Central High School (Independence, Oregon)

Central High School
Location
1530 Monmouth Street Independence , Oregon 97351 United States
Coordinates	44°51′07″N123°12′36″W / 44.8519°N 123.2100°W / 44.8519; -123.2100
Information
Type	Public
Opened	1950
School district	Central School District
Principal	Brett Baldwin [1]
Grades	9-12
Number of students	1,014 (2023–2024) [2]
Color(s)	Red, white, and black     [3]
Athletics conference	OSAA 5A-3 Mid-Willamette Conference [3]
Mascot	Panther [3]
Team name	Panthers
Website	chspanthers.org

Central High School is a public high school in Independence, Oregon, United States.

Academics

Back of school, under construction in October 2009

In 2005–2006, Central High School was rated "satisfactory" by the Oregon Department of Education. ^[4]

In 2008, 73% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 185 students, 135 graduated, 21 dropped out, 14 received a modified diploma, and 15 were still in high school the following year. ^{[5] [6]} In 2019–2020, 81% of students graduated on time, and 90% within five years. ^[7]

Extracurriculars

In 2019, the Central Cheerleaders won first place in the United Spirits Association National Championship for varsity show cheer novice non-tumbling, continuing their success, in 2023 the team won state and went to nationals. They won a state title again in 2025. The school has 3 choirs and 3 bands. The sports programs are football, wrestling, girls' basketball, boys' basketball, cross country, cheerleading, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, baseball, softball, and track and field. There is also a large theater program.

Notable faculty

• Greg Craven, climate change author ^[8]

Notable alumni

• Jasmine Ash, pop artist and singer/keyboardist for Oh Darling ^{[9] [10] [11]}
• Jeff Charleston, defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL and member of the team's 2010 Super Bowl roster ^[12]
• John Clem Clarke (class of 1955), football player at Oregon State University, art degree from the University of Oregon, distinguished painter ^[13]
• Patrick Page, class of 1979, Broadway actor who played Lumiere in the production of Beauty and the Beast among many other Broadway productions.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Marlon Tuipulotu, defensive lineman for the USC Trojans and Philadelphia Eagles who was a member of the Eagles 2024 Super Bowl team.

References

1. "Administration". Central High School. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
2. "Central High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
3. "Central High School". Oregon School Activities Association.
4. 2005-2006 School Report Card ^{[ permanent dead link ]}, accessed May 9, 2007.
5. "State releases high school graduation rates". The Oregonian . June 30, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
6. "Oregon dropout rates for 2008". The Oregonian . June 30, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
7. "Central High School" (PDF). Central SD 13J. Oregon Department of Education. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
8. Farrell, Jonathan (April 11, 2017). "Global Warming and a High School Science Teacher". Digital Journal.
9. "Home". jasmineash.com.
10. "Oh Darling // Rock n' Roll Band // Portland, Oregon". Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
11. "Northwest News: Oh Darlings singer Jasmine Ash does Salem proud; Seattle may have too many farmers markets". The Oregonian. May 23, 2011.
12. Aaron Fentress, "New Orleans Saints defensive end Jeff Charleston enjoying undefeated season after long trek to the NFL", The Oregonian , December 10, 2009.
13. "Artist John Clem Clarke: His football career and other ties to Oregon". Statesman Journal . July 14, 2021.

External links

• Central High School