Central High School (Phoenix, Arizona)

High school in Phoenix, Arizona

Central High

Aerial photo of Central High School in its first year, 1958

Address

4525 North Central Avenue

Phoenix

Arizona 85012

United States

Coordinates| 33°30′09″N 112°04′23″W﻿ / ﻿33.502553°N 112.072922°W﻿ / 33.502553; -112.072922
Information
Type| Public secondary school
Established| 1957
Principal| Leticia Avalos
Staff| 136.40 (FTE)[1]
Faculty| Approx. 231
Grades| 9-12
Number of students| 2,038 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 14.99[1]
Color(s)|  Red and Gray
Mascot| Bobcat
Website| www.pxu.org/Domain/11

Central High School is a high school in the Phoenix Union High School District, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The campus is located at 4525 North Central Avenue, just north of downtown. It was established in 1957.

## History

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Aerial photo of Central High School construction in 1957

The school was built in 1957. It was designed by noted Phoenix architect John Sing Tang. The construction of the school was completed by Weeks Construction Co. and D. O. Norton & Son Construction Co. both of Phoenix.[2]

## Enrollment

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As of 2006[update], Central’s enrollment was 2,370 students. That year over 60 percent of the population was Hispanic. Central also has the highest percentage of Caucasian students in the district, as well as the highest percentage of Native Americans.[3] Central also is noted for its substantial refugee population, one of the largest in the state.[citation needed]

The school predominantly serves students from partner elementary districts Alhambra, Creighton, Madison, Osborn, and Phoenix Elementary.[4] However, students from across the district come to Central for its Phoenix Union Magnet Program in International Studies.[5] Students zoned to Arthur M. Hamilton School of the Murphy School District, meaning those in the district east of Interstate 17 and north of the Maricopa Freeway, are zoned to Central.[6]

The Arizona Department of Education has designated Central a "performing" school.[7] Central has had 96 students recognized as National Merit Scholars in the past 15 years.[8] The International Studies program includes foreign exchange programs.[5]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (December 2015)

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### Sports

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* Trung Canidate – National Football League (NFL) running back[9]
* Bryan Colangelo – National Basketball Association executive
* Lois Drinkwater – sprinter and the first Arizona female to run in the Olympics (1968 as a junior)
* Azur Kamara – NFL defensive end[10]
* Damon Mays – NFL wide receiver[11]
* Darryl Morrison – NFL safety[12]
* Dave Rajsich – Major League Baseball (MLB) player[13]
* Jay Schlueter – MLB player

### Entertainment and music

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* Mark Coggins – author
* Samantha Ponder – ESPN personality
* Richard Page (class of 1971) – lead singer and bassist of the pop rock band Mr. Mister

### Politics

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* Phil Gordon – 58th mayor of Phoenix[14]
* Rosanna Gabaldón – member of the Arizona House of Representatives

### Other

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* Ian Bruce (class of 1962) – professor and vice-president of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
* Cindy McCain – American businesswoman, philanthropist, humanitarian, special educator, and author[15]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Central High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
2. ^ "Arizona Builder and Contractor, April 1957, Vol. 19, No. 9". azmemory.azlibrary.gov. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
3. ^ "Central High School - Home". Archived from the original on May 5, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2006. Central High School
4. ^ "Phoenix Union Partner Elementary Districts". Phoenix Union High School District. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
5. ^ a b http://www.phxhs.k12.az.us/education/dept/dept.php?sectionid=7474. Retrieved April 8, 2009. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
6. ^ "School Boundaries". Murphy Elementary School District. Retrieved November 7, 2019. // Compare with: "2019-2020 District Map" (PDF). Phoenix Union High School District. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
7. ^ http://www10.ade.az.gov/ReportCard/SchoolSummary.aspx?id=5439&ReportLevel=1 [bare URL]
8. ^ http://www.phxhs.k12.az.us/education/school/school.php?sectiondetailid=59. Retrieved April 13, 2009. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
9. ^ "Trung Canidate". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
10. ^ "Azur Kamara". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
11. ^ "Damon Mays". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
12. ^ "Darryl Morrison". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
13. ^ Adam, Dave (July 6, 1978). "Former Wildcat Dave Rajsich Yankee Starter". Arizona Daily Star. p. G-3. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
14. ^ "Phil Gordon – Mayor of Phoenix". Retrieved September 11, 2021.
15. ^ "10 Things You Didn't Know About Cindy McCain – U.S. News & World Report". January 8, 2008. Archived from the original on January 8, 2008.

## External links

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* Central High School
* Arizona Department of Education School Report Card

* v
* t
* e

Phoenix Union High School District

Current|

* Linda Abril
* Alhambra
* Bioscience
* Bostrom
* Trevor G. Browne
* Camelback
* Central
* Cesar Chavez
* College Prep
* Desiderata
* Betty Fairfax
* Franklin
* Gifted and Talented
* Carl Hayden
* Maryvale
* Metro Tech
* North
* South Mountain

Former|

* Phoenix College

Closed|

* East
* George Washington Carver †
* Phoenix Union ‡
* West

Notes|

* † Segregated until closure
* ‡ Segregated, but reintegrated

Authority control databases: Geographic |

* NCES

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