Central High School (Memphis, Tennessee)

Infobox_University
name = Central High School


established = 1904
type = Public
principal = Gregory McCullough
enrollment = 1,812
faculty = 65
administrators = 9
city = Memphis
state = Tenn.
country = USA
accreditation = Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
memberships = [TSSAA
nickname = Warriors
website= [http://www.memphis-schools.k12.tn.us/schools/central.hs/centralhomepage.htm]

Central High School is a public high school (grades 9-12) in Memphis, Tennessee located at 306 South Bellevue Boulevard, 38104.

Since it was founded in the early 1900s, it is often considered the first high school in Memphis; Central is often called "THE" High School. It is a part of the Memphis City Schools Optional School system where it is recognized as a school specializing in college preparatory programs. The principal is Mr. Gregory McCullough. Central's mascot is the Warrior; the school colors are green and gold.

History

Central is considered to be the successor to Memphis High School, the first high school in Memphis, which was founded in 1897 in a building on Poplar Avenue that became the headquarters of the Board of Education after Central High was completed. Central High has a long-standing tradition of excellence dating back to 1911, when the current building was erected on Raleigh Avenue (now Bellevue Blvd.) [http://www.wdbj.net/shelby/schools/central/history.htm] . Central High's building is on the List of Registered Historic Places in Tennessee.

Academics

Central High School offers a traditional program of academics as well as an Optional (Honors) program. The honors program is mainly for students who don't live in the area around the school. The optional program consists of taking certain classes, maintaining a certain GPA, and qualifying through various qualifying tests. Central offers one of the highest numbers of Advanced Placement classes in the city. Central is also considered to have one of the most rigorous academic progams of the Memphis City High Schools along with White Station and Ridgeway High School.

Extra-Curricular

Central High school is known for its many clubs in foreign language, volunteer/service, and honor societies. Central's extra-curricular activities include:

*-Concert Choir
*-Warrior Band
*-Jazz Band
*-Color Guard (Flag Girls)
*-Cheerleading Squad
*-Baseball
*-Softball
*-Golf
*-Football
*-Girl's Soccer
*-Boy's Soccer
*-Volleyball
*-Boy's Cross Country
*-Girl's Cross Country
*-Boy's Track
*-Girl's Track
*-Lady Warriors Basketball
*-Warriors Basketball
*-Student Council
*-Class Officers
*-Newspaper Staff
*-Yearbook Staff
*-Broadcasting/Media Concepts
*-French & Spanish Club
*-DECA
*-Bowling

Central's concert choir under the direction of Mr. Gaylon Robinson has won many awards in the state and nation. Central's band adopted their own mascot called "Sam". (Spirit, Attitude, Musicionship) Central currently has a new band director- Mr. Justin Johnson and Mr. Jeremy Quave. Central also has many athletic teams. The most notable are the bowling, cross country, basketball and track teams. The Lady Warrior Basketball team won the City Championships.

Lastly, in keeping with being recognized as the successor to Memphis High School, the first high school in Memphis, Central High's football team, rather than having artwork denoting the "Warrior" mascot, simply has a capital "H", for THE High School.

Noteworthy Alumni

*Avron Fogelman - (Prominent Memphis Businessman)
*Kevin "Ginji" Pickles - (Former MGO Superstar)
*Kemmons Wilson - (Creator of the Holiday Inn)
*Charita Moses - (Miss Tennessee and Miss USA 2nd Runner up)
*Lashundra "Trenyce" Cobbins from c/o 1998 (American Idol Participant and Singer)
*Devin Crutcher from c/o 1998 (Band member on "Making the Band" on MTV)
*Sherry Mathis - (Broadway star, soap opera star-Search For Tomorrow)
*Terry Manning - Music producer
*George Barnes alias Machine Gun Kelly - (famous 1920s gangster)
*William Sanderson (CHS ’62; 'Larry' on the Newhart show)
*Alex Chilton (musician of the Box Tops – “The Letter”)
*John Farris (CHS ’55; author “Harrison High”, a fictional account of Central High)
*Bette Greene (CHS ’52; author “Summer of My German Soldier”)
*William G. Leftwich, Jr. (Marine killed in Vietnam)
*William F. Barnes (Football coach at UCLA)
*Charles W. Burson (CHS '62; legal counsel and chief of staff to Vice-President Al Gore)
*Jack Belz (CHS '45; real estate developer who restored the Peabody Hotel in Memphis [http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2006_3rd/Sep06_Peabody.html] )

External links

[http://www.mcsk12.net/schools/central.hs/centralhomepage.htm]
* [http://larryholdermusic.org/chs/classof77/ Class of '77]
* [http://www.centralwarriors.com Memphis Central High School Class of '63]
*http://www.centralwarriors.com/alumni.html Alumni page