| Central High School was chartered in 1836 under the Common School Law passed by the State Legislature and organized in 1838. The school was granted the authority to confer degrees by an Act of the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1849. For many years Central High School retained a widespread public recognition as "The People's College". "CHS in the mid-nineteenth century exercised power over other schools much like Harvard University did and does. CHS was established long before any peer organizations could develop and thus offered unique educational credentials to a constituency that valued these credentials highly and was willing to compete for them vigorously". (Labaree, 76)(Photo courtesy of www.phillyhistory.org) |
