Dear Incoming 9th and 10th grade students,
It is our honor and distinct pleasure to welcome you to the Central High School community! The first day of school for the 2026-2027 school year is Monday, August 24, 2026. This page contains information about the most important things to know in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year.
Orientation
All incoming students and families are strongly encouraged to attend our New Student Orientation. This is our official welcome event, designed for students and parents/guardians to attend together. Sessions will include an assembly, guided building tours, the opportunity for students to take their ID photo, receive a locker assignment, and walk their student schedule. CHS spirit wear and other school store items will be on sale at this time. Orientation Leaders (students in grades 10-12) will guide and answer any questions students might have about high school. New Student Orientation is organized by student last name and will be held on the following dates and times:
- 288 Transfer Student Orientation: Thursday, August 13, 2026: 9 AM – 11 AM
- 289 Orientation, Student last names A – H: Monday, August 10, 2026: 9:00 – 12:00 PM
- 289 Orientation, Student last names I – P: Tuesday, August 11, 2026: 9:00 – 12:00 PM
- 289 Orientation, Student last names Q – Z: Wednesday, August 12, 2026: 9:00 – 12:00 PM
If you or your child cannot attend your assigned orientation session, please select another orientation session to attend. If you or your child cannot attend any of our orientation sessions, please direct your child to report on the first day of school. No RSVP is required. All information covered during the sessions will be made publicly available on our school website.
Course Selection
During ninth grade, Central students take six courses: English 1, Mathematics, Biology, World Language 1, World History, and a combination of two of the following half-year courses: Art, Music, Theater, and Physical Education. The 9th-grade roster is firmly established with limited opportunities for customization. This Spring, we will offer all incoming students the opportunity to take a math entrance test for Algebra 1 Honors, Algebra 2, or Algebra 2 Honors. Students who do not take a placement test are rostered to Algebra 1.
All Central High School students are required to take a language for two consecutive years. Students must select a language that is new to them; we do not permit students to take a language that is spoken at home. Incoming ninth-graders will also rank their world language preferences. Our world language course offerings are Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, and Latin. If a student has prior experience learning a language in school, we offer world language entrance tests.
If you are a tenth-grade transfer student, there are more customization options in the student roster. All student schedules are coordinated and approved by our Roster Office. If you did not attend an SDP school for ninth grade, please send a PDF copy of your final transcript to our roster chair at atglenn@philasd.org. If you are coming from an SDP school, you do not need to send in a copy of your transcript.
The World Language and Math Entrance exams will take place at Central on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 9:00 – 12:00 pm.
Summer Reading
Summer reading is a requirement for all students at Central High School. Information about our summer reading texts will be available later this spring.
Additional Summer Programming
If your family has selected another school for the 26-27 school year and you need to decline your seat at Central High School, please email me at kdavis4@philasd.org.
Thank you,
President Davis