View source for Little Rock Central High School

{{Short description|Public school and historic site in Arkansas, US}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Little Rock Central High School
 | logo                    = Logo of Little Rock Central High School.png
 | image                   = Facade of Central High School - Little Rock - Arkansas - USA - 01.jpg
 | imagesize               = 250px
 | caption                 = Front entrance to Little Rock Central High School
 | streetaddress           = 1500 Little Rock Nine Way<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/little-rock/little-rock-nine-way-street-renamed/91-a0fd3e48-d52e-4aaa-ae75-0265d08ccacf | title=Street in front of Central High School renamed to honor Little Rock Nine | date=September 26, 2022 }}</ref>
 | city                    = [[Little Rock, Arkansas]]
 | zipcode                 = 72202-5843
 | country                 = US <!-- Do not link per [[MOS:OL]] -->
 | coordinates             = 
 | district                = [[Little Rock School District]]
 | principal               = [[Nancy Rousseau]] (since 2002-present)
 | superintendent          = Dr. Jermall D. Wright
 | staff                   = 
 | teaching_staff          = 161.18 (on [[full time equivalent|FTE]] basis)<ref name=NCES />
 | us_nces_school_id       = {{NCES School ID|050900000607|school_name=Central High School|access_date=December 22, 2024|ref_name=NCES}}
 | ceeb                    = 041422
 | us_nces_district_id     = 0509000<ref name=NCES />
 | classes offered         = Regular, Career Focus, [[Advanced Placement]]
 | ratio                   = 14.02<ref name=NCES />
 | schooltype              = Comprehensive<br /> public high school
 | system                  = {{unbulleted list|Arkansas Smart Core Curriculum|Little Rock Scholars|International Studies Career Focus|Environmental Science Magnet/Career Focus|Information Science Magnet/Career Focus|Systems Engineering Magnet/Career Focus}}
 | grades                  = 9–12
 | campus size             = {{convert|18|acre|ha}}
 | hours_in_day            = 7.25
 | conference              = 7A/6A East (2012–14)
 | fightsong               = On, Tigers! (based on [[On, Wisconsin!]])
 | accreditation           = [[Arkansas Department of Education|ADE]]<br />[[AdvancED]] (1924–)
 | rival                   = Little Rock South West high school, [[Cabot high school]]
 | team_name               = Tigers
 | colors                  = Black and Old gold <br> {{color box|black|border=silver}}{{color box|#CFB53B|border=silver}}
 | yearbook                = The Pix
 | publication             = ''The Labyrinth''
 | newspaper               = The Tiger
 | founded                 = {{Start date and age|1927|p=1}}
 | status                  = Open
 | enrollment              = 2,260 (2023–2024)<ref name=NCES/>
 | communities             = Little Rock
 | website                 = {{URL|https://www.lrcentralhigh.net//}}
 | footnotes               = {{Infobox NRHP
| embed                = yes
| name                 = Little Rock Central High School
| nrhp_type            = nhl
| image                = 
| caption              = 
| location             = [[Little Rock, Arkansas]]
| coordinates          = {{coord|34.7368|-92.2989|region:US-AR_type:edu|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin             = Arkansas#USA
| map_caption          = Location in [[Arkansas]]##Location in United States
| area                 = {{convert|17.95|acre|ha}}
| visitation_num       = 44,293
| visitation_year      = 2005
| architect            = [[John Parks Almand|Parks Almand, John]]
| architecture         = [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]]
| website              = [https://www.nps.gov/chsc/index.htm Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site]
| added                = August 19, 1977
| designated_nrhp_type = May 20, 1982<ref name="nhlsum">{{Cite web|title=National Historic Landmarks Program|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1716&ResourceType=Building|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301174039/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1716&ResourceType=Building|archive-date=March 1, 2007}}</ref>
| refnum               = 77000268<ref name="nris">{{NRISref |refnum=77000268|2008a}}</ref>
| nrhp_type2           = cp | nocat = yes
| designated_nrhp_type2 = August 16, 1996
| partof               = [[Central High School Neighborhood Historic District]]
| partof_refnum        = 96000892
| nrhp_type3           = nhs
| designated_nrhp_type3 = November 6, 1998 (#01000274)
}}
}}
'''Little Rock Central High School''' ('''LRCH''') is an accredited [[comprehensive education|comprehensive]] public high school in [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]], [[Secondary education in the United States|United States]]. The school was the [[Little Rock Nine|site of the Little Rock Crisis]] in 1957 after the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] ruled that [[Brown v. Board of Education|segregation by race in public schools was unconstitutional]] three years earlier. This was during the period of heightened activism in the [[civil rights movement]].<ref name="arency">{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=718|title=Desegregation of Central High School|author=National Park Service|date=May 19, 2008|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture|access-date=May 21, 2008}}</ref>

