Central High School

Central High School sits in the heart of Independence, a small Willamette Valley town with a tight-knit, working-class character and a growing Latino community along the Willamette River. The school faces real academic challenges — particularly in math, where scores rank near the bottom statewide — making it a better fit for families who are actively engaged in supplementing their student's education or advocating for additional support. That said, Independence itself has a genuine small-town warmth, and families drawn to its affordable riverside community should go in with clear eyes and a plan for how to support their kids academically.