Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky

“We love Central High School, because ther relationship between students and teacher is very good. Central is a maget school in the heart of Louisville, KY and the high school of the greatest boxer of all times Ali!!!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is the best school in the country. I am astudent in the computer tech. magnet, and it is a really good way to pursue in a career that offers tons of high paying jobs! quit hatin!”
This review was posted by a student.

“Central is not a bad school. Everyone say it is because its in the west end but its really not. The teachers are really involved and there are rarely any fights like peole say there is. During the 08-09 year, my year as a freshman.. There was only 2 fights and the teachers got there as soon as the fight started. Central is full of love. Central isnt a bad school at all. Its one of the best schools i've been to yet. If it wasnt for central, i wouldnt be on the track and path that im on now. You wont actually know how great central is until you go there. =) I love central to death. Plus central has programs that most of the schools in jefferson county dont have. It really prepares you for college and the staff really do have your intrest at heaart <33”
This review was posted by a student.

“This is a very bad school. There are anywhere from 50-70 students roaming the halls and going into classrooms they do not belong in during any given day. This amount increases as the end of the year approaches. Teachers cannot teach because students are constantly being non-attentive, getting up and walking out of class at random moments all throughout class, while students from other classes will burst through the classroom door from other classes talking very loudly (almost yelling) and giving high fives to the other students. They completely ignore teachers as if they do not exist and there is not anything much that the administration does about it besides giving out detentions. This is understandable since they are overwhelmed each day with just trying to keep a handle on dealing with all the out of control students each day. I teach there and I would never send my kids here.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“very poor. with alot of fighting”
This review was posted by a parent.

“It is an excellent School of couse no school is perfect so don't jude it by the way people protray central to be. Central is an wonderful school to attend and I am proud to be a student of Central High School.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I believe central has a lot to offer.Thier only down fall is that there are students that really want to learn and take advantage of all that central has to offer....Then there are those who are there wasting teachers time and there own. I wish central would be more selective on who is admitted to the school.Because if they were then the test scores would go up also the school would get more funding.I,to be honest love this school and all that it has to offer but I truely believe the rules and standards should be higher. This school is just as good as Manuel,Brown,Male,etc. But no one knows because you have students in the school that are there just to play around and it's not fair to the students who are thier to take in the beautiful programs that are offered.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I love this school its amazing i have a whole lot of friends here”
This review was posted by a student.

“There are a lot of classes that are offer at Central that other schools don't such as the Law Magnet and Forensic Science.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a former graduate of Central and I just wanted to say that I'm glad everything seems to be working out for my Alma Mater. I mean things weren't easy at Central but we got by. The Legacy lives on!”
This review was posted by a other.

“I am glad that things have gotten better at Central, because when I attended Central, it wasn't that great. Teachers were giving busy work, the students were very disruptive and disrespectful (not all, but 80% were), and I truly felt that in some instances, I was cheated out of a quality education. This school has a great legacy, and I wish more students and administrators took pride in Central.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a current student of Central High School. As with any school, you will have a negative aspect and a positive one. In my opinion, the positive outweighs the negative. The education one earns there is of ones will. If a person wishes to succeed and excel beyond they can with a Central Education. The amazing programs available help students belong. There is a great air of legacy that engulfs you when you walk through the doors of Central and the school pride throughout the community is amazing. Central strives to provide numerous opportunities for those who want them. I am a Law & Government Magnet student who currently has a summer internship through Central. I am proud to say I attend and my success will reflect the true excellence of Central High as can yours if you chose.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a current student at Central High. Even though Central is majority African-American it is the most culturally diverse school I've ever attended. The curriculum is definitely on point.Your academic experience is what you make it and CHS offers a broad range of courses. If you take simple classes I guess you'll receive a simple education. That would bore me so my all classes are advanced, even some for college credit to challenge myself.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Like all other schools in the district, it has its flaws that do take time to fix. Central has come a far away from the year I first enrolled to last May 06' when I graduated. The school has become better than it was. The education that you recieve here is what you make of it, like anything else - you get what you put into it. This school provides a broad culture scene. The school teachers respect and cultural diversity, which is very important in America's society. There are teachers who really care for you, and then those that don't. However, the number of great teachers outnumber the bad ones. It has provide me opportunities for college and scholarships.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I'm a white junior at this school. its not too bad, especially for a downtown school. sure, central has discipline problems but what urban school doesn't? students who come to get an education will get a good foundation for college. the teachers care and help the students. if you come to this school, take higher-level classes and get involved.”
This review was posted by a student.