Central is located at the intersection of Little Rock Nine Way (a section of Park Street, designated in September 2022) and [[Daisy Bates (activist)|Daisy L. Gatson Bates]] Drive (formerly 14th Street).<ref name="lrchs" /> 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 (Arkansas)|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 (United States)|National Historic Site]].

Central High School, which covers grades 9 through 12, had an enrollment of 2,476 in school year 2020–2021.<ref name=NCES/> It is in the [[Little Rock School District]], and serves sections of Little Rock and the entirety of [[Cammack Village]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05119_pulaski/DC10SD_C05119_001.pdf|title=School District Reference Map (2010 Census): Pulaski County, AR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=February 28, 2021}} – See for location of Cammack Village</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lrsd.org/cms/lib/AR02203631/Centricity/Domain/158/2020%20LR_School_High_Map.pdf|title=Little Rock School District High School Attendance Zones|publisher=[[Little Rock School District]]|access-date=February 28, 2021}} – See outline of Cammack Village. Also see [https://web.archive.org/web/20180417040313/http://www.lrsd.org/sites/default/files/oldfiles/zones/2001hi.pdf Former boundary from 2001]<!--Other URLs: https://web.archive.org/web/20070316065711/http://www.lrsd.org/zones/2001hi.pdf --> and [https://web.archive.org/web/20060625223445/http://www.lrsd.org/zones/maps/centralhs.pdf detail map]</ref> [[Nancy Rousseau]] was appointed principal in 2002, and retained that position {{As of|2024|lc=y}}.<ref name="lrchs">{{Cite web |title=Staff Directory|publisher=Little Rock Central High School|date= |access-date=October 2, 2022 |url= https://www.lrcentralhigh.net/directory}}</ref>

==History==
===Early campus history===
Built in 1927 at a cost of $1.5 million, Little Rock Senior High School was designed in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival style]]; it was hailed as the most expensive, most beautiful, and largest high school in the nation. Statues of four figures over the front entrance represent ambition, personality, opportunity, and preparation.<ref name="nps-chsc">{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/chsc/planyourvisit/upload/SitebulletinCrisis.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126014236/http://www.nps.gov/chsc/planyourvisit/upload/SitebulletinCrisis.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2007 |title=Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=February 10, 2013}}</ref> Its opening earned national publicity, with nearly 20,000 people attending the dedication ceremony. In 1953 it was renamed as Little Rock Central High School.

At the time in Arkansas and other states across the South, public school educational facilities were legally racially segregated. In 1954 the US Supreme Court ruled in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' that such segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, and encouraged the states to integrate their schools. Related historic events in the 1950s changed education at Central High School and throughout the United States.

===Little Rock integration===
{{Main|Little Rock Nine}}
LRCHS was the focal point of the [[Little Rock Nine|Little Rock Integration Crisis]] of 1957.<ref name="arency" /> Nine Black students, known as the [[Little Rock Nine]], were denied entrance to the school in defiance of the 1954 [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruling ordering [[Racial integration|integration]] of public schools.<ref name="arency" /> This provoked a showdown between the Democrat [[Governor of Arkansas|Governor]] [[Orval Faubus]] and Republican [[President of the United States|President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] that gained international attention.<ref name="arency" />

