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Very Good

#681 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 21% in state

Central High School

High School · Traverse City Area Public Schools · Traverse City, MI

A Traverse City Area Public Schools high school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.

1150 MILLIKEN DR, Traverse City, MI 49686

  • Math 52% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 72% proficient (2021)
  • 94.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.1Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-0.74 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2021
TrendStable
Academics8.8Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency52% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency62% (2021 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)57% (model expectation from 2021 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+4.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
College Readiness8.3Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate94%
AP Participation30.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio23.2:1
District spending per student$14,840
Chronic Absenteeism35.4%

Students at Central High School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

2021 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.

Math Proficiency52%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency72%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 9 points across the 13-year record (2009–2021) and has held near 62% recently.

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
63%
ELA
79%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
31%
ELA
63%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
63%
2013
Math
36%
ELA
68%
2014
Math
19%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
46%
ELA
74%
2016
Math
57%
ELA
80%
2017
Math
3%
ELA
2%
2018
Math
51%
ELA
71%
2019
Math
51%
ELA
71%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
52%
ELA
72%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)

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

Based on 26 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

27.3%

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 50Somewhat Walkable
  • Bike 66Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

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

Median income

$71,198

Median home value

$295,500

Median rent

$1,209/mo

College educated

45.9%

Homeownership

71.1%

Poverty rate

11.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49686; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
30.7% participation·State avg: 2.5 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics28sports offered
14 boys'·14 girls'·51 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

3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
North EdbridgewayEnrollment path unverified6.0PK–120.5 mi59Compare →
North Ednew HorizonsEnrollment path unverified7.7PK–121.4 mi80Compare →
Traverse Bay Mennonite SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–121.4 mi27Compare →

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.

Traverse City Area Public Schools

Schools in district
16
Rank in district
#5 of 16
District spending per student
$14,840NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
8.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Central High School is listed in Traverse City Area Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Central High School

Central High School is a public high school in Traverse City, MI, part of Traverse City Area Public Schools, serving approximately 1,324 students in grades 8th-12th with a 23.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #681 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Central High School

What grades does Central High School serve?

Central High School serves students in grades 8th through 12th.

How many students attend Central High School?

Central High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,324 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Central High School is 23.2:1. 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 MI?

Central High School ranks #681 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Central High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Central High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

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?

27.3% 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
8th – 12th
Enrollment
1,324
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
57
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Grand Traverse County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
35.4%
4-Year Graduation
94.0%
Area population (ZIP 49686)
25,181
Area average commute
19.8 min
Area median age
47.1
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 · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 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 · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 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 49686; 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, 2009-2021; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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