Central High School is a four-year comprehensive

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

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 ...

serving students in

ninth In music, a ninth is a compound interval consisting of an octave plus a second. Like the second, the interval of a ninth is classified as a dissonance in common practice tonality. Since a ninth is an octave larger than a second, its ...

through

twelfth grade Twelfth grade, 12th grade, senior year, or grade 12 is the final year of secondary school in most of North America. In other regions, it may also be referred to as class 12 or Year 13. In most countries, students are usually between the ages of 17 ...

s in Newark, in Essex County,

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...

, United States, operating as part of the

Newark Public Schools Newark Board of Education is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in the city of Newark in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The state took over the district i ...

. As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 838 students and 73.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a

student–teacher ratio Student–teacher ratio or student–faculty ratio is the number of students who attend a school or university divided by the number of teachers in the institution. For example, a student–teacher ratio of 10:1 indicates that there are 10 students ...

of 11.4:1. There were 653 students (77.9% of enrollment) eligible for

free lunch A free lunch is the providing of a meal at no cost, usually as a sales enticement to attract customers and increase revenues from other business. It was once a common tradition in saloons and taverns in many places in the United States, with th ...

and 41 (4.9% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for Central High School

National Center for Education Statistics The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district financ ...

. Accessed December 1, 2022.

History

Central High School was originally Central Commercial and Manual Training School, housed in what is now the Central King Building on the campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. It opened January 31, 1912. The school provided vocational education, offering a forge and a foundry, a sewing room, a sheet-metal room and a wood shop, as well as an auditorium seating 1,500. The school manufactured tools for itself and the rest of the district.Bolenius, Emma Miller
"A 'New Idea' High School"
p. 326. ''Popular Educator'', Volume 32, February 1915. Accessed March 9, 2016. A smaller school but without a forge, the East Side Commercial & Manual Training High School was built at the same time. The decade was active one for the school district. In 1911, it opened a School for the Feeble Minded and a School for Blind.District History
Newark Public Schools. Accessed March 9, 2018. The city closed its last segregated school in 1909. The school was renamed Central High School and remained at the original address until 2008. The Central King Building at New Jersey Institute of Technology was renovated to support the university and STEM counselling. The school moved to its current location at 246 18th Avenue in Newark after its $107 million completion in 2008.Jackson, Chanta L
"New Central High nears completion"
''

The Star-Ledger ''The Star-Ledger'' is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to '' The Jersey Journal'' of Jersey City, ''The Times'' of Trenton and the '' Staten Island Advance'', all of ...

'', May 25, 2008. Accessed July 30, 2019. "After nearly a decade-long push for a new building, Central High School is not only on track to be completed in time for the start of school in September, but if things go as planned, the Class of 2008 will hold graduation in the gymnasium next month." The move was completed in 2010.

Ras Baraka Ras Jua Baraka (born April 9, 1970) is an American educator, author, and politician who is the 40th and current Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He was previously a member of the Municipal Council of Newark and the principal of the city's Central ...

served as principal of Central High School from 2007 to 2013 before his election as Mayor of Newark.

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 300th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in ''

New Jersey Monthly ''New Jersey Monthly'' is an American monthly magazine featuring issues of possible interest to residents of New Jersey. The magazine was started in 1976. It is based in Morristown. In addition to articles of general interest, the publication fe ...

'' magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology. The school had been ranked 277th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 274th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. The magazine ranked the school 278th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 304th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.

