Central HS

1700 W Olney Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19141

2,329 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Central High School of Philadelphia, located at 1700 W. Olney Ave, is one of the most prestigious and historically significant public secondary schools in the United States. Founded in 1836, it holds the distinction of being the second-oldest public high school in the country. Known for its rigorous academic standards and highly competitive admissions process, the school serves a diverse student body drawn from across the city, consistently ranking among the top institutions in Pennsylvania for its academic performance and college readiness.

The school is well-regarded for its strong emphasis on advanced placement (AP) coursework, humanities, and sciences, as well as a rich tradition of student extracurriculars. Central maintains a unique culture fostered by its "Centralian" pride and an influential alumni network. Operating under the Philadelphia School District, the institution occupies a historic campus that reflects its long-standing commitment to providing a challenging and comprehensive education for high-achieving students in Philadelphia.

2,329

Total Students

87.9

Full-Time Teachers

26.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Central HS
Demographic	Student Count
White	609
Hispanic	249
Black	524
Asian	821
Two or More	120
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	2

Asian
821 (35.3%)
White
609 (26.1%)
Black
524 (22.5%)
Hispanic
249 (10.7%)
Two or More
120 (5.2%)
American Indian
4 (0.2%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.1%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Philadelphia City SD
Phone:	(215)400-3590
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	2,329
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	87.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	26.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 589

Grade 10 597

Grade 11 575

Grade 12 568