11 Most Endangered

Little Rock Central High School

Year Listed: 1996
Location: , Arkansas
Current Status: Saved
Threat: Deterioration, Neglect

Latest News

In 2007 Central High celebrated 50 years of integration. In 2008 the school started a fundraising campaign to restore the campus landscape to its original beauty.

Little Rock's Central High School, a National Historic Landmark

Significance

In 1957 all eyes were on Little Rock's Central High when nine African-American students were escorted into the school by federal troops. Despite its grandeur and landmark status as the flagship high school in Little Rock, Central has not been immune from ravages suffered by many inner-city schools across the country. Urban flight, a declining neighborhood, heavy use, a dwindling tax base and resulting shrinking budgets had taken their toll on this historic site. A 1990s study ranked Central fifth among the city's five high schools in terms of negative building conditions and more than $6 million was required to make needed structural repairs and facility upgrades to allow the building properly serve as a high school.

Updates

Central High has, arguably, transformed itself from Little Rock's most controversial historic sites to one of its most beloved. Listing helped secure National Historic Site status (in 1998), two SAT grants ($2.5 million), and moved the LR School District to focus more attention and resources towards making repairs and overdue maintenance. In 2000, the Little Rock School District budgeted $10,000,000 for the rehabilitation of the building. A new roof, parapet, mechanical and electrical systems were all upgraded. All this went hand-in-hand with the creation of a Central High Museum and Visitors Center which rehabilitated an historic gas station across the street from the school; the Central High Neighborhood is also experiencing positive revitalization ripples thanks to the attention afforded Central High.