Madison

The Madison school district in Florida serves approximately 2,267 students across eight schools, including elementary, high, and alternative education settings, and is ranked 64th out of 70 districts in the state, indicating significant systemic challenges.

Within this district, two schools stand out for their contrasting performance. James Madison Preparatory High School is a clear standout with a 97.7% graduation rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism (26.7%) among non-virtual schools, and a remarkably low free/reduced lunch rate of 1.67%, making it the highest-performing high school in the area. In contrast, Greenville Elementary School faces the most significant challenges, with the lowest state ranking (6th percentile), zero stars for three consecutive years, and critically low test scores, including 0% proficiency in 5th Grade Math. Madison Creative Arts Academy Inc, a charter school, is the highest-performing elementary school, achieving 100% proficiency in Algebra 1 EOC and spending the least per student ($9,562), while Pinetta Elementary School and Lee Elementary School spend more but perform lower.

Key metrics reveal a district-wide chronic absenteeism rate of 42.3%, far exceeding the state average, with Madison County High School at 52.5% and Madison County Central School at 46.7%. The data shows that higher spending does not correlate with better performance, as the two highest-spending schools are among the lowest-performing. The Madison Virtual Franchise, with only 9 students, has a 0.0% chronic absenteeism rate due to its virtual format. The district's graduation rate (86.7%) is below the state average (92.2%), and the average free/reduced lunch rate across traditional elementary schools exceeds 71%, highlighting widespread economic disadvantage.