Central High School (Pueblo, Colorado)

Last updated

Central High School
Location
Central High School (Pueblo, Colorado)
216 East Orman Avenue

Pueblo
,
Colorado
81004

United States
Coordinates 38°15′13″N104°37′33″W / 38.25361°N 104.62583°W / 38.25361; -104.62583
Information
School type Public high school
Established1881;144 years ago (1881)
School district Pueblo 60
CEEB code 061195
NCES School ID 080612001037 [1]
PrincipalDestin Mehess [2]
Teaching staff42.47 (on an FTE basis)
Grades 9–12
Gender Coeducational
Enrollment1,053 (2023–24)
Student to teacher ratio24.79
Color(s)Blue and white
  
Athletics conference CHSAA
Mascot Wildcat
Rival Centennial High School
Feeder schools
  • Pueblo School of the Arts
  • Risley School of Exploration
Website central.pueblod60.org
Pueblo, Colorado's "new" Central High School, built from 1906-1912, was supposed to include a central dome that was never built LCCN2015632757.tif

Central High School is one of six public high schools located in Pueblo, Colorado, United States. A part of Pueblo School District 60, the high school was the second for the city of Pueblo, [3] and was founded in 1881. It is the only high school to have two Medal of Honor recipients, William J. Crawford (Class of '36) and Carl L. Sitter (Class of '40). [4]

Contents

History

Central first opened in 1881, and in 1886 graduated its first class of nine students. In 1889 Central introduced vocational education into its curriculum, making the district the first west of the Missouri River to introduce what was then called "manual training" into the schools. [5]

Architecture

The present Neoclassical building on Orman Avenue is built of brick and consists of five floors and an outlying building used as a gym and school meeting area. It was built in 1906. The foyer features right-facing swastikas set into the tile floor. The original Central High School building on Pitkin Avenue (later used as an elementary school) was built of pink rhyolite; the "Stone Schoolhouse" was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. [6]

Academics

In the 2023–24 academic year, Central High School enrolled 1,053 students and employed 42.47 teachers (on a full-time equivalent basis), for a student-to-teacher ratio of 24.79. [1]

The academic performance by state standards has been rated as low on the School Accountability report generated by Pueblo City Schools district. The Academic Growth is also rated as low. [7] As of 2015, Central High School reported the second highest graduation and completion rates out of the four District 60 high schools. [8]

STEM School

In 2013, Pueblo City Schools received a $10.3 million federal magnet school grant. Central High School was named as one of four recipients of the funds, and was designated as a STEM magnet high school. [9] Currently, the STEM courses offered at Central include Computer Software Engineering, Introduction to Engineering, Principles of Engineering, Environmental Sustainability, Principles of Biomedical Sciences, and Human Body Systems. [10] Central High School is also a certified PLTW school, allowing students the opportunity to earn college credit for the STEM courses they take during high school.

CSU-Ft Collins Alliance Partnership

Central High School is the only Colorado State University Alliance Partnership High School in Pueblo. It offers Central students the unique opportunity to earn a base $4,000 per year scholarship to the university, simply by being accepted into their undergraduate program. [11] [12]

Athletics

Central competes in numerous sports in the 3-A class division. It is a member of Colorado High School Activities Association or CHSAA and is subject to their guidelines when participating in athletics. The most notable athletic tradition consists of their football team and ongoing rivalry with the oldest high school in Pueblo, Centennial High School. They are known as the Centennial Bulldogs.

Football

The Bell Game in 2023. The Central Wildcats are on the right. Bell Game 2023.jpg
The Bell Game in 2023. The Central Wildcats are on the right.

Central High School is renowned for its football rivalry. The Bell Game is a tradition dating back to 1892. Since then, the game has been played annually, usually in October. The Central Wildcats and Centennial Bulldogs play for the right to display the trophy bell in their school and paint it their respective colors. The event is held at Earl "Dutch" Clark Stadium in Pueblo, often to a sellout crowd of up to 15,000. As of 2021, a total of 121 contests have been held. It is touted as "the oldest rivalry this side of the Mississippi". [13] Central holds the advantage in the series, 59-53-9.

All high school football games are broadcast through the Pueblo Community College TV station.

Demographics

77% of Pueblo Central High School's students are eligible to receive a free/reduced lunch rate. [14]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 "Search for Public Schools - Central High School (080612001037)". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Administration & Support Staff - Central High School". Pueblo School District 60 . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  3. ↑ City Schools, Pueblo. "About Pueblo City Schools". Pueblo City Schools. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
  4. ↑ Terwilliger, Cate. "Vet Defends Memories of Gallantry". Denver Post. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
  5. ↑ Whittaker, Milo Lee Pathbreakers and Pioneers of the Pueblo Region: Comprising a History of Pueblo from the Earliest Times Pueblo: Franklin Press Company, 1917. pp. 138–139
  6. ↑ NRHP listing for Pueblo Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ City Schools, Pueblo. "2007-08 Report Cards – Colorado Dept. of Education (CDE)" (PDF). Pueblo School District 60 (name changed to Pueblo City Schools). Retrieved May 10, 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Graduation rates in Districts 60, 70 almost the same as in 2014". www.chieftain.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Pueblo City Schools Receives $10.3 Million Grant - Pueblo City Schools Internet". www.pueblocityschools.us. Retrieved March 7, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Computer Software Course Offerings - Central S.T.E.M." sites.google.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Alliance - Access Center". accesscenter.colostate.edu. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Alliance Partnership – Partner Schools and Awards | Access Center | Colorado State University". accesscenter.colostate.edu. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  13. ↑ Douglas, Lee. "Bell Game highlights high school football weekend". KOAA-TV . Retrieved May 10, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. 1 2 "Central High School".
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