On the morning of September 23, 1957, the nine Black high school students faced an angry [[Crowd|mob]] of over 1,000 Whites in front of Central High School who were protesting the integration project.<ref name="arency" /> As the students were escorted inside by the [[Little Rock Police Department|Little Rock police]], violence escalated, and they were removed from the school.<ref name="arency" /> The next day, Eisenhower ordered the 1,200-man 327th Airborne Battle Group of the [[U.S. Army]]'s [[101st Airborne Division (United States)|101st Airborne Division]] from [[Fort Campbell]], Kentucky, to escort the nine students into the school.<ref name="arency" /> By the same order, he federalized the entire 10,000-man Arkansas National Guard, in order to remove them from the control of Governor Faubus.<ref name="arency" /> At nearby [[Robinson Maneuver Training Center|Camp Robinson]], a hastily organized Task Force 153rd Infantry drew guardsmen from units all over the state.<ref name="arency" /> Most of the Arkansas Guard was quickly demobilized, but the ad hoc Task Force 153rd Infantry assumed control at Thanksgiving when the 327th withdrew and patrolled inside and outside the school for the remainder of the school year. As [[Melba Pattillo Beals]], one of the nine students, wrote in her diary, "After three full days inside Central [High School], I know that integration is a much bigger word than I thought."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Patillo Beals|first1=Melba|title=Warriors Don't Cry|date=July 2007|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-4169-4882-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/warriorsdontcry00melb/page/113 113]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/warriorsdontcry00melb/page/113}}</ref>

This event, watched by the nation and world, was the site of the first important test for the implementation of the U.S. Supreme Court's ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' decision of 1954.<ref name="arency" /> Many areas of the South pledged to resist this ruling. Arkansas' governor Orval Faubus questioned the authority of the federal court system and the validity of desegregation. The crisis at Little Rock's Central High School was the first fundamental test of the national resolve to enforce black civil rights in the face of [[massive resistance]] during the years following the Brown decision. As to whether Eisenhower's specific actions to enforce integration violated the [[Posse Comitatus Act]], the Supreme Court, in ''[[Cooper v. Aaron]]'' (1958), indirectly affirmed the legality of his conduct. It was never expressly reviewed.<ref name="posse">{{cite web| title=Military Power in Law Enforcement: The Posse Comitatus| date=November 9, 2005| url=http://law.onecle.com/constitution/article-2/40-military-power-in-law-enforcement.html| publisher=Law and Legal Research| access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref>

In 1958, federal Judge [[J. Smith Henley|Jesse Smith Henley]] of the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas]], stating that integration had "broken down under the pressure of public opinion," suspended operation of the federal integration order until the 1960-61 school term. The school board said that it had faced large fees and could not afford to hire security guards to keep the peace in school.<ref name="Sydney">{{cite news| title=1958| page=26| work=Sydney Morning Herald| date=June 23, 2010| author=Malcolm Brown| url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=2BCA3242E453B1D26070B678C94B7831?page=1&sy=nstore&kw=condemned&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=week&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=150&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SMH100623926J47D5M4L| publisher=News Store| access-date=September 9, 2011}}</ref>

LRCHS was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on August 19, 1977, and was designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]] on May 20, 1982.<ref name="nhl">{{Cite web
 |author=James Sheire and The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
 | title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form
 | publisher = National Park Service
 | url = {{NHLS url|id=77000268}}
 | access-date = May 21, 2008}}</ref>  The school continues to be used as an educational facility.

In 2007, Central High School held an event for the 50th Anniversary of the Little Rock Nine entering Central. On September 24, 2007, a new museum was opened honoring the Little Rock Nine. That same year, [[HBO]] produced a documentary film directed by the [[Renaud Brothers]], ''Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later,'' which explored the significant changes and continuities within the school since its [[Racial integration|desegregation]].

===Teaching evolution===
Little Rock Central High School made legal history again in 1968, in a case based on [[Creation and evolution in public education|the teaching of evolution in the public schools]]. LRCHS biology teacher Susan Epperson agreed to be the plaintiff in a case challenging an Arkansas law forbidding the teaching of the theory of [[evolution]] by [[natural selection]] in the public schools. The United States Supreme Court's decision in ''[[Epperson v. Arkansas]]'' held that states could not require that "teaching and learning must be tailored to the principles or prohibitions of any religious sect or dogma," i.e., the teaching of evolution in schools could not be forbidden on religious grounds.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia
 | title = Encyclopedia of Arkansas – Epperson v. Arkansas
 | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Arkansas
 | url = http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2528
 | access-date = March 1, 2009}}</ref>

==After integration==
Today, the high school is minority-majority, with a minority enrollment of 67.7%. The racial breakdown of the school in 2021 was 52.7% Black, 32.3% White, 8.1% Asian, 5.5% Hispanic, and 0.9% two or more races.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Central High School|work=US News|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/arkansas/districts/little-rock-school-district/central-high-school-1373|access-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref>

==Academics==
[[File:AR LR Central High.jpg|thumb|left|President [[Bill Clinton]] led celebrations of the 40th anniversary of desegregation at Little Rock Central High School.]]

