Central High School (Pueblo, Colorado)

Central High School is one of six public high schools located in Pueblo, Colorado, United States. A part of Pueblo City Schools, the high school was the second for the city of Pueblo,[2] 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).[3]

Central High School
Address
216 E. Orman St.

Pueblo
,
Colorado

United States
Coordinates38°15′13.15″N 104°37′33.47″W
Information
MottoEveryone is someone at Central.
Established1881
School districtPueblo City Schools
PrincipalMrs. Destin Mehess
Teaching staff39.24 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment743 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.93[1]
Campus216 W. Orman Ave.
Color(s)Blue and white
MascotWildcat
NicknameWildcats
NewspaperThe Central Times
WebsiteOfficial website

Demographics
  • Hispanic 76.1%
  • White 18.1%
  • African American 3.3%
  • Asian 0.1%
  • Native American 2.3% [4]

77% of Pueblo Central High School's students are eligible to receive a free/reduced lunch rate.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

Academics

As of the 2007–2008 academic year Central enrolled 992 students, with an average daily attendance of 819. 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

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 2008, a total of 108 contests have been held. It is touted as "the oldest rivalry this side of the Mississippi".[13]

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

The Wildcats were coached for 16 years (1993–2009) by Dave Craddock, who recently resigned to accept the school's athletic director post. The head coach is now Zach Odell, who has been the Cats' offensive line coach and offensive coordinator for the last decade.

The team went 12–1, losing in the state semi-finals in 2009.

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Central High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  2. City Schools, Pueblo. "About Pueblo City Schools". Pueblo City Schools. Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  3. Terwilliger, Cate. "Vet Defends Memories of Gallantry". Denver Post. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  4. http://www.schooldigger.com/go/CO/schools/0612001037/school.aspx
  5. NRHP listing for Pueblo Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  6. 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
  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 2007-05-10.
  8. "Graduation rates in Districts 60, 70 almost the same as in 2014". www.chieftain.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  9. "Pueblo City Schools Receives $10.3 Million Grant - Pueblo City Schools Internet". www.pueblocityschools.us. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  10. "Computer Software Course Offerings - Central S.T.E.M." sites.google.com. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  11. "Alliance - Access Center". accesscenter.colostate.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  12. "Alliance Partnership – Partner Schools and Awards | Access Center | Colorado State University". accesscenter.colostate.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  13. Douglas, Lee. "Bell Game highlights high school football weekend". KOAA-TV. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
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