According to U.S News and World Report, Central High School is ranked 1 out of 58 high schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Central Students score in the 97th and 96th percentile of the Math and Reading PSSA exams, and they boast the second highest SAT score Averages in the district. Central offers 26 AP Classes and a full International Baccalaureate Program. Additionally, Central offers a wide range of academic electives including constitutional law, 2-D and 3-D Design and Pharmacology. Central has over 80 club programs and a wide range of varsity and junior varsity sports. Central is incredibly unique because of its rich history, commitment to excellence, and its remarkably diverse population.
Central was founded in 1836 and is currently the second oldest continuously run high school in the United States. Although the majority of Central students are female, they did not admit female students until 1983. Over the years Central has occupied 3 locations in Philadelphia, but it has never closed. Central holds the unique distinction to offer B.A. degrees to specific candidates, but most students earn traditional high school diplomas. Central students identify by how many central classes have graduated before them rather than the typical high school year designations. The current graduating class is 274. Central High School has many notable alumni including Noam Chomsky, Louis Kahn and Bill Cosby. Central Alumni frequently donate money to the school and recently funded the historic restoration of of Central's famous Barnwell Library.