Academies

Central includes three academic academies: The Dental Studies Academy, Environmental Science academy, and Teen Pep. Students choose their career track once they have enrolled and began the academic year. The Dental Studies Academy provides students the opportunity to gain entry-level certification in the dental field. Students have the opportunity to certify in NELDA (National Entry Level Dental Assistant), AMP (Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology), ICE (Infection Control Exam), and RHS (Radiation Health Safety). Qualifying students will also participate in internships and a variety of community service events. The Environmental Science Academy will empower students to acquire the necessary academic, technical, and marketable skills to enter, compete, and advance in their education and career in a global economy. The purpose of the academy is to give students hands-on experiences with a social justice approach to solving environmental issues as it relates to climate, horticulture, and environmental sustainability. Teen PEP is a performance-based class that replaces senior health and physical education classes. 15-24 hand-picked students will be trained in leadership, sexuality issues, and basic pedagogy (teaching). Teen PEP covers advanced level sexual/sexuality education which includes but is not limited to; postponing sexual involvement, pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections, dating violence, sexual assault, decision making, etc. Teen PEP also implements team-building activities during training and class in order to foster familial bonds.

Project Grad Scholarship

Central students are given the opportunity to earn a scholarship towards their college education, called the Project Grad Newark College Scholarshi

The students and the students' parents read and sign a pledge stating that the student will meet minimum requirements. Some include; maintaining an average GPA of 2.5 or better, completing two college-bound summer institutes, graduating in four years. When the student completes these requirements, they are awarded $6,000 which is paid in installments over the span of four years to the college they plan to attend.

Athletics

The Central High School Blue DevilsCentral High School

New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is an association of hundreds of New Jersey high schools that regulates high school athletics and holds tournaments and crowns champions in high school sports. State championsh ...

. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the

Super Essex Conference The Super Essex Conference (SEC) is a high school athletic conference located in Essex County, New Jersey. The conference was formed in 2009 by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association and was a result of a larger realignment that ...

, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Essex County and operates under the supervision of the

(NJSIAA). Before the 2009 realignment, the school had competed in the Mountain Valley Conference, which consisted of public and private high schools covering Union County and Essex County in northern New Jersey. With 630 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range. The football team competes in the National Red division of the

North Jersey Super Football Conference The North Jersey Super Football Conference is a football-only athletic league of high schools in New Jersey. The 115-team league was formed in 2016. History The NJSFC consists of nearly all of the football playing members of four conferences that w ...

, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league. The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II North for football for 2018–2020. Athletic programs offered at the school include: *Fall sports: Football, Cross Country, Soccer, Cheerleading and Girls Volleyball *Winter sports: Boys Basketball, Bowling, Indoor Track, Girls Basketball and Cheerleading *Spring sports: Baseball, Track and Field The boys spring / outdoor track team won the state champions in 1919-1921. The boys track team won the indoor / winter track public school state championship in 1922-1926 and in 1933. The girls team won the Group II championship in 1984. The school's football team won the 1924 state football championship, defeating

Asbury Park High School Asbury Park High School is a comprehensive, four-year community public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades. It is in a landmark building in Asbury Park, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, that was cons ...

by a score of 39-0, in a game that was mandated by the

after the two teams ended the regular season tied in the standings. The boys' basketball team won the Group IV championship in 1947 against

Union Hill High School Union Hill High School was a public high school serving students in grades 9–12 from Union City in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, operating as one of two high schools of the Union City Board of Education, an Abbott District. The ...

, in both 1963 and 1964 against Hillside High School and in 2001 against Ewing High School. The team won the Group IV title in 1964 with a 40-37 victory against Union Hill. The 1964 team outscored Hillside by 12-2 in overtime to win the Group IV title by a final score of 60-50 in the championship game played in front of a crowd of 5,000 at

Convention Hall Convention Hall was a convention center in Kansas City, Missouri that hosted the 1900 Democratic National Convention and 1928 Republican National Convention. It was designed by Frederick E. Hill and built at the corner of 13th and Central and cos ...

Atlantic City Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497.

. The team won the 2006 North II, Group II state sectional championship with a 65-48 win over

Madison High School Madison High School may refer to: * Madison County High School (Alabama), Gurley, Alabama * Madison High School (Idaho), Rexburg, Idaho * Madison Consolidated High School, Madison, Indiana * Madison High School (Kansas), Madison, Kansas * Kentuc ...