“There is absolutely a point to going to Central! It teaches you respect for other people and their cultures/ethnicities. We admit, our school could step it up a notch on discipline, but you cannot say that any school in Jefferson county has perfect discipline! Ee students can say we love Central High proudly and support it!”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a former student of Central and I am appalled at what I am reading. I was a white student at Central and while we had our share of racism, I mostly noticed racism from my WHITE friends. While I didn't particulally like the adminisrators, most high school students don't like their administrators. Also while there were obviously some teachers who I believe didn't care, as at any school, they were out numbered by those that do. I maintain that my going to Central helped me grow in ways that I would not have at any other high school.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I'm not a parent, but I attended Central High School when I moved to Kentucky in 2004, and I can say that it was a pleasant experience. The teachers enforced discipline, and the cultural diversity serves as preparation for the outside world. I especially enjoyed orchestra, and I would give up half my classes back here in my country just to experience that orchestra class again. I don't remember the name of the teacher, but hats off to him!”
This review was posted by a former student.

“As a former student and the father of a daughter that now attends Central, I'm very pleased with how far Central has come. When I went to Central they didn't have much to offer but the basic courses. Now that my 15 year old is there the school has much more to offer kids to give them a leg up real life after high school is over and you start your adult life.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am deeply appauled by the abundance of negative comments that have been posted in reference to a school that I hold near and dear to my heart. Yes, Central does has it's problems as does every school, nothing is perfect. Because of my attendance in this school I have left with more confidence and wisdom in myself than I have ever had. At Central you learn to deal with a group of diverse people, socioeconomically, racially, and ethnically. In reference to the comments of racism toward caucasian students, I say this: racism is everywhere, and if you've haven't have to deal with it until high school, consider yourself lucky and stop winning, minorities have had to deal with it for years. Also take Mr. X's Afr-Am history class, it will change you for the better.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I attended 3 high schools in Louisville and Central is the most racist and race-biased school I have ever encountered. Some teachers completely ignore the curriculum and teach hate and ignorance. My world history teacher taught only African culture and the Civil Rights movement. Almost no discipline at all, especially in the halls, and is very unsafe for anyone who is not African-American. I attended for the law magnet. I wasn't allowed to join the debate team because she wanted me for mock court only. I did have some good teachers but they were overwhelmed by the lack of disipline and racial ignorance of other teachers and a lot of students. It took my a few years to realize how bad this school really is. I hope things have changed but I doubt it.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“My daughter is a white freshman at Central this year. She loves it and so do I. Yes, the school is predominantly black but there is a broad spectrum of different ethnicities and backgrounds. My daughter selected Central because of it's excellent academic reputation and the smaller class sizes. She has been very successful and very happy. I have found the staff to be caring and attentive, for the most part. I think it was a good choice for my daughter and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I learned more about politics, society, and the education system more than anything while at Central. If you do not care for pop culture according to MTV-BET, or International Students, Central is not for you. On any given day, you can expect to hear conversations in slang, Arabic, Bosnian, Somali and Vietnamese simultaneously. My advice is, take all of the AP Classes you can, take African-American History even if you are not African-American , do well in your magnet class and get a good co-op job (preferably one that pays. Some Law Magnet students had jobs that paid $9 an hour. We, Pre-Med Majors were not so lucky, but we got nice uniforms). Take advantage of any opportunities to take classes at a college, even at JCC or JTC. If you do these things, you can t go wrong.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I do not think this school promoted or taught racism. I do agree that there are some racist students and at least one teacher that I can remember, but you have that anywhere. I think my experience was a pretty good one, I earned to be more open to all cultures and learn about them. I am glad I went to Central. Yes, I had African American principals and caucasian counselors, but what does that mean? I enjoyed my time there with Ms. Loretta Stewart and Harold Fenderson. I wouldn't have changed this experience for anything, especially a school full of stuck-up snobs. I left Fairdale High School my freshmen year and I rode 2 buses to go to Central High School!”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I am a foreign student at Central High School Magnet, I am in the Pre-med Magnet, it's so great and no other school like this offer you these kinds of opportunities. I am really happy to go to a School like this, and not only that it also prepares you for College or University.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I'm not a parent, I'm a former student as well and I am very disgusted at what one former student said. I disagree wholeheartedly. My experience at Central was a very good one and no one taught me to have a victim attitude, it was quite the opposite. They taught me the curriculum as well as to have pride in myself and my race. Plus that if I believed I could achieve anything. And we had minority principals, counselors, teachers, coaches etc. So for the person that ragged on Central the way he/she did I'm sorry your experience wasn't so great but you can't speak for all.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I am not a parent, I am a former student who entered this school with excitement for the legal magnet program. However, as a white student, I discovered rather quickly that the principal, both vice-principals, several teachers, and an abundance of students and their families supported and encouraged racism, racial propaganda, and unethical disrespect of statewide school curriculum when other, more appropriate and ethical avenues were available. Unless you are an African American who wants to be taught to maintain a victim mentality, there is absolutely no reason to attend this school.”
This review was posted by a former student.