Central High School (Phoenix, Arizona)

Central High School is a high school in the Phoenix Union High School District, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The campus is located at 4525 North Central Avenue, just north of downtown. It was established in 1957.

History
The school was built in 1957. It was designed by noted Phoenix architect John Sing Tang. The construction of the school was completed by Weeks Construction Co. and D. O. Norton & Son Construction Co. both of Phoenix.

Enrollment
, Central’s enrollment was 2,370 students. That year over 60 percent of the population was Hispanic. Central also has the highest percentage of Caucasian students in the district, as well as the highest percentage of Native Americans. Central also is noted for its substantial refugee population, one of the largest in the state.

The school predominantly serves students from partner elementary districts Alhambra, Creighton, Madison, Osborn, and Phoenix Elementary. However, students from across the district come to Central for its Phoenix Union Magnet Program in International Studies. Students zoned to Arthur M. Hamilton School of the Murphy School District, meaning those in the district east of Interstate 17 and north of the Maricopa Freeway, are zoned to Central.

The Arizona Department of Education has designated Central a "performing" school. Central has had 96 students recognized as National Merit Scholars in the past 15 years. The International Studies program includes foreign exchange programs.

Sports

 * Trung Canidate – National Football League (NFL) running back
 * Bryan Colangelo – National Basketball Association executive
 * Lois Drinkwater – sprinter and the first Arizona female to run in the Olympics (1968 as a junior)
 * Azur Kamara – NFL defensive end
 * Damon Mays – NFL wide receiver
 * Darryl Morrison – NFL safety
 * Dave Rajsich – Major League Baseball (MLB) player
 * Jay Schlueter – MLB player

Entertainment and music

 * Mark Coggins – author
 * Samantha Ponder – ESPN personality
 * Richard Page (class of 1971) – lead singer and bassist of the pop rock band Mr. Mister

Politics

 * Phil Gordon – 58th mayor of Phoenix
 * Rosanna Gabaldón – member of the Arizona House of Representatives

Other

 * Ian Bruce (class of 1962) – professor and vice-president of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
 * Cindy McCain – American businesswoman, philanthropist, humanitarian, special educator, and author