About Central

Philosophy and Goals |   School Improvement  | Policies |  Grading |  Dress Code | Student Code of Conduct |  Driving Directions 

Mission Statement

The mission of Central High School is to meet the civic, moral, and instructional needs
of all students who enter the complex so that each can become a productive member of society.

The mission of the Prince George’s County Public Schools is to assure that all
students acquire knowledge, and develop skills and work habits to enable them
to become productive members of society.

This mission is best accomplished when school personnel:

• Ensure a safe and orderly school environment;

• Maintain high expectations for all students;

• Support and are supported by strong instructional leadership;

• Create a positive school climate in congruence with the mission;

• Provide the opportunity to learn through consistent student time on task;

• Monitor student progress on a frequent basis; and

• Promote effective home-school communication.

Our Philosophy and Goals

The purpose of Central High School is to provide each of its students with the best educational experience possible.  
Since the adult society of the future will surely encompass many changes, Central must expose students to a variety of learning styles and foster a commitment and appreciation of lifelong learning.  Central must prepare students to continue an ongoing learning process.  By developing in students the traits of lifetime learning, Central will prepare students for a more successful and productive integration into adult society.

Central strives to foster in students a critical awareness of past and present cultures, an awareness of the multi-cultural nature of their current society, and an awareness of how these cultures can be used to their advantage for improving our communities' futures.

Because of the size of our educational complex and the community the school and its staff serves, Centrals’ mission must, above all, be sensitive to the variety of its students’ needs.

Throughout this large complex, which includes the Comprehensive High School, the Humanities Program, and the International Baccalaureate Program, a unique educational experience is provided for the students of Central High School.

School Improvement (Executive Summary)

Introduction Click here to read the complete CHS Executive Summary and School Improvement plan.

To become “A Community of Learners Which Aligns Actions to Goals” is the vision of Central High School (CHS). Central is a four-year high school located in Capitol Heights, Maryland. Capitol Heights has middle to low-income residential housing and light commercial properties.  It is located southeast of Washington, D.C.  This community is comprised of residents from all socio-economic levels.  Curricular offerings at CHS include: the Humanities and International Studies Program, the International Baccalaureate Program, the French Immersion Program, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), the Comprehensive Program, and two Special Education Programs (Vocational Development & Learning Disabled and Community Resource Instruction-CRI for mentally and physically challenged students).  Students from throughout the county currently attend the Humanities and International Studies Program, the International Baccalaureate Program, and the French Immersion Program.  Central High School operates on an A/B day schedule with four classes daily. Parental and community involvement is encouraged.  Parents and the community are informed of the school’s status in school improvement through P.T.S.A. meetings, Back to School Night, and the school newslette

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School Policies/School-Wide Expectations

Students will:

• Attend class every day

• Be in class on time

• Wear ID daily

• Be prepared with the materials needed to complete all class assignments

• Be respectful of self and others

• Use the break between classes to attend to personal needs

• Not wear hats, bandanas, colors or offensive clothing to school

• Not bring book bags, winter coats, food, drink, cards, dice, audio devices or other disruptive items to class

Consequences

1^st offense—warning·        2^nd offense—parent contact ·        3^rd offense—teacher detention (If teacher detention is not served issue a PS74)

4^th offense (and every offense thereafter) - refer to grade-level administrator and/or principal. 

ID BADGES

Students must enter the building wearing their ID badges appropriately displayed and worn for the duration of the school day.
 

Consequences

·        1^st offense--warning

·        2^nd offense--parent contact

·        3^rd offense--teacher detention*(If teacher detention is not served issue a PS74)

·        4^th offense--1 day suspension

Teacher Detention 

A notice of assigned detention must be given to a student twenty-four hours before detention.  The student is given a copy of the detention form stating time
and date they are to serve with their teacher.  If a student fails to show up for a teacher (assigned detention) follow the consequences above.

Cheating/plagiarism

Students will receive lessons on cheating and plagiarism (Refer to Prince George’s County Public School Student Code of Conduct)
in the Advisory Mentoring Group. The consequences follow:

·        1^st offense--receives zero on assignment/test, parent contact, refer to guidance.

·        2^nd offense--receives zero on assignment/test and refer to administrator.

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Standard Grading Policy

Grading and promotion are based on the degree of success that the individual student has achieved in completing the educational program designed to meet his/her needs.

Students are graded according to their ability and achievement, consistent with the purpose and content of the class or course.

Children in grades 2-12 receive letter grades in all classes and courses taken for credit except where other means of evaluation have been authorized.

Beginning this year, all first graders (and some second graders) will have their progress assessed through use of the numeral 1, to indicate satisfactory progress," and the numeral 2, to indicate that the student needs more time to master a skill.

Grades are based on:

• Competence as determined by tests, examinations and teacher evaluation and by demonstration of meeting performance objectives.

• The completion of assignments as determined by the quality of work done, the regularity with which they
  are turned in and punctuality in performing them.

• Participation in the day-to-day activities of the class.

• Daily work habits in the classroom.

