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Needs Improvement

#1271 of 1,356 schools in AL

Central High School

High School · Phenix City · Phenix City, AL

A Phenix City high school where students score 24 points below what's typical for similar communities.

2400 Dobbs Dr, Phenix City, AL 36870

  • Math 17% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 18% proficient (2022)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.1Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.63 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.2Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency17% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency18% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency18% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)41% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-23.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile13th
College Readiness4.4Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation3.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.6Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.9:1
District spending per student$12,259
Chronic Absenteeism26.6%

Students at Central High School score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.

Math Proficiency17%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency18%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 23 points since 2019, to 18% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
74%
ELA
75%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
81%
2011
Math
78%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
80%
ELA
75%
2013
Math
15%
ELA
51%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
49%
2015
Math
15%
ELA
23%
2016
Math
16%
ELA
22%
2017
Math
38%
ELA
35%
2018
Math
39%
ELA
41%
2019
Math
39%
ELA
41%
2020*
Math
26%
ELA
21%
2021*
Math
26%
ELA
21%
2022
Math
17%
ELA
18%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 28 test records from AL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

73.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Central High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 6Car-Dependent
  • Bike 8Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,256/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Phenix City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$69,652

Median home value

$178,100

Median rent

$972/mo

College educated

22.2%

Homeownership

80.9%

Poverty rate

15.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 36870; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
3.8% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics17sports offered
7 boys'·10 girls'·28 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Central Freshman AcademyEnrollment path unverified4.590.1 mi508Compare →
Teen UniversityPrivate · tuitionNot rated8–112.6 mi7Compare →
New Testament Baptist SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–123.4 mi11Compare →
Smiths Station High SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.910–123.4 mi1,222Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Phenix City

Schools in district
12
Rank in district
#11 of 11
District spending per student
$12,259NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
28.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Central High School is listed in Phenix City; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Central High School

Central High School is a public high school in Phenix City, AL, part of Phenix City, serving approximately 1,568 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,271 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Central High School

What grades does Central High School serve?

Central High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Central High School?

Central High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,568 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 20.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Central High School rank in AL?

Central High School ranks #1,271 of 1,356 schools in AL.

What is Central High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Central High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Central High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Central High School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Central High School a charter school?

No, Central High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Central High School a Title I school?

No, Central High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Central High School?

73.6% of students at Central High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,568
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
75
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Russell County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.6%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 36870)
19,672
Area average commute
27.3 min
Area median age
37.4
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 36870; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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