Central High School has a rich history that began at the Center Street African American Methodist Church and Fifth Street African Baptist Church. On October 1, 1870 at the cost of $4,628.85 the board of education recognized it as the first public school for African Americans. Funding for this school initially came from African American taxes only. The school served as an elementary and a junior high school.

In 1873 a building was erected as a place African Americans could receive an education. Dedicated on October 7, 1873, the then Central Colored School received its first building located at the corner of Sixth and Kentucky Streets, with J. M. Maxwell serving as the principal and C. W. Houser the only teacher. The original site still stands today on the campus of Simmons College as the Ida B. Wells Hall.

In 1882 leaders of the Louisville, KY, African American community appealed to the Louisville Board of Education for a high school for African Americans. A junior and senior class was added, and this part would then become Central Colored High School.

The school continued to grow moving locations from Sixth and Kentucky, to Ninth and Magazine, to 9th and Chestnut. It would be at this location, in 1945 that the name was officially changed from Central Colored High School to Central High School under the leadership of Atwood Wilson.

In 1952 the school was moved to its current location at 1130 West Chestnut Street in the Russell neighborhood. Central was the largest and most progressive high school in the state for African Americans; there were 1,400 students and 57 faculty members. Central offered career courses as a part of the educational offerings.

Today, Central High School Magnet Career Academy, a four-year accredited comprehensive high school offers a pre-college curriculum featuring over 11 career magnets in the field of STEM/Robotics, Allied Health, Business, Teaching & Learning, and Law. Central maintains a focus on college-preparatory classes and uses the resources of Louisville’s business, government, and medical district to enrich the teaching and learning process for students.

We continue to our tradition greatness hailing many first. We were the first public school for African Americans in Louisville, the first to desegregate athletics in Kentucky, the first high school to adopt a career magnet and Montessori program.

Central High School Mission

• Establish high academic expectations for all students,

• Ensure post-secondary success for all students,

• Engage in culturally responsive living, and

• Encourage passionate pursuit of global citizenship.

Principals

• John M. Maxwell, 1882-1895/1896-1900

• Albert E. Meyzeek, 1895-1896

• Frank L. Williams, 1900-1901

• Faustin S Delaney, 1901- 1908

• Daniel L. Lawson, 1908-1911

• William B. Matthews, 1911-1934

• Atwood S. Wilson, 1934- 1963

• J. Waymon Hackett, 1963- 1972

• Joseph A. Orr, 1972- 1973

• Joseph McPherson, 1973-1982

• Ellis Perry, 1982-1985

• Geneva M. Hawkins, 1985-1990

• Harold E. Fenderson, 1990-2002

• Dr. Daniel Withers, 2002-2015

• Raymond Green, 2015-2021

• Dr. Tamela Compton, 2021 - Present