Central High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Newark, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Newark Public Schools.

As of the 2024–25 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,051 students and 77.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.6:1. There were 732 students (69.6% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 51 (4.9% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for Central High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 15, 2026.

History Central High School was originally Central Commercial and Manual Training School, housed in what is now the Central King Building on the campus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.Central King Building, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology. Accessed July 30, 2019. It opened January 31, 1912.

The school provided vocational education, offering a forge and a foundry, a sewing room, a sheet-metal room and a wood shop, as well as an auditorium seating 1,500. The school manufactured tools for itself and the rest of the district.Bolenius, Emma Miller. "A 'New Idea' High School", p. 326. Popular Educator, Volume 32, February 1915. Accessed March 9, 2016.

A smaller school but without a forge, the East Side Commercial & Manual Training High School was built at the same time."Ready to begin East Side School", Newark Call, October 17, 1909. Accessed July 30, 2019. The decade was an active one for the school district. In 1911, it opened a School for the Feeble Minded and a School for Blind.District History, Newark Public Schools. Accessed March 9, 2018. The city closed its last segregated school in 1909.

The school was renamed Central High School and remained at the original address until 2008. The Central King Building at New Jersey Institute of Technology was renovated to support the university and STEM counselling.Glover, Teshuan. "NJIT to Host Ribbon Cutting of Renovated Central King Building", The Newark Times, April 7, 2017. Accessed July 30, 2019.

The school moved to its current location at 246 18th Avenue in Newark after its $107 million completion in 2008.Jackson, Chanta L. "New Central High nears completion", The Star-Ledger, May 25, 2008. Accessed July 30, 2019. "After nearly a decade-long push for a new building, Central High School is not only on track to be completed in time for the start of school in September, but if things go as planned, the Class of 2008 will hold graduation in the gymnasium next month." The move was completed in 2010.

Ras Baraka served as principal of Central High School from 2007 to 2013 before his election as Mayor of Newark.The Honorable Ras Baraka, The HistoryMakers. Accessed July 30, 2019. "From 2007 to 2013, Baraka served as the principal of Central High School in Newark."

Awards, recognition and rankings The school was the 300th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014. The school had been ranked 277th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 274th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed December 1, 2012. The magazine ranked the school 278th in 2008 out of 316 schools.Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed August 7, 2012. The school was ranked 304th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state."Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.

Academies Central includes three academic academies: The Dental Studies Academy, Environmental Science academy, and Teen Pep. Students choose their career track once they have enrolled and began the academic year.

The Dental Studies Academy provides students the opportunity to gain entry-level certification in the dental field. Students have the opportunity to certify in NELDA (National Entry Level Dental Assistant), AMP (Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology), ICE (Infection Control Exam), and RHS (Radiation Health Safety). Qualifying students will also participate in internships and a variety of community service events.Dental Academy, Newark Public Schools. Accessed August 26, 2023.

Project Grad Scholarship Central students are given the opportunity to earn a scholarship towards their college education, called the Project Grad Newark College Scholarship . The students and the students' parents read and sign a pledge stating that the student will meet minimum requirements. Some include; maintaining an average GPA of 2.5 or better, completing two college-bound summer institutes, graduating in four years. When the student completes these requirements, they are awarded $6,000 which is paid in installments over the span of four years to the college they plan to attend.

Athletics The Central High School Blue DevilsCentral High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Super Essex Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Essex County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. Before the 2009 realignment, the school had competed in the Mountain Valley Conference, which consisted of public and private high schools covering Union County and Essex County in northern New Jersey.Home Page, Mountain Valley Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2011. Accessed December 15, 2014. With 630 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range.NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The football team competes in the National Red division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions." The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 893 to 1,315 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.

Athletic programs offered at the school include: Fall sports: Football, Cross Country, Soccer, Cheerleading and Girls Volleyball Winter sports: Boys Basketball, Bowling, Indoor Track, Girls Basketball and Cheerleading Spring sports: Baseball, Track and Field

The boys spring / outdoor track team won the state champions in 1919–1921.NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Boys, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2021.

The boys track team won the indoor / winter track public school state championship in 1922-1926 and in 1933.Boys Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024. The girls team won the Group II championship in 1984.Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.

The school's football team won the 1924 state football championship, defeating Asbury Park High School by a score of 39–0, in a game that was mandated by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association after the two teams ended the regular season tied in the standings.Staff. "Newark Team Wins New Jersey Title; Central High School Beats Asbury Park, 39-0, for Scholastic Football Honors.", The New York Times, December 7, 1924. Accessed September 30, 2015. "The Newark Central High School eleven yesterday won the interscholastic football championship of New Jersey, defeating the eleven representing the Asbury Park High School before a crowd of 8,000 persons in the stadium at East Orange, N.J. The final score was 39 to 0."

The boys' basketball team won the Group IV championship in 1947 against Union Hill High School, in both 1963 and 1964 against Hillside High School and in 2001 against Ewing High School.NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The team won the Group IV title in 1964 with a 40–37 victory against Union Hill."Central Snares Group 4 Honors; Union Hill, Weehawken Upset In Tourney", The Record, March 24, 1947. Accessed March 6, 2021, via Newspapers.com. " Five champions were crowned at the 29th Annual N. J. S. I. A. A. Basketball Tournament in Elizabeth Saturday and two of them --Fort Lee and Englewood-- hailed from Bergen County. The Group Four title went to a scrappy Newark Central team that upset Union Hill of Union City 40 to 37." The 1964 team outscored Hillside by 12–2 in overtime to win the Group IV title by a final score of 60–50 in the championship game played in front of a crowd of 5,000 at Convention Hall in Atlantic City.Staff. "Newark Central, Salem, Trenton Teams Win Titles; Hillside, Roselle Catholic, Mountain High Beaten in State Tournament Final Games", Herald News, March 25, 1963. Accessed February 14, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Newark Central's victory in overtime over Hillside, 60-50, proved to be the only good thing that happened to a North Jersey school in the annual NJSIAA cage carnival here at Convention Hall before 5,000 fans on Saturday night.... Central, winner of its first Group IV crown since 1947, polished off Hillside which was seeking the championship for the first time.... A 12-2 overtime period won the title for Central." The team won the 2006 North II, Group II state sectional championship with a 65–48 win over Madison High School.2006 Boys Basketball - North II, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 7, 2007.

The girls track team won the Group III indoor relay state championships in 1982, and in Group II in 1983 and 1989.History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.

The girls team won the NJSIAA spring track Group II state championship in 1983 and 1984.NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Girls, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2021.

Administration The school's principal is Terri V. Mitchell.Principal's Message, Central High School. Accessed January 20, 2026. Her core administration team includes four vice principals.Administrators, Central High School. Accessed January 20, 2026.

Notable alumni