The assumed course of study follows the Smart Core curriculum developed by the [[Arkansas Department of Education]] (ADE). For 2011–12, Central is in Whole School Improvement Year 4 in its work to reach [[Adequate Yearly Progress]] (AYP) toward the [[No Child Left Behind Act]].

Central has an International Studies [[magnet school|Magnet Program]], an [[EAST Initiative]] Lab Program, more than 30 service, academic, and honors clubs, award-winning instrumental and concert band and choral programs, and more than 141 courses offered, including 35 [[Advanced Placement|AP]] and [[Pre-Advanced Placement Program|Pre-AP]] courses and 5 foreign languages.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ACADEMICS ACHIEVEMENTS|url=https://www.lrcentralhigh.net/academics|access-date=November 17, 2021|website=lrcentralhigh|language=en}}</ref><ref name="lrsd2" />

===Publications===
Its student publications include ''The Tiger'' (the student newspaper), ''The Pix'' (the school yearbook), which was originally named ''The Cage,'' and ''The Labyrinth'' (the school poetry and arts magazine).

[http://thepixyearbook.wordpress.com/ ''The Pix''] was inducted into the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association's Arkansas [[Yearbook]] Hall of Fame on April 16, 2010. The 2010–11 edition of the PIX received a Silver Medal from the [[Columbia Scholastic Press Association]].<ref name="pix">{{cite web |url=http://thepixyearbook.wordpress.com/ |publisher=The Pix |title=''The PIX - Little Rock Central High School's award-winning yearbook''|access-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref>

[http://tigernewspaper.net/ ''The Tiger''] is the official news publication of Little Rock Central High School and one of the oldest high school newspapers in the country. It is issued in the form of a quarterly mini-magazine that keeps students updated on issues around the school. The newspaper has won many Arkansas Scholastic Press Association awards. The periodical is known for covering difficult aspects of student life, including [[eating disorder]]s, [[drug abuse|drug use]], and [[academic dishonesty]].

===Awards and recognition===
[[File:2007 Little Rock Central High School Dollar Reverse.jpg|thumb|The reverse of the 2007 [[Little Rock Central High School Desegregation silver dollar]], designed by [[Don Everhart]]]] 
Central is a charter member and has been fully accredited by [[AdvancED]] since 1924.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=34925 |title=Institution Summary, Little Rock Central High School |publisher=AdvancED |access-date=September 9, 2012}}</ref> It has the oldest charter west of the [[Mississippi River]] in the [[Cum Laude Society]].

{{As of|2008}} Central has had the most National Merit and National Achievement finalists in the state over the past 10 years with over $4 million in scholarships awarded during the 2006–07 school year.<ref name="lrsd2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lrsd.org/schoolindex.cfm?sccode=1|title=Central International Studies High School|publisher=Little Rock School District|access-date=May 21, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503090808/http://www.lrsd.org/schoolindex.cfm?sccode=1|archive-date=May 3, 2008}}</ref>  Central has had five [[Presidential Scholars Program|Presidential Scholars]] in the last decade and had 256 [[AP Scholar]]s in 2020–21.<ref name="lrsd2" /> The school dominates at regional and state Science Fairs.<ref name="lrsd2" /> It has the largest number of delegates to Boys' and Girls' State,<ref name="lrsd2" /> the most participants in Governor's School Gifted and Talented Program,<ref name="lrsd2" /> and has competed in chemistry [[Olympiad]], Arkansas Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, mock trial, various mathematics competitions, and the SECME Olympiad.<ref name="lrsd2" /> In addition, Central has had 55 Stephens' Award winners for academic achievement.<ref name="lrsd2" />

The Drama and Competitive Speech program is competitive and became one of the charter chapters of the Arkansas district of the [[National Forensic League]] (speech and debate honor society).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actaa.net/Resources/Documents/New%20Arkansas%20District.pdf |title=Arkansas Earns National Speech and Drama Recognition |date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=December 31, 2012}}</ref>

