Central High, 905 15th St.: grades 9 to 12, 782 students on the 2024-25 state report card, which graded the school a D with 69 points.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Sources: the school’s website; its principal’s page; Tuscaloosa City Schools’ schools directory, zoning map and feeder patterns; the district’s 2026-27 calendar; the Alabama State Department of Education’s state report card for 2024-25; the federal NCES school directory for 2023-24; the Census Bureau’s city boundary and the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s 2026-28 alignment.
Central High, on 15th Street near downtown, is one of Tuscaloosa City Schools’ three high schools and the district’s International Baccalaureate high school: the only one in West Alabama offering the IB Diploma Programme, the school says. Alabama graded Central a D, with 69 points, on its 2024-25 report card, up five points from a year earlier.
Who to call
- Front office: 205-759-3720, 905 15th St.
- School website: chs.tuscaloosacityschools.com
- Enrolling a new student: online registration through PowerSchool, linked from the district’s enrollment page. Central Office: 205-759-3700, 1210 Almon Ave.
- Which school is my address zoned for? the district’s zoning map
- Buses: the district’s Transportation Department, 205-247-2400
| Address | 905 15th St., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 |
| Phone | 205-759-3720 |
| Grades | 9 to 12 |
| District | Tuscaloosa City Schools |
| City of Tuscaloosa | Inside the city limits |
| Specialty program | International Baccalaureate, by application |
| AHSAA football, 2026-28 | Class 5A, Region 3 |
| State school code | 200-0160 |
Principal
Principal Thomas E. Jones, according to the school’s principal page.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: 782 students on the 2024-25 Alabama state report card.
- Federal count: 834 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 49 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 17 students per teacher.
State report card
Alabama grades every public school from A to F each year. The grade comes from a 100-point score built from students’ achievement and growth on state tests in English language arts and math, chronic absenteeism (the share of students who missed 18 or more days), progress in English language proficiency and, for high schools, graduation rate and college and career readiness, according to the Alabama State Department of Education’s report card rules.
2024-25 grade: D, 69 points. That is up from a D and 64 points on the 2023-24 card. Tuscaloosa City Schools as a whole earned a B, with 86 points.
| Indicator | 2024-25 score |
|---|---|
| Academic achievement (ELA and math tests) | 22.02 |
| Academic growth | 85.53 |
| Graduation rate | 81.52% |
| College and career readiness | 75.83% |
| Chronic absenteeism (lower is better) | 31.89% of students |
Central High’s full report card, with results by student group, teachers and spending, is on the state’s report card site. Graduation rate and college and career readiness are reported a year behind, so the 2024-25 card counts the class of 2024.
Attendance zone
Check an address with the district’s zoning map. Zones do not follow the city limits.
In the district’s feeder patterns, the Central High zone takes in Westlawn Middle and four elementary schools: Central Elementary, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Oakdale Elementary and University Place Elementary.
Students from anywhere in the district can apply to the IB program through the district’s specialty school process. Students finishing Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Middle fill out an intent form each spring to continue in IB at Central, the district says. The application window for 2026-27 is closed.
Programs
From the school’s profile:
- International Baccalaureate: the Diploma Programme in 11th and 12th grade and the Middle Years Programme in ninth and 10th grade, so students can complete the full IB continuum
- Dual enrollment: courses with Shelton State Community College, Stillman College and The University of Alabama; about 20% of juniors and seniors take college courses, the school says
- Ready to Work: a course with more than 11 local employers and training sites for students heading straight into jobs
- ACT preparation: free courses for all 11th and 12th graders with The University of Alabama and partner groups
Senior Jefferson Morris was named a 2027 National Merit semifinalist, the district announced.
Sports and activities
For football in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s 2026-28 alignment, Central is a Class 5A school in Region 3, with Bessemer City, Brookwood, Hillcrest, Hueytown, McAdory and the city’s other two high schools, Northridge and Paul W. Bryant. The AHSAA’s 2026-28 enrollment list, which sets the classes, gives Central an enrollment figure of 590.15.
The school’s athletics page lists baseball, boys and girls basketball, cheerleading, girls flag football, football, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball. The Falcons’ schedules and results are in our Friday night football guide and on our scoreboard.
Calendar
Central High follows Tuscaloosa City Schools’ 2026-27 calendar (district calendars are on its calendar page). Coming dates:
- Tuesday, Oct. 20: e-learning day for ninth and 11th graders while 10th graders take the Pre-ACT and seniors take WorkKeys
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day, schools closed
- Nov. 23-27: fall break and Thanksgiving holidays, schools closed
- Friday, Dec. 18: half day for students, end of the first semester
- Dec. 21 to Jan. 1: winter holidays, schools closed; students return Wednesday, Jan. 6
On scheduled half days, high schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m. The district does not publish daily bell times on its website; call the front office for start and dismissal times.
More
- The district’s schools directory, with every school’s address and phone
- Every public school in Tuscaloosa, with zones and report cards
- Our Tuscaloosa schools guide for the district calendar, enrollment and the school board
- Friday night football and the scoreboard
Frequently asked questions
What grades does Central High serve?
Central High in Tuscaloosa serves ninth through 12th grade, according to Tuscaloosa City Schools.
What is Central High’s state report card grade?
Central High earned a D, with 69 points, on Alabama’s 2024-25 state report card, up from 64 points on the 2023-24 card.
Which schools feed Central High?
Westlawn Middle, and before it Central, Martin Luther King Jr., Oakdale and University Place elementary schools, according to the district’s feeder patterns.
Does Central High have an IB program?
Yes. Central offers the IB Diploma Programme in 11th and 12th grade and the Middle Years Programme in ninth and 10th grade; students across the district can apply.
What AHSAA class is Central High?
Class 5A, Region 3 for football in the AHSAA’s 2026-28 alignment.
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