Pickerington High School Central

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

Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators Championships

• Competition Cheerleading - 2024, 2025

USA Today National Championships

• 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 . 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.

File:Pickerington Marching Tiger Band during the 1993 Tournament of Roses Parade.jpg|104th Tournament of Roses Parade, 1993 File:Pickerington Marching Tigers during the 1997 Tournament of Roses Parade.jpg|108th Tournament of Roses Parade, 1997 File:Pickerington Marching Tiger Band during the 2006 Tournament of Roses Parade.jpg|117th Tournament of Roses Parade, 2006 File:Pickerington Marching Tiger Band during the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade.jpg|121st Tournament of Roses Parade, 2010

Notable alumni

• Chazz Anderson, Class of 2007, former professional college football player
• Rasheem Biles, Class of 2023, college football player
• Justin Boren, professional football player (transferred to Pickerington High School North)
• Zach Boren, Class of 2011, professional football player
• Shane Bowen, Class of 2005, professional football coach
• DeWayne Carter, Class of 2019, professional football player
• Taco Charlton, Class of 2013, professional football player
• DaVon Hamilton, Class of 2015, professional football player
• Caris LeVert, Class of 2012, professional basketball player
• Roger Lewis, Class of 2011, professional football player
• McKenzie Long, NCAA Champion sprinter
• Brian Peters, Class of 2007, professional football player
• Devin Royal, Class of 2023, college basketball player
• Lorenzo Styles Jr., Class of 2021, college football player
• Sonny Styles, Class of 2022, college football player
• Jae'Sean Tate, Class of 2014, professional basketball player
• A.J. Trapasso, Class of 2004, professional football player

References

1. "TomLanier".
2. ULREY, JARROD. "Pickerington North vs. Pickerington Central: Defensive focus key in rivalry clash".
3. "Pickerington North vs Pickerington Central (2025)".
4. (2025-09-01). "Know Before You Go: Pickerington North vs. Pickerington Central Football Game".
5. OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory".
6. OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site".
7. "2024 State Cheer".
8. (December 16, 2001). "USA Today Super 25 1999–2000".
9. DiCesare, Bob. (October 28, 2011). "Bulls' Anderson playing final homecoming; Both parents to attend his last game in Ohio".
10. [https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2022/09/20/columbus-ohio-high-school-football-pickerington-central-rasheem-biles-injury-pittsburgh-commit/69505274007/ Pickerington Central football's Rasheem Biles to miss several weeks with injury]
11. (3 August 2022). "Ohio State Buckeyes land big target as Pickerington Central's Devin Royal commits for 2023".
12. (11 May 2020). "Rivals: Notre Dame Commit Lorenzo Styles A Five-Star Candidate .... On Defense".
13. (13 November 2021). "Pickerington Central five-star safety Sonny Styles commits to Ohio State football".