1
What clubs or activities at Central High School are worth joining?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
1,666
High
DISTRICT 1,571 · STATE 834
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·CHAMPAIGN CUSD 4·NCES 170942000546
Central High School
610 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820 · (217) 351-3914 · Champaign County
GRADES 09–12HIGH13-CITYTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL1,666 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
13.2:1
126 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 13.3:1 · STATE 13.8:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
44%
739 students
DISTRICT 56% · STATE 56%
Community
5
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other high schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 9 | 509 | 31% |
| Grade 10 | 438 | 26% |
| Grade 11 | 374 | 22% |
| Grade 12 | 345 | 21% |
Student demographics
74%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 73% · STATE 69% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
45.5%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
45.9%
based on IL schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
-0.4pp
below demographic expectation
What this means: About 46% of students here test proficient in math and reading, compared with the roughly 46% typical for Illinois schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations measures results against demographically similar schools rather than by raw scores, and this school falls within the typical range, neither among Illinois's top nor bottom 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like Central High School
Central High School's state test result (45.5% proficient) is higher than 3 of the 5 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School this school | 1,666 | 44.4% | 45.5% |
| Lincoln Park High School Chicago | 2,214 | 43.7% | 57.0% |
| Plainfield East High School Plainfield | 1,825 | 39.7% | 45.8% |
| Centennial High School Champaign | 1,476 | 51.4% | 36.0% |
| Willowbrook High School Villa Park | 1,983 | 48.0% | 42.9% |
| Harry D Jacobs High School Algonquin | 2,056 | 40.3% | 44.0% |
Matched among Illinois high schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where Central High School ranks
Among high schools| Measure | This school | In Illinois | In Champaign County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 45.5% | #125 of 573 | #3 of 8 |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,666 | #135 of 708 | #1 of 9 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.2:1 | #175 of 528 | #3 of 8 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 73.7% | #8 of 537 | #1 of 8 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 44.4% | #355 of 578 | #5 of 8 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked fastest growth first | +30.0% | #15 of 191 | N/A |
Ranked against other public high schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
1,666
+214 (+15%) vs 2020
+53% since 1990-91, when it was 1,086
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 1,666 | 126.2 | 13.2:1 | 44% (739) |
| 2023-24 | 1,642 | 119.5 | 13.8:1 | 32% (522) |
| 2022-23 | 1,597 | 108.5 | 14.7:1 | 45% (726) |
| 2020-21 | 1,452 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2017-18 | 1,282 | 99.2 | 12.9:1 | 47% (598) |
| 2015-16 | 1,217 | 99 | 12.3:1 | 46% (563) |
| 2010-11 | 1,234 | 89 | 13.9:1 | 51% (626) |
| 2000-01 | 1,303 | 76 | 17.1:1 | N/A |
| 1990-91 | 1,086 | 64 | 17.0:1 | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Central High School.
Since 2017-18: students up 30% (1,282 to 1,666); teachers up 27% (99.2 to 126.2).
About Central High School
Central High School is a large high school located in Champaign, Illinois. Enrollment totals 1,666 students across grades 9 through 12. The school is 100% larger than the average for high schools in Illinois.
Central High School belongs to Champaign CUSD 4, a district of 18 schools and 10,598 students.
The student body at Central High School has no majority group. White students lead at 38%. The remaining shares are 26% Black, 19% Hispanic, 9% Asian, and 7% multiracial. Champaign County as a whole is about 64% White, so the school's share is lower. A diversity index of 74% means there is a 74% chance two randomly chosen students at Central High School are from different groups.
The student-to-teacher ratio at Central High School is 13.2:1, based on 126.2 full-time-equivalent teachers. The average ratio among high schools in Illinois is similar, at 13.8:1. Lunch program data show 44% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The average for public schools in Champaign County is 53%.
BeatsExpectations compares each school's average proficiency rate across its state test results with a prediction based on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility. For Central High School, the prediction is 45.9% and the result is 45.5%.
In the wider Champaign County area, median household income comes to about $63,683, roughly 46% of adults have a four-year degree or more, and about 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Champaign County's 66 public schools enroll about 25,919 students and include Central High School.
Of the public schools around it, Central High School is closest to Edison Middle School, about 0.5 miles away. Central High School has at least 8 other public schools within five miles. Local comparison: Central High School ranks 2nd of 8 nearby schools, at 45.5% versus a 30.1% average.
The federal government classifies Central High School's location as City: Small.
Enrollment rose 15% over 4 years, reaching 1,666 in 2024-25.
This page is a place to ask questions and share updates about fundraisers, report cards, and school supplies at Central High School. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to post.
Champaign County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
208,741
Census ACS
Median income
$63,683
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
46%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
7%
Below federal line
Schools in county
66
25,919 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Champaign CUSD 4
- Centennial High SchoolHigh · 1,476 students
- Jefferson Middle SchoolMiddle · 711 students
- International Prep AcademyElementary · 681 students
- Franklin Middle SchoolMiddle · 665 students
- Edison Middle SchoolMiddle · 647 students
- Bottenfield Elementary SchoolElementary · 456 students
Other schools in Champaign
- Centennial High SchoolHigh · 1,476 students
- Jefferson Middle SchoolMiddle · 711 students
- International Prep AcademyElementary · 681 students
- Franklin Middle SchoolMiddle · 665 students
- Edison Middle SchoolMiddle · 647 students
- Bottenfield Elementary SchoolElementary · 456 students
Other Central High schools
70 other US public schools in 32 states are named Central High. Central High School is the 10th largest of the 71.
- Central High SchoolBurilngton, IL · 1,575 students
- Central High SchoolClifton, IL · 298 students
- Central High SchoolCamp Point, IL · 220 students
- Central High SchoolSAN ANGELO, TX · 2,985 students
- CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOLOMAHA, NE · 2,587 students
Nearby schools
- Edison Middle School0.5 mi · 647
- Franklin Middle School0.6 mi · 665
- South Side Elementary School0.6 mi · 307
- Dr Howard Elementary School0.6 mi · 426
- Champaign Early Chldhd Cntr0.7 mi · 288
- Stratton Elementary School0.7 mi · 454
Frequently asked questions
About Central High SchoolWhat is the total enrollment at Central High School?
Central High School enrolls approximately 1,666 students in grades 09-12.
What grades does Central High School serve?
Central High School serves grades 09-12.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central High School?
The student-to-teacher ratio at Central High School is approximately 13.2:1 (126 FTE teachers).
What is the racial breakdown of students at Central High School?
At Central High School, the student body is approximately 38% White, 19% Hispanic, 26% Black, 9% Asian, 7% Two or more.
What district is Central High School in?
Central High School is part of Champaign CUSD 4.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.