Original Research by School Decision on Centennial High
Centennial High in Compton is a mid-sized school serving grades nine through twelve in an urban setting. The enrollment skews slightly higher in the freshman and sophomore years before declining by senior year, typical of many urban public high schools. About nine in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the neighborhoods the school serves. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a meaningful Black population, and very small numbers of other racial groups.
State assessment results in the 2024-25 school year show performance challenges across all three tested subjects. English language arts proficiency was at about half the school population, a point where families should understand that while a meaningful portion of students met the proficiency bar, the majority did not. Mathematics and science proficiency were considerably lower, each in the single digits. Because only one year of data is available, it is not yet clear whether these results reflect a particular moment or a persistent pattern, and a parent may want to look into further detail with the school about trajectories and targeted support efforts.
The school has not reported a graduation rate in the available data. Information on other key metrics such as chronic absenteeism, staffing levels, discipline, course access, and special population support—including English learner enrollment or special education—was not available for this analysis. These are areas a family would reasonably want to discuss directly with the school's leadership.
Compton itself is an urban city in southern Los Angeles County, anchored by manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing tied to proximity to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The built environment mixes mid-twentieth-century single-family homes, apartment complexes, and a substantial industrial corridor. Walkability varies by location; downtown and areas near the Metro A Line light-rail station score higher, while residential neighborhoods farther from transit are somewhat walkable. Retail and healthcare also provide local employment.
The city is pursuing housing growth largely through multi-family and affordable development, with recent projects including permanent supportive housing conversions and mid-rise affordable complexes. The district opened a new flagship Compton High School campus in the 2025-26 school year funded by an earlier bond measure, and launched the Compton Academy of Technology and Innovation (C-Tech) in August 2025, a P-TECH model school where students earn a high school diploma and tuition-free associate degree in fields like biotechnology and cybersecurity. In June 2026, voters approved another bond measure for additional facilities including a new Dominguez High School, creating ongoing property-tax implications for families in the district. Median household income in Compton remains below what is typically needed to afford newly constructed housing without cost burden, a gap the city recognizes as a workforce constraint.
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