Central High

Central High is a comprehensive 9–12 high school in West Allis, WI, serving 961 students as part of the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, a district that ranks near the bottom statewide.

Central itself ranks 471st of 533 Wisconsin high schools for 2025–26, placing it in the 12th percentile with 1 star. That's a slight improvement — from 2020–21 through 2024–25 the school sat in the 1st–4th percentile — but it remains in the bottom 12% statewide. 10th-grade proficiency is low across every subject: Social Studies 14.07%, ELA 28.37%, Math 13.33%, and Science 21.15%, all below district and state averages. The graduation rate is 84.1%, with a 4.0% dropout rate. The standout concern is chronic absenteeism at 41.3% — more than double the district (19.5%) and state (17.3%) rates. About 73% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the highest rate among same-district schools here. Central spends $15,659 per student with a 14.5 student-teacher ratio — more funding and smaller classes than Nathan Hale High, yet lower results.

Comparisons with nearby schools are telling. Within the same district, Nathan Hale High and James E Dottke Project-Based Learning High School outperform Central in every subject, with lower dropout and absenteeism. Carmen High School of Science and Technology South Campus serves a higher-poverty population yet posts better proficiency, a 93.8% graduation rate, and far lower absenteeism. By contrast, Central outperforms Audubon Technology and Communication High and Hamilton High in most subjects, and its African American and English Language Learner subgroups rank relatively better (36th and 47th percentile). The clearest takeaway for families: attendance is the school's biggest lever — reducing chronic absenteeism would likely lift graduation and achievement.