Central High School

I have just graduate from Central although I am not going to college Central has given me the tools I need to go out in the real world. My GPA was a 3.625 and without the help of the staff that would not have been possible. GO CLASS OF 2011!!
—Submitted by a student

As a former student in the International Baccalaureate program, I would say that Central definitely does not provide adequate preparation to attend a top-tier university such as the local University of Maryland. There are some outstanding faculty members at Central that have a great impact on students' lives, but there are not enough of them. However, this school is great at building character. My experiences at Central have shaped who I am today and I will never forget them.
—Submitted by a student

I am a recent graduate of Central High School and my time there is something that I will never forget. I loved Central. It gave me the tools I needed to move on to college. I just want to thank all of my teachers and administrators for everything.
—Submitted by Donica Young, a former student

I myself is a student in central senior high school and as a first year junior I was so terrified, but as I learned to coupe with the situation I learned that it's not the teachers although we have a GOOD staff of teachers and administrators, central is a little school and by stuffing all those students in that little space, who could work in an enviroment such as that? what student will be able to learn in a class room when they cant even get some form of one on one attention with the teacher.
—Submitted by a student

Central High School has begun to make improvements this year. Largely in part to the appointment of new principal Fletcher James. My daughter is currently a junior at Central and has had 3 different principals each year. Mr. James is making strides to ensure that proper actions are taken upon those students who are disruptive to the learning process. There are also less students roaming the halls. During previous years this has been a big problem. It is my hope that Mr. James will remain as principal for years to come to instill some type of stability with the leadership of the school. Also, parents at Central need to take more active roles in their children's education and support their extracurricular activities. We need to step up to the plate. It's easy to pass the blame onto the administration, but we as parents also have to be accountable as well.
—Submitted by Donna Davis, a parent

Central High School needs serious improvement. Chidren are setting fires, robbing one another, involving themselves in group fights and threatening each others lives. I just think that more security or caring security should be gven to the school to help control these numerous problems. Also teachers should be evaluated on their teaching skills by an administrator every two weeks or something close to it. If the teachers don't care, neither will the students. I would have to say that this year, Prinipal Fletcher James is determined to change the school. I want to congratulate him and thank him for not giving up!
—Submitted by a parent

Central High has many good programs such as French Immersion and Humanties, IB, but they are brougth down because of the lack of organization within the building. Central is a fire hazard. The kids light fires and disrupt the learning process. This is not only stoping the learning process but is dangerous. The school require better security measures to be taken.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter attends Central High School as a 12th grade Humanities and International Studies student. She has commended Central for the great programs they have, and how great the teachers are. Acedimically, Central is an excellent school, but the lack of respect that many students have for the teachers has given the school a bad name.
—Submitted by a student

My son did well in the IB program (which Central is now losing in the most recent shake-up?) and has profited in college from the credits. However, it was unevenly administered and the courses unevenly taught as far as teacher ability and understanding of the IB tenets and foci. Everyone involved was supposed to be trained, but that was not the case. That he succeeded is a testament to his work ethic, a few particularly astute teachers, and being pushed by me to succeed despite the school's downsides. Overall, the administration was terrible all four years (he graduated in 2003) and I found the school to be far from inspiring--a 'ghetto' approach as his friends and he referred to it. As a parent, I was always very involved; still, I did not particularly feel welcomed in the adminstrative offices although lip service to the desire for parent involvement was made.
—Submitted by a parent

I feel overall my teenager has not been prepared for her future academically. Some of the class sizes are over 30 students and noisy. Some of the teachers are not committed to teaching. If I had the finances, I would have placed my teenager in private school or home schooled. The students are getting a mediocre education from the public schools. My teenager struggles with writing essay papers and this has been a skill I feel should have been taught by an earlier teacher and has yet to be mastered.
—Submitted by a parent