Central High School is a public

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

located at 5321 Jacksboro Pike in the Fountain City neighborhood of

Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state' ...

, operated by the Knox County school system.The school's athletic teams are nicknamed the Bobcats, and its colors are

red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...

and

black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...

History

Central was formerly located at what is now Gresham Middle School in the heart of Fountain City, which, in the 1960s, was the largest

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Tennessee. Its name is something of a misnomer, because it was never located near the center of Knoxville, even when Fountain City was annexed into Knoxville in the early 1960s. The northernmost high school in Knoxville before the annexation of Fountain City was

Fulton Fulton may refer to: People * Robert Fulton (1765–1815), American engineer and inventor who developed the first commercially successful steam-powered ship * Fulton (surname) Given name * Fulton Allem (born 1957), South African golfer * Fult ...

, and in the county, Powell, Karns, and Halls high schools were farther north.

2008 shooting

On August 21, 2008, 15-year-old student Jamar Siler entered the school cafeteria and approached student Ryan McDonald sitting at a lunch table. Siler fatally shot McDonald, and was arrested by authorities a short time later. The two had been in previous altercations, the details of which were not released to the general public. Siler was then taken into custody. Siler was initially tried as a juvenile until Tim Irwin, Juvenile Court judge, ordered that he be tried as an adult.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/nov/29/central-high-students-family-relieved-ready-to/ In November 2011, at age 18, Siler pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 30-year sentence. Siler is currently incarcerated in the

Trousdale Turner Correctional Center The Trousdale Turner Correctional Center is a private prison for men, located in Hartsville, Trousdale County, Tennessee, owned and operated by CoreCivic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America) under contract with the Tennessee Department o ...

Notable alumni

* Roy Acuff, country music star *

Trevor Bayne Trevor Mitchell Bayne (born February 19, 1991) is an American professional stock car racing driver, dirt racing driver, team owner, and businessman. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Supra for Joe ...

, NASCAR driver who won the

2011 Daytona 500 The 2011 Daytona 500, the 53rd running of the event, was held on February 20, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida as the first race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Trevor Bayne, driving for Wood Br ...

Kelsea Ballerini Kelsea Nicole Ballerini (born September 12, 1993) is an American country pop singer. She began songwriting as a child and signed with Black River Entertainment in 2014, releasing her debut studio album the following year, '' The First Time''. H ...

, country music star *

Reggie Cobb Reginald John Cobb (July 7, 1968 – April 20, 2019) was a professional American football running back who played seven seasons in the National Football League. A second-round selection in the 1990 NFL Draft, he initially played for the Tampa Ba ...

, former

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The cl ...

running back *

Tony Cosey Anthony E. Cosey (born October 5, 1974) is a steeplechase Olympian and retired American long-distance runner. He finished 36th at the 1999 World Cross Country Championships (long race) and 39th at the 2001 World Cross Country Championships (sh ...

, Olympic steeplechase runner *

Michele Carringer Michele Carringer (born February 4, 1962) is an American politician who currently serves as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 16th district. A Republican, Carringer's district includes the suburban areas directly north ...

, state legislator. *

Ray Graves Samuel Ray Graves (December 31, 1918 – April 10, 2015) was an American college and professional football player and college football coach. He was a native of Tennessee and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he was the starting ...

, football player at Tennessee and head football coach at Florida *

Todd Helton Todd Lynn Helton (born August 20, 1973) is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played his entire 17-year career for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). A five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and ...

, professional baseball player *

Scott Holtzman Scott Holtzman (born September 30, 1983) is an American former mixed martial artist Who most recently competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional from 2012 to 2022, he formerly competed for the Xtrem ...

, UFC Lightweight Fighter *

Frankie Housley Mary Frances "Frankie" Housley (October 12, 1926 – January 14, 1951) was the lone flight attendant on National Airlines Flight 83, which crashed after landing at Philadelphia International Airport on January 14, 1951. She led 10 passengers to ...

, heroic flight attendant *

Con Hunley Conard Logan Hunley (born April 9, 1945) is an American country music singer. Life and career Hunley was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. After graduating from Central High School in Knoxville, Hunley began playing with local bands ...

, American country music singer *

Tim Irwin Timothy Edward Irwin (born December 13, 1958) is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at Tennessee and played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 years. Most of his professional career was with the ...

, former

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...

lineman, former

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state ...

lineman, Judge of Juvenile Court, Knox County, Tennessee *

Josh Lovelace Josh Lovelace is a singer, songwriter and musician best known as the keyboardist for the rock band Needtobreathe. In 2017, he made his solo debut with his family-album ''Young Folk''. Career Needtobreathe In 2011, Lovelace began playing keys ...

, singer, songwriter and musician best known as the keyboardist for the rock band

Needtobreathe Needtobreathe (stylized as NEEDTOBREATHE) is an American rock band from Seneca, South Carolina. The band is composed of Bear Rinehart (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Seth Bolt (backing vocals, bass), Josh Lovelace (backing vocals, keys), Randall ...

. * Terrence Scott,

British Columbia Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions played their first season ...

Football Player *

Steve Searcy William Steven Searcy (born June 4, 1964) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies. Early years Though he is naturally right handed, Searcy w ...

, baseball player * William T. Snyder, Chancellor of

University of Tennessee-Knoxville The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state ...

(1992-1999) and house organist at the Tennessee Theater * Robert Lee Suffridge,(March 17, 1916 – March 3, 1974) was an American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Suffridge also served in the United States Navy during World War II. *

Jennifer Tipton Jennifer Tipton (born September 11, 1937) is an award winning American lighting designer. She has designed for dance, theater, and opera. She is known for working on many productions of American Ballet Theatre. Life and career Tipton was born in ...

, Tony Award-winning lighting designer *

Bubba Trammell Thomas Bubba Trammell (born November 6, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played for the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and the New York Yankees. During his seven ...

, baseball player *

Richard Aaker Trythall Richard Aaker Trythall (July 25, 1939 – December 21, 2022) was an American and Italian composer and pianist of contemporary classical music. Early life and education Trythall was born on July 25, 1939 in Knoxville, Tennessee, the younger b ...

, pianist and composer * Chris Zachary, Major League Baseball pitcher

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Public high schools in Tennessee Schools in Knoxville, Tennessee Educational institutions established in 1906 1906 establishments in Tennessee