The school's choir programs has garnered several Best in Class awards at the annual Arkansas State Choral Festival administered by the Arkansas Choral Directors Association (ArkCDA). In addition, educated Andrew Goldberg. In 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013, the Little Rock Central Madrigals won Class 7A Best in Class for Mixed Ensemble and Overall Ensemble.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2007/bestinclass07.htm |title=ArkCDA.org 2010 Arkansas State Choral Festival Best in Class Recipients |publisher=Arkansas Choral Directors Association |access-date=December 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203124528/http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2007/bestinclass07.htm |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2009/bestinclass09.htm |title=ArkCDA.org 2010 Arkansas State Choral Festival Best in Class Recipients |publisher=Arkansas Choral Directors Association |access-date=December 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203141800/http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2009/bestinclass09.htm |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2010/bestinclass10.htm |title=ArkCDA.org 2010 Arkansas State Choral Festival Best in Class Recipients |publisher=Arkansas Choral Directors Association |access-date=December 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203124147/http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2010/bestinclass10.htm |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2012/bestinclass12.htm |title=ArkCDA.org 2012 Arkansas State Choral Festival Best in Class Recipients |publisher=Arkansas Choral Directors Association |access-date=December 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203134331/http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2012/bestinclass12.htm |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2013/bestinclass13.htm |title=ArkCDA.org 2013 Arkansas State Choral Festival Best in Class Recipients |publisher=Arkansas Choral Directors Association |access-date=December 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203134619/http://arkcda.org/state_festival/2013/bestinclass13.htm |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

Since 2007, Central has been ranked nationally within the top 275 high schools based on the [[Challenge Index]] developed by ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name="challenge">{{cite news |url=https://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2012/list/national/little-rock-central-little-rock-ar/ |title=The High School Challenge, Central High School |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> In ''[[Newsweek]]'s'' June 13, 2010, issue, ranking the country's top high schools, Little Rock Central High School was ranked 94th in the nation, after having been ranked 20th in the magazine's 2006 rankings.<ref>{{cite magazine
 | title = The Top of the Class 2010: The complete list of the 1,600 top U.S. high schools
 | magazine = Newsweek
 | date = June 13, 2010
| url = http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools/list.html}}</ref>

Little Rock Central High School won the [[National Fed Challenge]] competition in 2007 and again in 2008.<ref name="whatever">{{Cite web| title=Central High Team Takes Top Honors in National "Fed Challenge"| publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis| date=May 22, 2007 | url=http://www.stlouisfed.org/newsroom/displayNews.cfm?article=254| access-date=August 5, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070715133303/http://www.stlouisfed.org/news/releases/2007/05_22_07.htm  |archive-date=July 15, 2007}}</ref><ref name="whatever2">{{Cite web| title=Little Rock wins Fed Challenge| publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis| date = May 20, 2008 |url=http://www.stlouisfed.org/newsroom/displayNews.cfm?article=179| access-date=May 21, 2008}}</ref>

In 2008, Central was the [[Quiz bowl]] division 7A state champion.<ref name="pbsquiz">{{Cite web| title = Little Rock Central wins 7A Quiz Bowl Title | publisher = Arkansas Educational Television Network | date = April 29, 2008 | url = http://www.aetn.org/pressroom/releases/little_rock_central_wins_7a_quiz_bowl_title | access-date = May 8, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516011245/http://www.aetn.org/pressroom/releases/little_rock_central_wins_7a_quiz_bowl_title  |archive-date = May 16, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Central High in Little Rock 11.jpg|thumb|The Reflecting Pool was restored during the 2004–05 school year.]]
[[File:Central High-Little Rockdetail.jpg|thumb|Detail of Front Entrance]]
[[File:LRCHS entrancehall.jpg|thumb|right|Entrance Hall]]

The Little Rock Central Band and Flag Line were selected to participate in the [[Second inauguration of Barack Obama|2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade for Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/84846-little-rock-s-central-high-band-to-perform-at-obama-s-inauguration.html |title=Little Rock's Central High Band To Perform At Obama's Inauguration |publisher=UALR Public Radio |access-date=January 5, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Extracurricular activities==
The Little Rock Central High School mascot for academic and athletic teams is the ''[[Tiger]],'' with [[black]] and [[old gold]] serving as the school colors. The school's fight song, "On, Tigers!" is based on "[[On, Wisconsin!]]."{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

===Athletics===
The Little Rock Tigers compete in numerous interscholastic activities in the state's largest classification (7A) in the 7A/6A East Conference for 2012–14, as administered by the [[Arkansas Activities Association]]. The Tigers participate in baseball, basketball (boys/girls), bowling, competitive cheer, cross country, [[American football|football]], [[golf]] (boys/girls), [[Association football|soccer]] (boys/girls), softball, swimming & diving (boys/girls), [[tennis]] (boys/girls), track & field (boys/girls), [[volleyball]], and wrestling.<ref name="aaa">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahsaa.org/schools?id=255&school= |title=School Profile, Central High School - LR |publisher=[[Arkansas Activities Association]] |access-date=February 16, 2013}}</ref>

