Central High School (Memphis, Tennessee)

Central High School is a public high school (grades 9-12) in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Founded in the early 1900s, it is popularly considered the first high school in Memphis. This, however, is not accurate; in fact, 3 High Schools in Memphis were established before Central: Booker T Washington in 1873 (with the same colors and mascot), Manassas HS in 1899, and Melrose in 1894.

Central High School
Memphis Central High modern entry
Location
306 South Bellevue Boulevard Memphis , Tennessee 38104 United States
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Enhancing The Tradition of Excellence
Established	1909
School district	Shelby County Schools
Principal	Amy Epps
Teaching staff	78.98 (FTE)[1]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1,300 (2023–2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	16.46[1]
Color(s)	Green and gold
Fight song	Warrior Song/War Drum
Mascot	Warrior
Nickname	The High School
Website	schools.scsk12.org/central-hs

Central High School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front of Central High
Show map of Tennessee Show map of the United States
Location	306 S. Bellevue Blvd., Memphis, Tennessee
Coordinates	35°8′1″N 90°1′11″W
Area	6 acres (2.4 ha)
Built	1911
Architect	B.C. Alsup
Architectural style	Tudor Revival, Jacobethan Revival
MPS	Public Schools of Memphis 1902-1915 TR
NRHP reference No.	82004041[2]
Added to NRHP	September 17, 1982

Central is often called "THE" High School. It is a part of the Shelby County Optional School system where it is recognized as a school specializing in college preparatory programs. The principal is Gregory McCullough. Central's mascot is the Warrior and the school colors are green and gold. For recognition as the successor to Memphis High School, the first high school for whites in Memphis, Central High's football team, rather than having artwork denoting the "Warrior" mascot, simply has a capital "H", for THE High School

History

Central High was built in 1911 by the Memphis Board of Education, when the current building was erected on Raleigh Avenue, now called Bellevue Blvd. It is in the Jacobean Revival architecture style, with corner pavilions on the west facade, and rusticated surrounds on the upper story windows. Though there have been additions, the school retains is architectural integrity.^[3] Central High's building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 1982.^[2]

Academics

Central High School offers a traditional program of academics as well as a College Preparatory Optional Program. Honors and Advanced Placement courses are offered.^[4]

In 2014, 405 students received diplomas. ACT composite scores for the 2014-2015 school year were 18.1 vs 19.8 for the state and 21.1 national.^{[4][needs update]}

Extra-curricular activities

Central High School has clubs in foreign language, volunteer service, and honor societies. Central's jazz band placed first in the 2025 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition in New York City, winning additional awards for trumpet, trombone, and rhythm sections.^[5][6]

Sports

Central High has numerous varsity sports teams, including baseball/softball, basketball, swimming, golf, football, soccer, volleyball, cross country/track, tennis, and wrestling.^[7]

Notable alumni

• William F. Barnes - football coach at UCLA
• John S. Bull - CHS '52, NASA Astronaut Group 5 selected in 1966.^[8]
• Charles W. Burson - CHS '62; legal counsel and chief of staff to Vice-President Al Gore
• Alex Chilton - musician of the Box Tops – “The Letter”; would have been CHS '69, but dropped out when The Letter became a hit
• John Farris - CHS ’55; author “Harrison High”, a fictional account of Central High
• Avron Fogelman - Memphis businessman
• Key Glock - CHS '15; music artist and rapper signed to Paper Route Empire^{[citation needed]}
• Bette Greene - CHS ’52; author “Summer of My German Soldier”
• Natalie Jackson - CHS '78; (a.k.a. Kudisan Kai) background vocalist for Elton John, Natalie Cole, and others^[9]
• Lester Hudson - professional basketball player
• George Barnes - alias Machine Gun Kelly^[10]
• William G. Leftwich, Jr. - Marine killed in Vietnam
• Terry Manning - music producer, photographer
• William Poduska - CHS '55; electrical engineer, businessman, and professor
• William Sanderson - CHS ’62; "Larry" on the Newhart show
• Pooh Shiesty - CHS '18; rapper and music artist^{[citation needed]}
• Edward L. Stanton III - United States Attorney & federal judicial nominee
• Tyler Stone (born 1991) - basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Art Tait - American football player in the National Football League (NFL)
• Peter Taylor - short-story writer and novelist
• Margaret Valiant - musician, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and activist
• Jon Wells - CHS '76; alias "Thunder Paws", former drummer for Black Oak Arkansas (recorded on Ready As Hell)^[11]
• Kemmons Wilson - founder of Holiday Inn^[12]