 450	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	59.3	217 of 438	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	47.0	318 of 437	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	54.6	191 of 281	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	63.8	133 of 292	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	50.6	205 of 287	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	61.1	130 of 275	52.7%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2018	40.7	10 of 20	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	26.0	42 of 57	26.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	22.9	42 of 51	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.6	38 of 48	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.0	38 of 44	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.1	39 of 51	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2023	58.5	133 of 329	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	24.7	290 of 343	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.7	250 of 332	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.0	233 of 343	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.9	184 of 355	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	26.8	271 of 335	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.8	196 of 326	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.3	160 of 271	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.1	215 of 250	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.7	192 of 226	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.8	188 of 251	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.9	186 of 255	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	43.8	224 of 380	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.5	146 of 365	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.7	150 of 359	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.4	255 of 347	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	53.0	147 of 334	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	24.7	293 of 354	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.1	228 of 373	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	34.9	56 of 81	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.7	54 of 71	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.1	33 of 41	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.1	32 of 35	8.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Wisconsin percentile	Rating
2025	45.8	155 of 285	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	71.5	63 of 300	79.0%	★★★★☆
2023	59.9	93 of 271	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	25.2	221 of 269	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.7	141 of 266	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.8	196 of 266	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.4	123 of 261	52.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

Female (2023)60th percentile~ school

African American (2018)50th percentile~ school

White (2025)46th percentile~ school

Male (2025)41st percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)31st percentile-13 vs school

Asian (2025)26th percentile-18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Wisconsin (2024-2025) ?

Social Studies51%+4 vs state

English Language Arts47%~ state avg

Science44%~ state avg

Mathematics41%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Central High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	Forward Exam English Language Arts (2025)			Forward Exam Mathematics (2025)			Forward Exam Social Studies (2025)		Forward Exam Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
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	ACT English Language Arts 10th Grade	ACT Mathematics 10th Grade	ACT Science 10th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 6th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 7th Grade	Forward Exam English Language Arts 8th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 6th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 7th Grade	Forward Exam Mathematics 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 8th Grade	Forward Exam Social Studies 10th Grade	Forward Exam Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central High	Public	9-12	1801 Losey Blvd S	La Crosse	54601	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 789-7900	969	75	12.9	39.1%	659 (68.0%)	48 (5.0%)	50 (5.2%)	83 (8.6%)	7 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	118 (12.2%)	47.6	241^st of 431 public high schools	44.1%		62	151^st of 431 public high schools	65.0%	90	46.9	40.6	43.7								51.5		$14,463	$424	$14,039
La Crosse Polytechnic School	Public, Charter	6-12	228 5th Avenue South	La Crosse	54601	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	Yes	No	No	No	(608) 789-5900	86	5	17.2	31.4%	72 (83.7%)	2 (2.3%)	4 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.7%)	46.2	247^th of 431 public high schools	42.7%		47.8	233^rd of 431 public high schools	45.9%	14	45.5		45.5	66.7	81.0	50.0	83.3	81.0	37.5	68.8		50.0	$15,240	$479	$14,761
Logan High	Public	9-12	1500 Ranger Dr	La Crosse	54603	La Crosse County	La Crosse School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 789-7700	729	64	11.4	49.5%	453 (62.1%)	55 (7.5%)	46 (6.3%)	85 (11.7%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	74 (10.2%)	49.3	224^th of 431 public high schools	48.0%		44.6	255^th of 431 public high schools	40.8%	31	51.8	33.6	50.4								47.4		$16,323	$429	$15,894
Onalaska High	Public	9-12	700 Wilson St	Onalaska	54650	La Crosse County	Onalaska School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 783-4561	925	67	13.8	27.0%	646 (69.8%)	20 (2.2%)	58 (6.3%)	126 (13.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (7.1%)	72.9	90^th of 431 public high schools	79.1%		76	75^th of 431 public high schools	82.6%	15	57.1	58.1	56.7								51.6		$12,848	$280	$12,568
West Salem High	Public	9-12	490 N Mark St	West Salem	54669	La Crosse County	West Salem School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 786-1220	603	44	13.7	18.6%	523 (86.7%)	3 (0.5%)	15 (2.5%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.3%)	48.6	235^th of 431 public high schools	45.5%		54.9	189^th of 431 public high schools	56.1%	46	42.0	45.5	43.2								53.2		$13,361	$549	$12,812
Holmen High	Public	9-12	1001 McHugh Rd	Holmen	54636	La Crosse County	Holmen School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 526-3372	1,242	85	14.6	24.6%	1,027 (82.7%)	9 (0.7%)	33 (2.7%)	128 (10.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	43 (3.5%)	75.2	79^th of 431 public high schools	81.7%		59.7	163^rd of 431 public high schools	62.2%	84	60.8	57.2	61.7								50.2		$12,163	$264	$11,899
Bangor Middle/High	Public	6-12	700 10th Ave S	Bangor	54614	La Crosse County	Bangor School District	No	No	No	No	(608) 486-2331	352	28	12.4	31.5%	315 (89.5%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.1%)	9 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	26.6	346^th of 431 public high schools	19.7%		45.3	250^th of 431 public high schools	42.0%	96	34.0	23.4	27.7	61.5	57.1	32.6	64.1	68.6	37.2	41.9	56.0	48.8	$12,656	$1,088	$11,568

Frequently Asked Questions about Central High

How many students attend Central High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 969 students attended Central High.

Is Central High a good school?

Central High ranks 241^st of 431 Wisconsin high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Central High?

Central High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Hamilton Elementary School
Elementary : Hintgen Elementary
Elementary : Southern Bluffs Elementary
Elementary : Spence Elementary
Elementary : State Road Elementary
Middle : Longfellow Middle

What district is Central High in?

La Crosse School District

What is the racial makeup of Central High?

Students at Central High are 68% White, 12% Two or more races, 9% Asian, 5% Hispanic, 5% African American.

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Schools in La Crosse, WI

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

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.