Little Rock Central holds numerous team and individual national and state titles and records including:
* '''Football''': 32 [[List of Arkansas state high school football champions|football state championship]] banners from 1907 through 2004 including the state's all-time win record. Since 1937, home football games are played at [[Quigley Stadium (Little Rock)|Quigley-Cox Stadium at Verizon Wireless Field]], originally named for Earl Quigley, a coach for the Tigers from 1914 to 1935. The Tigers won the 1946 and 1957 [[High School Football National Championship]].
* '''Cross country''': 22 boys' cross country state championships from 1955 through 1982;
* '''Track and field''': a national-record 50 track & field state championships (1908–1979) with an 18-year consecutive run of titles from 1926 through 1945, followed by a 10-year title winning streak between 1949 and 1958. Both streaks are listed in the national record books.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}
* '''Basketball''': the boys basketball teams have won 20 [[List of Arkansas state high school basketball champions|state titles]] between 1912 and 2024, including four consecutive banners (1944–47) and three overall state titles (1972, 1973, 1975);
* '''Golf''': The boys' golf team has won eight state titles between 1948 and 1982.
* '''Soccer''': The girls' soccer team won consecutive [[List of Arkansas state high school soccer champions|state titles]] in 2002 and 2003.
* '''Swimming''': The girls' swimming and diving team has won eight state titles since 1952 and the Men's swimming and diving team has won 3 state titles since 2018.
* '''Tennis''': The tennis teams have won thirteen titles for the boys' team and seven titles for the girls' team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/Media/recordbook12.pdf |title=2012-13 Arkansas High School Record Book |publisher=AHSAA.org |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531080716/http://members.ahsaa.org/public/userfiles/Media/recordbook12.pdf |archive-date=May 31, 2013 }}</ref>

==Feeder patterns==
===Elementary schools===
Elementary schools that feed into Little Rock Central include:
{{col-start}}
{{col-4}}
*Booker
*Brady
*Carver
*Forest Park
*Fulbright
{{col-4}}
*Gibbs
*Jefferson
*King
*McDermott
*Pulaski Heights
{{col-4}}
*Rockefeller
*Romine
*Stephens
*Terry
{{col-4}}
*Washington
*Woodruff
{{Col-end}}

===Middle schools===
Middle schools include:
*[[Cloverdale Magnet Middle School]]
*[[Dunbar Magnet Middle School]]
*[[Forest Heights Middle School]]
*[[Henderson Health Sciences Magnet Middle School]]
*[[Pulaski Heights Middle School]]

Magnet-only schools that matriculate many students to Central include [[Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle School]].

==Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site==
On November 6, 1998, [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] established '''Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site'''. The [[National historic park|National Historic Site]] is administered in partnership with the [[National Park Service]], Little Rock Public Schools, the City of Little Rock, and others.<ref>[[National Geographic Magazine|National Geographic]] September 2000 (Vol 198 No 3) ''Hallowed Site, Working School'' Geographica Section-sub-section U.S. History</ref>

The visitor center for the site is located diagonally across the street from the school and across from the memorial dedicated by Michael Warrick, and opened in fall 2006. It contains a captioned [[Interpretive center|interpretive film]] on the Little Rock integration crisis, as well as multimedia exhibits on both that and the larger context of desegregation during the 20th century and the [[Civil Rights Movement]].

Opposite the visitor center to the west is the Central High Commemorative Garden, which features nine trees and benches that honor the students.  Arches that represent the school's facade contain embedded photographs of the school in years since the crisis, and showcase students of various backgrounds in activities together.

Opposite the visitor center to the south is a historic [[Mobil]] [[gas station]], which has been preserved in its appearance at the time of the crisis.  At the time, it served as the area for the press and radio and television [[Journalist|reporters]].  It later served as a temporary visitor center before the new one was built.

