Central High School

Central High School is a micro-enrollment 9-12 campus in Clifton, Illinois, part of Central CUSD 4. The school instructs 298 students in grades 9 through 12. That puts it 64% leaner than the typical public school in Illinois, which averages around 834 students.

Central High School is one of 4 schools operated by Central CUSD 4, a district that instructs 968 students overall.

On demographics, Central High School lists that the student body is overwhelmingly White (84%). Beyond that, the school logs 12% Hispanic, 3% multiracial.

On the resource side, Central High School logs 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 11.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.8:1, putting Central High School tighter than the state norm the norm. About 38% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Iroquois County (around 53%), the school's rate is south of typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, On a poverty-adjusted basis, Central High School sits in the bottom 10% statewide. Predicted proficiency from the FRL regression is roughly 49.6%; actual is 35.2%, a gap of -14.4 points.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (Iroquois County) records that median household income runs about $66,255, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Iroquois County runs 24 public schools (combined enrollment of about 3,909 students), of which Central High School is one.

The closest other public school is John L Nash Middle School, roughly 0.0 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 2 other public schools cluster around Central High School. Among the 6 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Central High School ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 29.4%.

Central High School operates from a low-density location.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Central High School has contracted 16%, going from 354 students in 2018 to 298 in 2025. The Hispanic share of enrollment climbed from 6% to 12% over that span. Class-load math has pulled in: from 14.8:1 in 2018 to 11.9:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, members of the Central High School community share and discuss enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. The community welcomes input from current and former families.