High Schools in Madison

The Madison area is home to two high schools serving grades 9-12: Madison County High School and James Madison Preparatory High School, which together reveal a striking divide in student outcomes within the same small district.

The standout school is James Madison Preparatory High School, which boasts an exceptional 97.7% graduation rate—far exceeding the state average of 92.2%—and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 26.7%, well below the district's 42.3%. It also outperforms its counterpart in nearly every subject, with 74% of students proficient in US History, surpassing the state average. However, its state ranking has dropped from the 63rd percentile to the 38th percentile over two years, and only 17% of students are proficient in Algebra 1, signaling emerging challenges. In contrast, Madison County High School faces significant hurdles: a 52.5% chronic absenteeism rate, an 82.7% graduation rate, and test scores consistently below state averages. Despite spending $1,508 more per student ($11,335 vs. $9,827), it achieves worse outcomes, highlighting that funding alone does not drive success.

The most critical takeaway is the "two schools" phenomenon: James Madison Preparatory High School serves a population with only 1.67% free/reduced lunch eligibility, while Madison County High School serves 54.74% of students in that category. This socioeconomic gap correlates strongly with performance, and the 52.5% absenteeism rate at Madison County High is the core issue driving its low graduation rate and poor test scores. Both schools struggle in math, with Algebra 1 proficiency at just 39% and 17% respectively, making it a district-wide priority for improvement.