Central City News

Fall is in the air, and everyone is back to school in Central.  Enrollment in the Central Community School System has hit 4,560 so far, and Central High School has 1,546 students for the fall semester. Football began with the jamboree last Friday night with Central High at East Ascension. Things actually seem quite normal, […]

The national surveys of “Best Places to Live” have not yet recognized the City of Central, but they should.  If the best measure of a place to live is safe neighborhoods, great public schools, and warm, friendly people, then Central should be ranked as one of the best places to live in the state and […]

Imagination is running wild in the halls of Central Private School, and so is Scary Harry! Two recent graduates of the school, Ethan Swearingen and Ryder Mote, are the ones responsible for creating this new monster with a message. Ethan and Ryder teamed up in their junior year to work on an English project, never […]

 Former Central High School athletic standout Tanna McClure has been named Director of Advancement for the Central Community School System to improve the system’s fundraising and endowment efforts, according to Supt. Jason Fountain. Fountain said the district created the new position to improve its alumni relations, program fundraising and public relations opportunities. McClure will work […]

After graduating from Denham Springs High School, Brandon LaGroue entered LSU and earned a degree in biochemistry. It seemed like the logical thing to do. Several members of his family were physicians, and a career in medicine seemed like the next step. Or perhaps he would earn a PhD in biochemistry. The problem was, Brandon […]

The Louisiana Department of Education has announced the 2025 Teacher and Principal of the Year finalists. One of the finalists is Central’s own Brandon LaGrue, principal at Central High School. LaGrue is one of nine outstanding principals from across the state who made the finals.  The winner will be announced  at the 18th Annual Cecil […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge By the early 1990’s, I had represented Baton Rouge as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for 20 years, most of that time as a member of the House Education Committee.  My colleague, Sen. Mike Cross, had served as mayor of the City […]

Since 2003, McKanstry Preparatory School has met the need for personalized, small group instruction that caters to the exceptional talents in Baton Rouge area. Founders Ken and Shelia McKanstry’s vision was clear: to cultivate not just students, but leaders and lifelong learners. In contrast to the conventional classroom experience, M.P.S. has emerged as a compelling […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge More than 3,000 packed the Baton Rouge River Center Wednesday night, May 15 for the 112th Annual Graduation Ceremony of Central High School. A total of 350 seniors crossed the stage and received their diplomas. Leading the way were valedictorian Madison Lumpkin and salutatorian Samatha […]

In May 1913, Pearl Elizabeth Felps walked to the podium as the valedictorian of the first graduating of the new Central High School, located at the corner of Canal (now Hooper) and Sullivan roads. A copy of her speech was discovered in 2009 and given to the Central City News. It is a timeless message […]