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Below Average

#1607 of 1,786 schools in TN

Central High

High School · Memphis-shelby County Schools · Memphis, TN

A Memphis-shelby County Schools high school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.

306 S Bellevue Blvd, Memphis, TN 38104

  • Math 13% vs TN 39% (2025)
  • Reading 32% vs TN 41% (2025)
  • 87.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress1.8Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data10
Annual Change-3.13 pts/yr
Data Period2013–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.8Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency13% (2025 TCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32.2% (2025 TCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-26.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8.6 pts
Overall Proficiency23% (2025 TCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)26% (model expectation from 2025 TCAP)
vs. Expected-3.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile29th
College Readiness5.3Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate87%
AP Participation9.6%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.5Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.7:1
District spending per student$13,695
Chronic Absenteeism32.5%

Students at Central High score 23% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 TCAP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. TN average.

Math Proficiency13%(2025 TCAP)
School
State
39%(2025 TCAP)
ELA Proficiency32%(2025 TCAP)
School
State
41%(2025 TCAP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 44 points across the 13-year record (2013–2025) and has held near 23% recently.

Show all 10 years
2013
Math
75%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
71%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
6%
ELA
30%
2016
Math
2%
ELA
25%
2017
Math
4%
ELA
30%
2018
Math
8%
ELA
40%
2019
Math
8%
ELA
40%
2020*
Math
3%
ELA
28%
2021*
Math
3%
ELA
28%
2025
Math
13%
ELA
32%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 19% (multi-year average, 2013-2025) · reading/ELA 37% (multi-year average, 2013-2025)

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

Based on 22 test records from TN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

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 sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Memphis map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 74Very Walkable
  • Transit 41Some Transit
  • Bike 78Very Bikeable
  • City Safety: High9,456/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Memphis), 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

$56,452

Median home value

$301,100

Median rent

$1,073/mo

College educated

51.9%

Homeownership

39.4%

Poverty rate

14.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 38104; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
9.6% participation·State avg: 2.4 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics19sports offered
10 boys'·9 girls'·17 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
Memphis Academy of Science Engineering Middle/highCharter · enrollment unverified5.36–120.6 mi696Compare →
Memphis Recovery CenterPrivate · tuition6.8private9–120.8 mi30Compare →
Medical District High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.69–121.0 mi111Compare →
Compass Community School Midtown CampusCharter · enrollment unverified7.59–121.2 mi356Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

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

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

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Memphis-shelby County Schools

Schools in district
222
Rank in district
#146 of 202
District spending per student
$13,695NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
34.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

Central High is listed in Memphis-Shelby County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Central High

Central High is a public high school in Memphis, TN, part of Memphis-shelby County Schools, serving approximately 1,300 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,607 of 1,786 schools in TN. State assessment records show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Central High

What grades does Central High serve?

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

How many students attend Central High?

Central High has an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High?

The student-teacher ratio at Central High is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Central High rank in TN?

Central High ranks #1,607 of 1,786 schools in TN.

What is Central High's MySchoolScout rating?

Central High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 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?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Central High has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2025).

Is Central High a charter school?

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

Is Central High a Title I school?

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

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

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,300
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
78
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Shelby County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
32.5%
4-Year Graduation
87.0%
Area population (ZIP 38104)
22,925
Area average commute
18.4 min
Area median age
37.3
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 TCAP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 TCAP. 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 TCAP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 TCAP. 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 38104; 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, 2013-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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