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Public high school · Helena / West Helena School District · West Helena, Arkansas

Central High School

Central High School rates 6.7, right at the middle of Helena / West Helena School District's high schools, whose rated median is 6.7.

High schools, 1 to 10This campus against public high schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
6.7this school

6.7 on a one-to-ten scale; the Helena / West Helena School District median is 6.7.

#442 of 1,041 schools in Arkansas · Helena / West Helena School District: 1 high schools rated, median 6.7

The brief

A Helena / West Helena School District high school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.

It ranks 442 of 1,041 schools in Arkansas and 1 of 2 in Helena / West Helena School District.

Central High School is listed in Helena / West Helena School District, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math9%21 points below the Arkansas average of 30%Grades 7–10 · 247 students tested · 2025 ATLAS
Reading15%18 points below the Arkansas average of 33%Grades 7–10 · 283 students tested · 2025 ATLAS
Proficiency has improved 5 points since 2024, reaching 12% in 2025, across a 2-year record (2024–2025).2025 ATLAS; 51 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
8.6
25% of the rating
Academics
2.7
25% of the rating
College Readiness
6.8
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
9.4
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2025

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

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 15% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 22% (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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 · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ATLAS · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ATLAS. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
State assessments · 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 72390; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Central High School and the 17 nearest high schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

Median income
$33,700
Median home value
$66,000
Median rent
$778/mo
College educated
12.3%
Homeownership
56.7%
Poverty rate
31.5%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72390; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
22
Car-Dependent
Bike Score
9
Somewhat Bikeable

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

AP and IB
3 AP courses
32.6% participation · state average 2.5 AP courses · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics
2 sports
1 boys' · 1 girls' · 4 teams (incl. JV) · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM courses
4 of 5
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted and talented
Available
A program for qualifying students · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Who goes here

Free or reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance. Shown separately, never in the score.

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD).

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. 8.1Compare →
  2. Central High Schoolthis school
    6.7
One grade-compatible school using the same rating model sits within 5 miles, and one rates higher than Central High School.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

Questions families ask

What grades does Central High School serve?

Central High School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend Central High School?

Central High School has an enrollment of approximately 436 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 8.1:1. 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 AR?

Central High School ranks #442 of 1,041 schools in AR.

What is Central High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Central High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 22% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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?

100.0% 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 facts

Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
436
Student-teacher ratio
8.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
54
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Remote Town
County
Phillips County
4-year graduation
85–89%
Class of 2023
Rank in district
#1 of 2
Schools in district
2
District spending per student
$14,610
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
66.5%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 72390)
7,080
Area median age
32.1

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Related reading

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Arkansas Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.