An African-American high school grew out of an 1899 one-room schoolhouse. In 1924 the school was enlarged and named Snow Hill Graded School. Grades 8 and 9 were added in 1934, and it became a full high school in 1936, renamed Central High School. In addition to Newton, it served students from all areas of Catawba County except Hickory. In 1967 Central High School merged with Newton-Conover High School.