<gallery> 
File:Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center.jpg|Visitor Center. Main building
File:John King Jr. at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.jpg|U.S. Secretary of Education [[John King Jr.]] at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site in 2016
</gallery>

==Notable alumni==
{{alumni|date=December 2015}}
{{maincat|Little Rock Central High School alumni}}
The following are notable people associated with Little Rock High School / Little Rock Central High School. If the person was a Central High School student, the number in parentheses indicates the year of graduation; if the person was a faculty or staff member, that person's title and years of association are included

===Academia, public service, and politics===
* [[Little Rock Nine]] (1958–60)—Eight of the nine original students of the 1957 Little Rock integration crisis.
** [[Melba Pattillo Beals]], one of the Little Rock Nine members
* [[Charles Blake (politician)|Charles J. Blake]] (c. 2001)—[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]] for Pulaski County since 2015.
* [[Vivion Brewer]] (1917)—Political activist and chairwoman of the [[Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools]].
* [[Brownie Ledbetter]] (1950)—Political activist and member of the [[Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools]] that lobbied for the re-opening of Little Rock Central High School during the Little Rock Integration Crisis.
* [[Calvin Ledbetter, Jr.]] (1946)—Educator and politician; member of the Arkansas House of Representatives (1967–1977).
* [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] (ca. 2000), former [[White House Press Secretary]] and [[Governor of Arkansas]] (since 2023)
* [[Clarke Tucker]] (1999)—[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]] for Pulaski County since 2015.
* [[Darrin Williams]]—Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives (2009–15).
* [[Woodrow Wilson Mann]] (ca. 1935)—Mayor of Little Rock (1955–57).
* [[Mark Pryor]]—[[U.S. Senator]], [[Arkansas]] (2003–15).

===Arts and entertainment===
* [[Julie Adams]] (1944)&mdash;Actress.<ref>{{cite news | last = Rolf | first = Carol | date = September 27, 2015 | title =  Julie Adams Comes Back to Malvern — Signs Book, Views Films, Visits With All | url = https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/sep/27/julie-adams-comes-back-malvern-signs-book-views-fi/?f=trilakes | work = Arkansas Online}}</ref>
* [[Matt Besser]] (1985)—Actor and comedian.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/ave-hogs/Content?oid=864519 |title=Ave Hogs: Comedian Matt Besser coming to Vino's. |newspaper=Arkansas Times |last1=Harris |first1=Jim |access-date=June 26, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Dee Brown (writer)|Dee Brown]] (ca. 1926)—Novelist and historian.
* [[Rodger Bumpass]] (1970)—Notable voice actor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://doodledayusa.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1447 |title=Rodger Bumpass' Doodle |publisher=National Doodle Day |access-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Gail Davis]] (ca. 1943)—TV and film actress, known for her starring role as Annie Oakley in the 1950s television Western series ''Annie Oakley''.
* [[Dani Evans]]—Fashion model; winner of 2006 ''Next Top Model''.
* [[Brent Jennings]] (1969)—TV and film actor.
* [[Charlotte Moorman]] (1951)—Cellist and performance artist.
* [[George Newbern]] (1982)—TV and film actor.
* [[Walter Norris]] (1950)—Pianist and composer.
* [[Ben Piazza]] (1951)—TV and film actor.
* [[Jason White (Green Day guitarist)|Jason White]] (1992)—Musician; [[Green Day]] Guitarist.
* [[Clifton Williams (composer)|Clifton Williams]] (1941)—Composer of [[symphonic band]] music<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.austinsymphonicband.org/files/DirectorsChoiceProgram.pdf |title=Program Notes |publisher=Austin Symphonic Band |date=December 6, 2009 |access-date=October 25, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Jeff Nichols]] (1996)- Director, writer, and producer of ''[[Loving (2016 film)|Loving]]'', ''[[Mud (2012 film)|Mud]]'', and others.
* Ben Nichols (1992)- Musician, songwriter, and lead singer of band [[Lucero (band)|Lucero]]
* [[Kari Faux]] (2008)- Hip-hop and rap musician

===Commerce and industry===
* [[James Smith McDonnell]] (1917)—Aviation pioneer and founder of [[McDonnell Aircraft Corporation]].
* [[Sanford N. McDonnell]] (1940)—Engineer, businessman and philanthropist; former chairman and CEO of [[McDonnell Douglas]].

===Military===
* [[Henry C. Bruton]] (1921), highly decorated [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear admiral]] 
* [[John H. Yancey]] (ca.1937), highly decorated United States Marine

===Sports===
* [[Mike Beard (baseball)|Mike Beard]] (1968)—Former professional baseball player.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beardmi01.shtml |title=Mike Beard |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Alvin Bell]] (1919)—Umpire; all-around high school and collegiate athlete; 1978 inductee, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame<ref name="arksportshof">{{cite web|url=http://www.arksportshalloffame.com/inductees/ |title=Inductees |publisher=Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=November 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417195305/http://www.arksportshalloffame.com/inductees/ |archive-date=April 17, 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Charles Clay (American football)|Charles Clay]] (2006)- NFL player [[Buffalo Bills]]
* [[Walt Coleman]] (1970)—Football player (NFL); inductee, [[Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref name="centralalumni">{{cite web |url=http://www.lrcentralfootball.com/alumni.html |title=Little Rock Central Alumni |publisher=LRCentralFootball.com |access-date=November 5, 2012}}</ref>
* [[John Hoffman (running back)|John Hoffman]] (1945)—NFL player (1949–1956); 1976 inductee, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame<ref name="arksportshof" />
* [[Joe Johnson (basketball)|Joe Johnson]] (1999)—[[NBA]] All Star and USA basketball player.
* [[Ken Kavanaugh]] (1936) - Player and coach in [[College Football Hall of Fame]]; 3-time [[National Football League]] champion for [[Chicago Bears]].
* [[Luis Peña (fighter)]] (2012) - Mixed Martial Artist who has competed at Featherweight in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]]
* [[Danny Nutt]] (1980)—Former assistant coach of collegiate football.
* [[Dennis Nutt]] (1981)—Men's basketball head coach of collegiate basketball: former professional player.
* [[Dickey Nutt]] (1977)—Men's basketball head coach of collegiate basketball.
* [[Houston Nutt]] (1976)—Former head coach of the [[University of Arkansas]] Razorbacks and the [[University of Mississippi]] Rebels football teams<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/nutt_houston00.html |title=Profile, Houston Nutt |publisher=University of Mississippi |access-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Jack Robbins]] (1933)—Football and basketball standout player, NFL player; 1974 inductee, Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name="arksportshof" />
* [[Brooks Robinson]] (1955)—Hall of Fame [[third baseman]] for the [[Baltimore Orioles]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arksportshalloffame.com/legends/may-12-2010-brooks-robinson/ |title=May 22, 2010. Brooks Robinson |publisher=Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Drew Smyly]] (2007)—Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1388249 |title=Drew Smyly |publisher=Arkansas Razorbacks |access-date=January 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103180310/http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1388249 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* [[Reggie Swinton]] (1993)—Former football player.<ref name="centralalumni" />
* [[Harry Vines]] (1957)—Wheelchair basketball coach.<ref>{{Cite web
 |title       = Obituaries 2006-02-15
 |work   = The Arkansas Leader
 |date        = February 15, 2006
|url         = http://www.arkansasleader.com/2006/02/obituaries-02-15-06.html
 |access-date  = May 21, 2008
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060418041733/http://www.arkansasleader.com/2006/02/obituaries-02-15-06.html
 |archive-date = April 18, 2006
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>
* [[Fred Williams (defensive lineman)|Fred Williams]] (ca. 1947)—Four-time [[NFL]] [[Pro Bowl]] defense lineman.<ref name="centralalumni" />
* [[Kahlil Carter]] (1994)—Former professional football player.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite web|url=http://dwe.arkansas.gov/CareerandTechEducation/2006-07StatusReports/2006-07%20Districts%20(I-Y)/Little%20Rock%20School%20District.doc|title=LRSD District Status Report for 2006–2007|publisher=Little Rock School District|access-date=May 21, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529130013/http://dwe.arkansas.gov/CareerandTechEducation/2006-07StatusReports/2006-07%20Districts%20(I-Y)/Little%20Rock%20School%20District.doc|archive-date=May 29, 2008}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
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* {{official website}}
* {{YouTube|S9e-cgUa-fE|"Little Rock Central High School"}}
* [https://www.nps.gov/chsc/ National Park Service: Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site]
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{{AAA Class 6A-7A}}
{{Little Rock, Arkansas}}
{{Little Rock School District}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Central High School, Little Rock}}
[[Category:Little Rock Central High School| ]]
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[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in Arkansas]]
[[Category:High schools in Little Rock, Arkansas]]
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[[Category:Little Rock Nine|Central High School|Central High School]]
[[Category:Magnet schools in Arkansas]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Arkansas]]
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[[Category:School buildings completed in 1927]]
[[Category:Schools in the Little Rock School District|Central High School]]
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