In 1916, the superintendent of Madison County Schools met with citizens of Ryland, Maysville, and Brownsboro to plan a replacement for the three one-room schools serving those communities. Five acres of centrally located land were donated, and citizens volunteered time, labor, and money to build a two-story frame school. Central Consolidated High School first opened on November 5, 1917, with eleven grades, and students arrived by three covered wagons and one truck-type bus. Around 1920, an additional wing was added. By 1922, enrollment had reached 390 students, with a 157-day term and a fall break for picking cotton. On the evening of March 1, 1931, Central High School, the first consolidated school in Madison County, was destroyed by fire. Afterward, citizens again donated time, labor, and money to rebuild. Central Junior High School, a brick building with large arching windows, opened on November 3, 1931. Over the next five decades, the school adopted the Colts mascot and added indoor restrooms, two more wings, and a lunchroom. The school was integrated during the 1967-68 school year. On the evening of December 30, 1981, Central Junior High School was destroyed by fire, and classes were held at the Annie C. Mertz Center in Huntsville until a new school opened on January 24, 1984.