Centralia High School is a public high school located in the unincorporated Ford's Prairie neighborhood of Centralia, Washington. Centralia High School (CHS) is a part of the Centralia School District and is the only high school in the district.

The school opened in 1909 as a regular 9th-12 public high school. In 2017, Centralia passed a $74 million bond to renovate and modernize the CHS. The original high school was torn down and the new facility was finished during the fall of 2020.

History Centralia High School (CHS) was built in 1909. The current Centralia High School building is the second to bear the name. The first senior class graduated in 1970. In 2017, voters in Centralia passed a $74 million million bond that allowed the complete remodel and modernization of Centralia High School in two phases—-Phase 1 and Phase 2. The first Phase was completed by the fall of 2019. Phase 2 was completed in March 2020 and included the instrumental and vocal rehearsal rooms, art department, wood shop and metal shop, commons, and performing arts center. The entire building was fully finished by the fall of 2020.

Though connected to Centralia public utilities, CHS is located in the unincorporated community of Ford's Prairie.

Academics A coffee shop and store, known as the "Tiger Hut", opened at the high school in the fall semester 2025. Students can participate as "employees" of the shop as part of a marketing class. The school partnered with a local company, Lewis County Coffee Company (LCCC), which provides supplies and products at cost; all profits go back into the endeavor or into a fund for the school's Future Business Leaders of America chapter. The company also helps to train students in operations of the shop, which is managed by teachers of the marketing course. The hut is similar to a coffee shop that opened in 2023 at W.F. West High School in Chehalis.

Administration As of the 2022-2022 school year, the current principal of Centralia High School is Scot Embrey. Mr. Ahern serves as the athletic director. Additional assistant principals are Heather Cheek and Kelly Sneed. Austin Baker is the CTE Director.

Athletics The mascot of Centralia High School is the Tiger. Centralia High School is a member of the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) in the 2A Evergreen Conference.

During the Fall season the school sanctions the following sports: Cheerleading, Football, Girls' Soccer, Cross Country, Boys' Tennis, Boys' Golf, Boys' and Girls' Swimming, Volleyball. Winter season includes: Cheerleading, Wrestling, Girls' Basketball and Boys' Basketball, Vocal and Instrumental Solo and Ensemble contest. The Spring season includes: Baseball, Boys' Soccer, Fastpitch, Girls' Golf, Girls' Tennis and Track.

State Championships Season Sport Number of Championships YearFall Cross Country, Girls 1 1979, 1983 Football 4 1980, 2001, 2007, 2008 Golf, Boys 3 1985, 2006, 2013 Soccer, Girls 4 1997-2000Winter Basketball, Boys5 1979, 1981, 2000, 2005, 2014 Basketball, Girls 2 2000, 2018 Cheerleading, Girls 3 2003, 2010, 2011 Volleyball 3 2015, 2017, 2019Spring Baseball 3 1982, 1993, 2015 Golf, Girls 1 2015 Fastpitch Softball, Girls 3 1980, 1986, 1991 Slowpitch Softball, Girls 1 1984 Swimming, Girls 2 1983, 2007 Track and Field, Boys 4 1938, 2006-2008 Track and Field, Girls 1 1976 Track and Field, Mixed 1 2017Total 43

Notes

Swamp Cup Centralia maintains a rivalry with W.F. West High School from neighboring Chehalis known as the "Swamp Cup" or the "Battle of the Swamp." The first football matchup between the schools took place on Thanksgiving Day, 1907; Centralia won the game, 11-0. The rivalry was continued on the holiday every year until 1963, when it began to move to other weeks. The rivalry football event was paused beginning before the 2026 season due to scheduling issues and "recent league adjustments". During the history of the competition, which encompassed 155 games, the Tigers lead with 77 wins to 72 victories for Chehalis; there were 6 ties.

In the present day, matchups in all sports between the Tigers and Bearcats are known as the Swamp Cup, but the winner of the annual football matchup takes home the Swampman trophy, also known as "Swampy."

Notable alumni

Charlie Albright (born 1988), pianist and composer Calvin Armstrong (born 1982), NFL and CFL player Bob Coluccio (born 1951), MLB player Howard Costigan (1904-1985), political activist Merce Cunningham (born 1919), dancer and choreographer Sandy Marth Hill (born 1946), television journalist Dexter Kerstetter (born 1907), soldier and Medal of Honor recipient Soren Johnson (born 1976), video game programmer Angela Meade (born 1977), opera singer C.D. (Clyde) Moore (born 1958), 2-star general USAF Marcus O'Day (born 1897), physicist Lyle Overbay (born 1977), MLB player Ford Rainey (born 1908), actor Cindy Ryu, first female Korean-American mayor in the United States Detlef Schrempf (born 1963), NBA player

Notes

References

External links CHS Centralia High School website