Central Catholic was founded by Brother Florentius and the Marist Brothers of the Schools in 1935, to provide boys from Lawrence and vicinity the previously unavailable opportunity to receive a Catholic high school education. [click the images to read our history]

			A NEW ERA The Board of Directors was established in 1969 and initiated a campaign to construct a new school building. Their efforts came to fruition in 1970 with the opening of the building at 300 Hampshire Street. This new building was formally dedicated on September 16, 1971. Within a year, the school discontinued use of the 99 Auburn Street building and annex. These original buildings were demolished in 1984.
			EMBRACING COEDUCATION AND DIVERSITY In the mid 1990s the Memorial Gymnasium Building underwent extensive renovation; minor renovations were also undertaken in the 300 Hampshire Street Building. These material improvements paved the way for the most significant transformation in Central Catholic history: the advent of coeducation in September, 1996. While continuing to educate young men - and now young women - descended from its original audience of immigrants from Europe, French-speaking Canada, and the Middle East, Central Catholic also serves the current wave of immigrants from the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and elsewhere. In 1999 Brother Thomas P. Long, FMS, '73 was appointed the first President of Central Catholic High School and is the first alumnus to serve as the head of the school. Also in 1999, Mr. David M. DeFillippo '66 became the first layperson appointed principal.
			A BRIGHT FUTURE In early 2000, with enrollment at capacity and the demand for admission far exceeding capacity and projected to do so throughout the foreseeable future, the Board of Directors developed a comprehensive and long-range strategic plan for Central Catholic High School. A strategic planning committee was formed consisting of representatives from the Board, administration, faculty, alumni, parents and students and the services of Meitler Consultants, Inc., a nationally recognized firm, were retained. The critical features of this strategic plan included realizable objectives for enrollment, faculty and staff, and programs and facilities. In 2004, Central Catholic paved the way to fulfill its expansion objectives by completing and opening the 80,000-square-foot New South Wing as part of a $12.8 million building initiative. The new wing contains state-of-the-art science labs, new cafeteria, new main lobby, Campus Ministry Office, Carney Family Chapel, Campus Bookstore, new locker rooms and new band and rehearsal rooms. Through this initiative, the school was also able to renovate the Cardinal Cushing Library and Media Center, create art studios in older classrooms, connect Memorial Gymnasium to the main school building and convert the former jail site to practice fields. The student body currently numbers 1,350. During its seventy-two year history, Central Catholic has graduated some 12,600 alumni. It continues to provide a high quality college preparatory education while fulfilling the mission of St. Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers of the Schools: to make Jesus known and loved through the Christian education of youth, showing special favor to those whom favor is seldom shown.