In the fall of 1957, Central opened after the merger of Davis-Townsend, Linwood, Southmont, and Silver Valley grades 9–12 into one high school.

The commons areas, gym, band room, and vocational classrooms weren't completed until a few years later.

Prior to that, students had to eat sandwiches in the media center, and play basketball games at the middle school's gym.

Ground was broken in October 2007 for a one-story, 12-class room addition, which opened in the fall of the 2008–2009 school year.

Central was one out of only two high schools in North Carolina to be recognized nationally in fastpitch softball in 2008.

On June 25, 2009, the women's softball team was given the key to the city of Lexington, North Carolina by former Mayor John Walser.