. The girls track team won the Group III indoor relay state championships in 1982, and in Group II in 1983 and 1989. The girls team won the NJSIAA spring track Group II state championship in 1983 and 1984.

Administration

The school's principal is Terri V. Mitchell. Her core administration team includes three vice principals.

Notable alumni

Joe Louis Clark Joe Louis Clark (May 8, 1938 – December 29, 2020) was the principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey. He is also the subject of the 1989 film '' Lean on Me'', starring Morgan Freeman. Clark gained public attention in the 1980s fo ...

(1938-2020), educator and former principal, who was also an author and motivational speaker. * Patrick Cole (born 1993), professional basketball player. * Walter Devlin (1931-1995), former NBA basketball player. *

Al DeRogatis Albert John DeRogatis (May 5, 1927 – December 26, 1995) was an American football player and television and radio sportscaster. Life and career DeRogatis was born in Newark, New Jersey, and attended the city's Central High School, earning ...

(1927-1995), football player who later became a television and radio sportscaster. *

Kenneth A. Gibson Kenneth Allen Gibson (May 15, 1932 – March 29, 2019) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 36th mayor of Newark, New Jersey, from 1970 to 1986. He was the first African American elected mayor of any major city in the ...

(born 1932), former Mayor of Newark. * DeMingo Graham (born 1973), NFL athlete who has played for the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their home games at NR ...

. *

Larry Hazzard Larry Hazzard Sr. (born 7 December 1944) is a former amateur boxer, boxing referee, athletic control board commissioner, teacher and actor. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, being inducted during 2010. Hazzard has served as ...

(born 1944), former amateur boxer, boxing referee, athletic control board commissioner, teacher and actor. *

Anthony Mann Anthony Mann (born Emil Anton Bundsmann; June 30, 1906 – April 29, 1967) was an American film director and stage actor. Mann initially started as a theatre actor appearing in numerous stage productions. In 1937, he moved to Hollywood where ...

(1906-1967), actor and film director, most notably of

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

and

Westerns The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

. *

Alexander Matturri Alexander J. Matturri (November 28, 1913 – January 14, 1992) was an American Republican Party politician and jurist who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1968 to 1972. Early life Matturri was born on November 28, 1913, in Newark, New ...

(1913–1992), politician and jurist who served in the

New Jersey State Senate The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232, ...

from 1968 to 1972. * Sherman Maxwell (1907-2008), sportscaster and chronicler of

Negro league baseball The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be ...

who has been described as the first African American sports broadcaster in history. * Hymen B. Mintz (1909-1986), politician who served in the

New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...

from 1954 to 1957. * Kyle Moore-Brown (born 1971, class of 1989), former

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 season, making it the third longest-running professional football league in ...

offensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line, while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line. A numb ...

defensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line, while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line. A numb ...

for the Albany/Indiana Firebirds and the

Colorado Crush The Colorado Crush were an arena football team based in Denver, Colorado. They began play as a 2003 Arena Football League expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspen ...

. * Ronald Owens (1930–2005), politician who served in the

from 1966 to 1978. *

Dore Schary Isadore "Dore" Schary (August 31, 1905 – July 7, 1980) was an American playwright, director, and producer for the stage and a prolific screenwriter and producer of motion pictures. He directed just one feature film, '' Act One'', the film bi ...

(1905-1980), motion picture director, writer, and producer, and playwright who became head of production at Metro-Goldwyn Mayer and eventually president of the studio. Phillips, McCandlish
"Schary Named City's First Cultural Chief"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', February 25, 1970. Accessed December 19, 2017. "He was born in Newark and attended Newark Central High School, dropping out at 14 to work but later making up the missed credits."

References

External links

Central High School
*
Statistical data for the Central High School

{{Authority control 1911 establishments in New Jersey Educational institutions established in 1911 High schools in Newark, New Jersey Public high schools in Essex County, New Jersey