Public high school in Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Central High School is a public high school in north Fort Worth,[2] Texas, United States. The school is located entirely within the Keller Independent School District, and primarily serves neighborhoods adjacent to Highway 377 to the east and North Beach Street to the west.[3][4] As of the 2021-2022 school year, the campus housed 2,598 students in grades 9-12.[5] As of 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.[6]
History
The area of what eventually became known as Central High School was bought out by Keller ISD following the approval of a $89,700,000 bond on December 6, 1997. The school's proposal fell under proposition three, which was regarded as land for potential future school sites.[7] Anticipating further growth, Keller ISD approved a $179.7 million bond in the fall of 2000. The new bond, which included the district's third high school alongside five additional elementary schools, ascribed the development to their situation between DFW Airport and Alliance Airport.[8]
As construction of the new school went underway, the district's Board of Trustees named Keller High School Principal Randy Baker as the new principal of the high school. Following Keller ISD heritage of upcoming students naming schools, the school's name, mascot and colors were voted on by students, and the new school earned the name Central High School, due to its central location between the two other KISD high schools. The mascot is presently the Chargers and is represented by a lightning bolt.[9][10]
The school hosted its inaugural body of about 800 freshmen and sophomores the following year, in August 2003.[11] The school presently has 2,541 students as of the 2018-2019 school year.[5]
The school was in Keller originally, but that area was annexed into Fort Worth.[12]
Theatre Department (Central Stage Theatre)
Is a 6A theatre company, based in Fort Worth, Texas. Producing 13+ productions per year with over 500 students involved in the program through production based learning. Within the University Interscholastic League (UIL) they have won the One Act Play state championship with SF Medea and placed in first runner-up with SF Rivers and Ravines, additionally competing in 2010 at the state meet, as well. Within the UIL Theatrical Design contest, for division II Set Design, they have won the state championship in 2022 and placed first runner-up in 2023. They are the proud recipients of the Betty Lyn Buckley award for Best Musical in both 2022 (The Spongebob Musical) and 2023 (Meredith Willson's The Music Man). They have also sent two students to the Jimmy Awards in New York City both in 2011 and in 2022 (placing as a top 16 finalist.)
Athletics
Central is classified as a 6A school by the Texas UIL, facing, among others, their fellow district opponents, Keller High School, Timber Creek High School and Fossil Ridge High School.[13] The districts offers almost all major sports to students on campus, with exceptions to sports such as swimming, which is taught and played at the Keller Natatorium,[14] golfing, and others.
JROTC
Central High School is the home of the first JROTC unit for the Keller ISD school district, AFJROTC TX-20055 Thunderbolts, in honor of the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and in keeping with the lightning bolt theme of the school. The program, sponsored by the United States Armed Forces, has participants across the four Keller high schools.[citation needed]
Publications
Newspaper: The Illuminator is a free monthly collaboration.
Yearbook: The Bolt is annually distributed at a cost.
Media: The Circuit is a weekly TV newscast.
Band
Formed in August 2003, the Central High School Charger Band began with 73 members. The following year the band moved to 4A Varsity competition. Central was reclassified from 4A to 5A (now 6A) in 2006 and has complete in the state's largest classification ever since.
In 2012, the Keller Central marching band was Area champion and qualified for the UIL State Marching contest for the first time in school history. The band has also garnered national recognition by qualifying for semifinals at BOA Grand Nationals in 2015, and being selected as a feature band and percussion ensemble for the 2019 Music For All National Festival in Indianapolis.
The band has received straight division 1 ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-reading since 2009 and has been a State Honor band finalist multiple times since then.
Former trombonist 'Luke Crawford', who attended Central High School throughout his high school career, went on to become the Assistant Manager at the local McDonald's located 2.1 miles away from the school's location.