• Attendance

Parents of students who are not making satisfactory progress will receive notice of that midway through each grading period. (Consistent with
this provision, a student receives the grade earned even if the parent has not seen the progress report.)

Statements of course objectives/topics are distributed to all students and parents at the beginning of each course.
Teachers' grading factors, and the weight assigned to those factors, are also distributed.

Final semester and course grades are determined by averaging the quarter grades, with additional weight given to the final marking period grade.

Attendance is a Factor

Students who are unlawfully absent receive a zero (0) for that day's work, and the zero is averaged with other daily grades.
Unlawfully absent students are not given make-up work to offset the zero grade.

In addition, in grades 9 to 12 a student who is unlawfully absent 5 or more days per semester course or 10 or more days per full-year course
will receive no grades or credits.

Students in grades 9 to 12 may be lawfully absent but are required to make up the work missed in a timely manner.
Failure to make up missed work will result in zero grades for missing assignments..

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Promotion and Retention

Promotion of high school students is based upon the successful completion of specified subjects and the acquisition of units of credit at each grade level.

Appeal of Grades

Report card grades may be appealed by parents and students within ten days of the date the report card is received. Grounds for appealing a grade are
(a) an allegation of an error in computing grades, (b) an allegation that the teacher graded on factors other than those he or she set out at the beginning of the course, or (c) an allegation of personal teacher bias.

The first step in appealing a grade is to contact the teacher involved, providing the reason for appealing the grade.
If the student and/or parent or guardian wish to continue the appeal they should notify the principal, who will schedule a meeting with them,
the teacher and a guidance counselor.

The principal will notify the teacher and the student and/or parents of his or her decision. Decisions of the principal may be appealed to the appropriate Area Assistant Superintendent and subsequently to the Superintendent of Schools.

2.0 Eligibility Marks Standard

 In order to be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, students in grade 9 through 12 must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0 for each grading quarter preceding the start or continuation of their participation in the activities.

Students who do not maintain the 2.0 grade point average are excluded from participation in any extracurricular activity.
Participation--regardless of the activity--is prohibited beginning on the date the new report card is issued, as scheduled in the Board of Education School Calendar.

The exclusion remains in effect until the student attains the required 2.0 quarter grade point average and becomes eligible to participate in a subsequent quarter's extra-curricular activities.

Extracurricular activities are defined as all activities except those for which student participation is necessary to
receive a grade in a specific course in which the student is currently enrolled.

The 2.0 policy applies to all high school students with the exception of individual special education students who have been exempted.

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Dress Code

System-Wide Dress Code for Students:

Head

Headdresses/hats can be worn indoors for religious or health reasons only.

Shirts and Blouses:

Shirts and blouses should be continuous from neckline to waist.

The entire mid-section should not show. No tank tops and muscle shirts.

No clothing with vulgar language, obscene pictures, weapons, drugs/alcohol or drug paraphernalia and tobacco products.

 No identifiable gang/crew clothing or paraphernalia.

 No see-through clothing.

Skirts, Dresses and Shorts:

Skirts, dresses, shorts, and spandex skirts should be approximately six (6) inches below the buttocks, or no shorter than fingertip level.

Pants:

Pants should be secured at waist: no sagging below waist to expose undergarments.

Tights, stretch pants, leggings, and spandex body suits must be worn with clothing long enough to cover buttocks.

Shoes:

 Shoes must be worn.

Student Code of Conduct

This revised Code of Student Conduct incorporates a number of additions and modifications to the former document. The language is
more conversational and less legal to ensure that it is available to everyone. Recognizing that many constituencies share the responsibility
for educating our students, the Code outlines the responsibilities of these groups. The Code includes a more comprehensive section
on consequences to be used prior to or in place of suspension.  Misbehavior has been categorized into four levels of severity. Each
of these levels contains suggested teacher and/or administrative responses to ensure that students are treated fairly and consistently
throughout the school system. Because technology has become increasingly important for students both within the school setting and
in society at large, this Code has incorporated a section on the use and consequences for misuse of technology, including computers and the
Internet. Policies on attendance and grading have been included to ensure that all students and parents know the rules and expectations
for these critical areas of academic life. Sections on student searches, Special Education, and Section 504 issues have been updated to reflect
changes in Maryland or federal laws or regulations.
Click Here for the complete Student Code of Conduct in PDF format (click here for free Adobe® Reader software)

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* On half-days period 4/8 is held before period 3/7

Directions to Central High School

Driving from the Capital Beltway (495)

Exit the Capital Beltway (495) at Central Avenue/Route 214, West (Exit 15B).
Continue on Central Avenue through 3 traffic lights and move into the left lane.
Continue down the hill and move to the far left lane.
Turn left onto Cabin Branch Road.
Continue on Cabin Branch Road to Central High School.

For maps and driving directions, visit Google Maps

Walking from the Addison Road Metro Station (Blue Line)

Walk 3 blocks east on Central Avenue. Turn right on Soper Lane.
Walk a short distance south on Soper Lane.
Walk straight on Cabin Branch Road.
Walk 1 block south on Cabin Branch Road to the School.
(Total walking distance is 0.37 miles.)

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