| Little Rock Central High School | |
|---|---|
 Front entrance to Little Rock Central High School | |
| Address | |
 | |
1500 Little Rock Nine Way[1] 72202-5843 United States | |
| Information | |
| School type | Comprehensive public high school |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Status | Open |
| School district | Little Rock School District |
| NCES District ID | 0509000[2] |
| CEEB code | 041422 |
| NCES School ID | 050900000607[2] |
| Principal | Nancy Rousseau (since 2002) |
| Teaching staff | 168.93 (on FTE basis)[2] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,506 (2021–2022)[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14.66[2] |
| Education system |
|
| Classes offered | Regular, Career Focus, Advanced Placement |
| Hours in school day | 6.75 |
| Campus size | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Color(s) | Black and Old gold |
| Fight song | On, Tigers! (based on On, Wisconsin!) |
| Athletics conference | 7A/6A East (2012–14) |
| Team name | Tigers |
| Rival | Little Rock Hall, Little Rock Catholic |
| Accreditation | ADE AdvancED (1924–) |
| Publication | The Labyrinth |
| Newspaper | The Tiger |
| Yearbook | The Pix |
| Communities served | Little Rock |
| Website | www |
Little Rock Central High School | |
  Location in Arkansas  Location in United States | |
| Location | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 34°44′12″N 92°17′56″W / 34.7368°N 92.2989°W |
| Area | 17.95 acres (7.26 ha) |
| Architect | Parks Almand, John |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Visitation | 44,293 (2005) |
| Website | Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site |
| Part of | Central High School Neighborhood Historic District (ID96000892) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000268[3] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1977 |
| Designated NHL | May 20, 1982[4] |
| Designated CP | August 16, 1996 |
| Designated NHS | November 6, 1998 (#01000274) |
Little Rock Central High School (LRCH) is an accredited comprehensive public high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. The school was the site of the Little Rock Crisis in 1957 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation by race in public schools was unconstitutional three years earlier. This was during the period of heightened activism in the civil rights movement.[5]
Central is located at the intersection of Little Rock Nine Way (a section of Park Street, designated in September 2022) and Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive (formerly 14th Street).[6] Bates was an African-American journalist and state NAACP president who played a key role in bringing about, through the 1957 crisis, the integration of the school.
Central can trace its origins to 1869 when the Sherman School operated in a wooden structure at 8th and Sherman streets; it graduated its first class on June 13, 1873. In 1885 the Sherman School was moved to 14th and Scott streets and was named Scott Street School, but was more commonly called City High School. Five years later in 1890, the Peabody School was constructed at West Capitol and Gaines streets. It was named in honor of philanthropist George Peabody from US$200,000 received via the Peabody Education Fund. In 1905, the city founded Little Rock High School at the intersection of 14th and Cumberland streets, and shuttered the Peabody and Scott Street schools to serve as the city's sole public high school. Until 1957, only white students were permitted to be enrolled.
In 1927 at a cost of US$1.5 million, the city completed construction on the nation's largest and most expensive high school facility, which remains in use today. In 1953 with the construction of Hall High School, the school was renamed as Little Rock Central High School. It has since been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and named as a U.S. National Historic Landmark and National Historic Site.
Central High School, which covers grades 9 through 12, had an enrollment of 2,476 in school year 2020–2021.[2] It is in the Little Rock School District, and serves sections of Little Rock and the entirety of Cammack Village.[7][8] Nancy Rousseau was appointed principal in 2002, and retained that position as of 2024[update].[6]
- ^ "Street in front of Central High School renamed to honor Little Rock Nine". September 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Search for Public Schools - Central High School (050900000607)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ "National Register Information System – (#77000268)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ "National Historic Landmarks Program". Archived from the original on March 1, 2007.
- ^ National Park Service (May 19, 2008). "Desegregation of Central High School". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
- ^ a b "Staff Directory". Little Rock Central High School. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ "School District Reference Map (2010 Census): Pulaski County, AR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 28, 2021. – See for location of Cammack Village
- ^ "Little Rock School District High School Attendance Zones" (PDF). Little Rock School District. Retrieved February 28, 2021. – See outline of Cammack Village. Also see Former boundary from 2001 and detail map