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Madison Southern High School

Public Grades 9-12

10^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 262 Kentucky High Schools

Better than 96% of Kentucky high schools

Summary

Madison Southern High School serves grades 9–12 and enrolls 1,224 students in Berea, Kentucky. Its latest results show broad academic strength: in 2025–2026, the school scored above both the state and Madison County in all six reported KSA subjects. The clearest headline for families is that Madison Southern led four nearby conventional high schools in five of those six subjects.

The school’s strongest comparisons are in reading and mathematics: its scores were 75% and 65%, respectively, compared with 49% and 40% statewide and 69% and 56% districtwide. It also had the highest nearby scores in science, writing, and editing and mechanics. Social studies is the relative soft spot: Madison Southern scored 54%, second to Berea Community High School at 63%, though ahead of Madison Central High School at 43%, Rockcastle County High School at 40%, and Garrard County High School at 36%. Graduation was also strong at 97%, compared with 94% statewide and 95% districtwide. One concern is attendance: chronic absenteeism was 31%, 8 points above the state and 7 above the district.

Math and reading have improved over four years, rising from 43% to 65% in math and from 60% to 75% in reading. SchoolDigger ranked Madison Southern 10th of 262 schools, at the 96th percentile with five stars in 2025–2026, up from the 74th percentile in 2015–2016. Its student-teacher ratio was 18:1 in 2024–2025, compared with a 16:1 average at the four nearby conventional high schools. In that same year, 48% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, the lowest rate among those nearby schools with comparable data. SchoolDigger’s Special Education Students effectiveness ranking was at the 74th percentile, below the school’s overall 96th; its Hispanic Students ranking rebounded from the 41st to the 87th percentile between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026.

1,224

Students ?

18.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,439

Per pupil spending ?

47.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

279 Glades Rd
Berea, KY 40403

(859) 625-6148

District: Madison County

Feeder schools for Madison Southern High School:

Elementary:	Kingston Elementary School
	Kirksville Elementary School
	Shannon Johnson Elementary School
	Silver Creek Elementary School
Middle:	Farristown Middle School
	Foley Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.0%

Hispanic:

3.8%

Two or more races:

3.7%

See top rated Kentucky high schools

Compare Madison Southern High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 74th percentile in 2016 → 96th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kentucky average (59% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 4% of Kentucky high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 22 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (31% vs 24% Kentucky)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg51%

Kentucky avg39%

10^th of 262

Kentucky public high schools ?

Top 4%▲ up 23 pts since 2016

From top 26% (2016) to top 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Kentucky High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Madison County

29^th of 158Madison County among Kentucky districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	91.3	10 of 262	96.2%	★★★★★
2025	86.8	16 of 254	93.7%	★★★★★
2024	85.6	19 of 290	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	78.6	28 of 276	89.9%	★★★★★
2022	69.8	51 of 271	81.2%	★★★★☆
2021	69.1	45 of 267	83.1%	★★★★☆
2019	70.9	55 of 285	80.7%	★★★★☆
2018	72.6	58 of 271	78.6%	★★★★☆
2017	73.4	60 of 287	79.1%	★★★★☆
2016	67.7	76 of 288	73.6%	★★★★☆
2015	66.8	81 of 295	72.5%	★★★★☆
2014	78.1	36 of 290	87.6%	★★★★☆
2013	63.1	96 of 291	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	33.8	164 of 229	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	58.5	75 of 226	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	73.5	41 of 223	81.6%	★★★★☆
2009	58.5	77 of 217	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	27.1	176 of 217	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	27.9	166 of 217	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2022	57.6	37 of 153	75.8%	★★★★☆
2021	46.9	66 of 154	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.9	105 of 166	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.0	112 of 166	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	89.9	12 of 244	95.1%	★★★★★
2025	81.2	26 of 239	89.1%	★★★★☆
2024	86.5	12 of 261	95.4%	★★★★★
2023	73.3	38 of 253	85.0%	★★★★☆
2022	68.3	53 of 252	79.0%	★★★★☆
2021	52.8	85 of 236	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.6	44 of 249	82.3%	★★★★☆
2018	74.7	49 of 234	79.1%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2018	84.0	7 of 115	93.9%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	75.9	15 of 115	87.0%	★★★★☆
2025	42.1	68 of 115	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	90.7	4 of 124	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	59.8	38 of 116	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.1	40 of 92	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.5	52 of 88	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	86.9	11 of 245	95.5%	★★★★★
2025	82.0	28 of 242	88.4%	★★★★☆
2024	84.2	18 of 274	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	84.6	15 of 272	94.5%	★★★★★
2022	63.1	68 of 266	74.4%	★★★★☆
2021	77.8	19 of 234	91.9%	★★★★★
2019	69.9	53 of 254	79.1%	★★★★☆
2018	70.4	48 of 232	79.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	90.1	14 of 243	94.2%	★★★★★
2025	89.1	14 of 239	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	76.5	35 of 262	86.6%	★★★★☆
2023	77.8	24 of 259	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	64.7	62 of 257	75.9%	★★★★☆
2021	74.1	32 of 238	86.6%	★★★★☆
2019	55.3	107 of 251	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.3	65 of 237	72.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	87.8	5 of 87	94.3%	★★★★★
2021	64.5	16 of 49	67.3%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	55.6	22 of 84	73.8%	★★★★☆
2025	60.1	21 of 86	75.6%	★★★★☆
2024	31.1	118 of 168	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.5	63 of 162	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.9	65 of 226	71.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kentucky percentile	Rating
2026	87.1	19 of 253	92.5%	★★★★★
2025	83.1	29 of 251	88.4%	★★★★☆
2024	76.8	38 of 273	86.1%	★★★★☆
2023	72.4	43 of 264	83.7%	★★★★☆
2022	63.7	61 of 260	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	56.7	63 of 203	69.0%	★★★★☆
2019	60.7	78 of 219	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.5	61 of 198	69.2%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)96th percentile~ school

