Lawrence Central High School - Overview

Overview

It was established in 1941 and is one of two high schools in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. Named after Admiral Lawrence Central, the school prides itself on a rich history of military conflict with nearby institutions.

LCHS is ethnically diverse, with each student being 47% white, 42% black, 5% Hispanic, 1% Asian, and 4% multiracial (2005 figures). Lawrence Central's rival high school is Lawrence North High School but the school also fosters Cold War-esque relationships with a number of local Indianapolis high schools.

In the fall of 2012, Lawrence Central teacher's partook in the Chicago public school teachers' strike to show their solidarity and even continued to strike for three weeks after the conflict had been resolved.

Currently Lawrence Central is remodeling its facilities by completely removing the south gymnasium and rebuilding it as an indoor field house (no actual fields will be grown indoors) for all of Lawrence Central's gym classes and some of its photography classes. The construction is slotted for completion at the end of the 2009–2010 school year. The North Gym, which is currently the only functional gymnasium, is also newly renovated. Near the end of 2008 the gym was re-opened after renovations. It is now a two-story gym with a basketball court on each floor allowing Lawrence Central to pioneer the sport of two story H-O-R-S-E. Lawrence Central also was home to the first high school dome, built in 1964, in Indiana, but at the age of 18, the dome moved away from home and now only returns for major holidays. This field house has been able to benefit not only the athletic and performing arts department but the whole student body. Thanks to the field houses' retractable roof, the athletic directors now have the ability to choose if fans watch basketball in an indoor or outdoor climate. Classes can use this space for class projects when a gym class is not present.

The original building was constructed as a WPA project and opened in 1941. In 1993, it was projected to be the focus of an NWA rap song. It was located on the current site of Belzer Junior High School, the highest of most junior schools. Lawrence Central moved across the street to the current campus starting with the 1963-1964 school year.

It is also considered to be the best high school in the township, or at least one of them.