Very Good
#372 of 1,036 schools in AR
Top 36% in state
Central High School
High School · Helena / West Helena School District · West Helena, AR
A Helena / West Helena School District high school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
103 SCHOOL RD, West Helena, AR 72390
- Math 9% vs AR 30% (2025)
- Reading 15% vs AR 33% (2025)
- 82.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Central High School score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2025 ATLAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AR average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 29 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 12% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 18% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 25% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 40 test records from AR state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
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 rateThe 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 22Car-Dependent
- Bike 9Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average258/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$33,700
Median home value
$66,000
Median rent
$778/mo
College educated
12.3%
Homeownership
56.7%
Poverty rate
31.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 72390; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | PK–12 | 1.4 mi | 189 | Compare → |
| Kipp:delta Collegiate High SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.1 | 9–12 | 2.6 mi | 201 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Helena / West Helena School District
- Schools in district
- 2
- Rank in district
- #2 of 2
- District spending per student
- $14,610NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 66.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Central High School is listed in HELENA / WEST HELENA SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Central High School
Central High School is a public high school in West Helena, AR, part of Helena / West Helena School District, serving approximately 436 students in grades 7th-12th with a 8.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #372 of 1,036 schools in AR. State assessment records show 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Central High School
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 #372 of 1,036 schools in AR.
What is Central High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Central High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 25% 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 factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 7th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 436
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 54
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Phillips County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.2%
- Phone
- (870) 572-6744
- 4-Year Graduation
- 82.0%
- Area population (ZIP 72390)
- 7,080
- Area median age
- 32.1
Official sources & links
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 · 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)
- 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 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
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