Pickerington High School Central (also known as Pickerington Central, Pick Central, or PHSC) is a public high school in Pickerington, Ohio, United States. It is one of two high schools in the Pickerington Local School District, serving grades 9–12. The school mascot is the Tiger.
Contents
History
Construction of the current PHSC building was completed in 1991. In 2003, the district split the original Pickerington High School (founded 1940 - 2003) into two, creating Pickerington Central and Pickerington High School North. Prior to 1940, secondary education in the area was served by Violet Township High School (1906 - 1939), and earlier rural schoolhouses, such as the c. 1883 Pickerington School—now Heritage Elementary.
Academics and student body
As of the 2023–24 school year, PHSC enrolled 1,738 students with a full-time equivalent teaching staff of 89.19 and a student–teacher ratio of 19.49:1.
Athletics
PHSC competes in the Ohio Capital Conference and is a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Its athletic rivals include Pickerington High School North, Reynoldsburg High School, and Lancaster High School.
The school offers athletic programs, including:
Football
Boys' and girls' Basketball
Boys' and girls' Volleyball
Wrestling
Boys' and girls' Tennis
Boys' and girls' Soccer
Boys' and girls' Golf
Boys' and girls' Cross country
Cheerleading
Track and field
Baseball
Softball
Marching Band
Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
Football – 2017, 2019
Boys' Basketball – 2012, 2022
Girls' Basketball – 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2018, 2025
Boys' Cross Country – 1997
Boys' Track & Field – 2018, 2019, 2022
Girls' Softball – 1997
Competition Cheerleading - 2024, 2025
Girls' Basketball – 1999
Pickerington High School Central Marching Tiger Band
The band has competed in the Ohio Music Education Association's State Marching Band Competition for many years, consistently reaching the finals, and earning the state's highest honor, a Superior rating.
The band has marched in over 25 nationally televised parades, including five appearances in the Rose Parade (the only band from Ohio to do so) and four appearances in Macy's Parade. The band has performed for three presidents and performed at 16 NFL halftime shows.
National parades
The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade – 1983, 1986 & 2012
The Dallas Cotton Bowl Parade – 1989
The New York Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – 1990, 1995, 2001, 2009
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade – 1993, 1997, 2006, 2010, 2019
The Miami King Orange Jamboree Parade – 1994 & 2000
The Atlantic City Miss America Pageant Parade – 1994
The Phoenix Fiesta Bowl Parade and National Band Championship – 1999, 2003 & 2014
The New York City National Veteran's Day Parade – 2003, 2007 & 2023
The Columbus Veteran's Day Parade – 2005, 2006 & 2008
The Washington 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Vietnam Wall and Parade – 2007
The Orlando Citrus Bowl Parade - 2016
The London New Year's Day Parade - 2026
The band was Grand Champion of the 1994 Miss America Parade, and led the 2001 Macy's Parade and the 25th Anniversary of the Vietnam Wall Parade. They placed third overall in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl Band Championship, and fifth in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl.
The band has had professional football game appearances with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Other performances include rallies for Senator John McCain (2008), Barack Obama (2008) President George W. Bush at the Nationwide Arena, President Ronald Reagan, President George H. W. Bush, Vice President James Danforth "Dan" Quayle, Senator Robert Dole, Governor George Voinovich and Mrs. Voinivich, Ohio Democratic Party Election reception, the Boy Scout National Council Meeting featuring Paul Harvey, OSU Skull session before the 2002 Washington State game, 2005 Northwestern game and the 2008 and 2012 Michigan Games, and the Columbus Dispatch OSU vs. Michigan Wigwam Pep Rally.
Notable alumni
Chazz Anderson, Class of 2007, football player
Rasheem Biles, Class of 2023, football player
Justin Boren, football player (transferred to Pickerington High School North)
Zach Boren, Class of 2011, football player
Shane Bowen, Class of 2005, football coach
DeWayne Carter, Class of 2019, football player
Taco Charlton, Class of 2013, football player
DaVon Hamilton, Class of 2015, football player
Ty Hamilton, Class of 2020, football player
Caris LeVert, Class of 2012, basketball player
Roger Lewis, Class of 2011, football player
McKenzie Long, NCAA Champion sprinter
Brian Peters, Class of 2007, football player
Devin Royal, Class of 2023, basketball player
Lorenzo Styles Jr., Class of 2021, football player
Sonny Styles, Class of 2022, football player
Jae'Sean Tate, Class of 2014, basketball player
A.J. Trapasso, Class of 2004, football player