Leading The Way — Capital Campaign

Thanks to the incredible support of Central High School’s alumni and friends, the Leading the Way campaign is poised to elevate Central’s position as a premier high school in and around Philadelphia and to maintain its award-winning status recognition at a national level. With over $35 million raised—nearly 80% of our goal—we are well on track to transforming Central’s future, starting with a visionary campus expansion plan that will enhance every aspect of the student experience.

This plan is critical to providing the space, technology, and resources needed to ensure that Central continues to be a place where academic excellence thrives and future leaders are made.

The campaign is spearheaded by Joseph Field, the founder of the Philadelphia-based media giant Entercom and member of the 192nd Class, who has pledged $15 million. The funds raised also include $8.1 million committed by the School District of Philadelphia, and private-public gifts from Central’s alumni and friends.

The goals of this ambitious major capital improvement plan are:

• Academic Planning coordinates near term initiatives within the long term pedagogical vision for Central.
• Integrate STEM Education through a new STEM Innovation Center that will allow collaboration and project-based learning to take place across the science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines.
• Provide 21st Century Learning Opportunities with a new Digital Media and Technology Center, housed in the new Student Commons, that will provide technology for classroom research and writing projects, podcasts, and broadcasting.
• Repair and Invigorate Central’s 25-acre campus and its 200,000-square-foot 1939 historic academic building.
• Advance the Performing Arts with a new Performing Arts Center that will feature a 400-seat theater and innovative rehearsal rooms, classrooms and technical support spaces outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment.