The Central R-III School District is located in Park Hills, a rural town in southeastern Missouri. The district is known regionally for outstanding academic achievement. Central has met the requirements to be recognized for Distinction in Performance by the State Board of Education for twelve consecutive years. Central High School has been recognized by the Southern Region Education Board as one of the top ten high schools in the state of Missouri for four consecutive years. 

U.S. News and World Report also named Central High School as one of the top high schools in the nation. Each year, several seniors at Central earn their Associate of Arts Degree prior to graduating from Central by participating in a joint program with Mineral Area College. 

Central graduates are very successful after graduation whether they choose to enter the workforce, join the military, or pursue a post high school education. Central alum includes lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, military, and just about every other profession you can think of. 

In addition to outstanding academics, Central also boasts some of the finest facilities in the entire state. In the past four years Central Elementary and Central Middle School have both received additions. A new industrial building was also constructed on the middle school campus and opened for the 2016-17 school year.  Central R-III School District facilities have been featured in a number of architectural and building publications over the past seven years.

Athletic teams have also enjoyed their fair share of success. The football team is a consistent state playoff team and has won the district championship six of the last seven years. Girls’ basketball and softball teams have enjoyed winning several district championships. In the 2014-2015 school year, the Central Lady Rebels basketball team became Class 3 Missouri State Champions! The boys' basketball team has won districts two of the last four years and were state quarter finalists in 2014-2015. Each year several wrestlers and track participants compete for state championships.

The Central R-III School District offers a great opportunity for students to maximize their full potential in a nurturing academically centered environment.