In April 2009 the Board of Education voted to close the school due to declining enrollment and maintenance costs.

As Central High School is one of the oldest buildings in the district, it was cited as costly to maintain and renovate.

At the time of the closure, the Flint Schools put out a statement saying that Central could re-open in five years with several renovations.

[2] Flint Central competed in the oldest athletic conference in the State of Michigan, the Saginaw Valley League.

The softball team was led by Cuban refugee Margarita Calvo to an unprecedented 22 consecutive City League titles.

The Flint Central tennis team won their first City Championship in more than seven years in spring of 2007, and still maintained their position until the school was closed.

After years of struggling, the baseball team rebounded with a 15-win season in 2007, claiming the city series title, as well as runner up in the annual Greater Flint Tournament.

Prior to that Flint Central was long known as a leader in educational theatre locally, statewide and nationally.

The program was led for many years by such notable teachers as Helen Hardy Brown, Maude Biegel, Jacqueline Oriet Kramer, Shirley Parola, James Olson, Jeanne Shoemaker, Clare Johnson/Swanson and The Most notable and longest in the position was Martin W. Jennings who led the program from 1981-2006.