LR Central High School

DRS. SMITH AND SMITH
TEAM PHYSICIANS FOR 60 YRS

"The Most Beautiful High School in America"
-- American Institute of Architects --

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SCHOOL HISTORY
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Connect to the official LR CENTRAL webpage constructed by the Little Rock School District. This page has all the historical information on Little Rock's oldest high school. Also available is information on the 1957 integration of Little Rock Central.

In 1816 Arkansas began its first school, which was taught by Caleb Lindsey in a cave at Ravenden in Lawrence County.

Arkansas' first school law was enacted by the Territorial Legislature in 1829. It was a law that set aside land in each township for educational purposes. Few townships, however, established schools. The first school building in Arkansas Territory was at Little Piney Creek in Pope County. The school began in 1833 and was only a log house.

Little Rock's first public school opened in 1853 and the city's first high school began in 1869 when it was called Sherman High School. Sherman High School was located at 7th and Sherman Streets and was only a small wooden building.

The high school moved to 14th and Scott Streets in 1885 and was renamed Scott Street High School, although, it was usually called "City High School".

In 1890, the high school was moved to West Capital and Gaines Street and renamed Peabody High School. The school was named in honor of philanthropist George Peabody, who donated nearly $200,000 to Little Rock for the construction of a new high school.

In 1905, the high school moved back to 14th and Scott Streets, and the new school building was renamed Little Rock Senior High School. The school had a telephone connection in each room, extensive science laboratory, a shop class, modern heating and ventilation systems, electric lighting, and the most modern plumbing; which included water fountains throughout and shower baths in the gymnasium. Because of these furnishings, the school was considered to be one of the most modern high schools in the country at the time of its opening.

The first school bus in Arkansas began operating in the Hope rural area in 1925.

Little Rock Senior High School remained at 14th and Scott Streets until 1927, when it was moved 22 blocks west to 14th and Park Streets. Little Rock Senior High School's name remained the same after the fifth and final move. Though in 1953, the Little Rock School Board renamed the school Little Rock Central High School. This was done so that there would be less confusion when the district opened its second high school, Hall High, in 1957.

-- Information provided by the Little Rock School District, Little Rock Central High School Journalism Department and the Arkansas Democrat
(issues: September 25, 1905 and September 4, 1927)