Female (2026)95th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)94th percentile~ school

Male (2026)94th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2018)94th percentile+15 vs school

White (2026)92nd percentile-4 vs school

Hispanic (2026)87th percentile-9 vs school

Disabled (2022)76th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)74th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs Kentucky (2025-2026) ?

Reading75%+26 vs state

Mathematics65%+25 vs state

Writing63%+16 vs state

Editing and Mechanics55%+15 vs state

Social Studies54%+17 vs state

Science42%+19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Madison Southern High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				KSA Mathematics (2026)				KSA Reading (2026)				KSA Science (2026)		KSA Writing (2026)		KSA Social Studies (2026)		KSA Editing and Mechanics (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KSA Mathematics 6th Grade	KSA Mathematics 7th Grade	KSA Mathematics 8th Grade	KSA Mathematics 10th Grade	KSA Reading 6th Grade	KSA Reading 7th Grade	KSA Reading 8th Grade	KSA Reading 10th Grade	KSA Science 7th Grade	KSA Science 11th Grade	KSA Writing 8th Grade	KSA Writing 11th Grade	KSA Social Studies 8th Grade	KSA Social Studies 11th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 8th Grade	KSA Editing and Mechanics 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Madison Southern High School	Public	9-12	279 Glades Rd	Berea	40403	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	No	(859) 625-6148	1,224	68	18.0	47.5%	1,102 (90.0%)	19 (1.6%)	46 (3.8%)	8 (0.7%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (3.7%)	91.3	10^th of 262 public high schools	96.2%		86.8	16^th of 254 public high schools	93.7%	6				65.0				75.0		42.0		63.0		54.0		55.0	$18,439	$136	$11,692
Berea Community High School	Public	9-12	1 Pirate Pkwy	Berea	40403	Madison County	Berea Independent	No	No	No	Yes	(859) 986-4911	309	22	13.9	51.5%	254 (82.2%)	4 (1.3%)	24 (7.8%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (7.8%)	77.3	40^th of 262 public high schools	84.7%		61.8	73^rd of 254 public high schools	71.3%	33				48.0				65.0		29.0		49.0		63.0		54.0	$22,659	$1,913	$17,089
Ignite Academy South	Public	9-12	123 Farristown Industrial Driv	Berea	40403	Madison County	Madison County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(859) 624-4500	0	4	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Madison Virtual Academy	Public	6-12	301 Highland Park Dr	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(859) 624-4500	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Madison Central High School	Public	9-12	705 N 2nd St	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	No	No	(859) 625-6109	2,107	112	18.7	49.3%	1,619 (76.8%)	139 (6.6%)	191 (9.1%)	34 (1.6%)	1 (0.0%)	4 (0.2%)	119 (5.6%)	70.8	55^th of 262 public high schools	79.0%		75.4	42^nd of 254 public high schools	83.5%	13				51.0				67.0		33.0		48.0		43.0		42.0	$17,581	$119	$10,880
Madison County Day Treatment	Public, Virtual	6-12	300 Bellevue Dr	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	Yes	No	(859) 625-6161	15	7	2.3	93.3%	13 (86.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.7%)								(n/a)
Bellevue Transitional School	Public, Virtual	6-12	300 Bellevue Dr.	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	No	Yes	No	(859) 625-6161	11	1	11.0	81.8%	8 (72.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (18.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (9.1%)								(n/a)
Ignite Academy North	Public	9-12	2075 Merchant Drive	Richmond	40475	Madison County	Madison County	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(859) 624-4500	0	9	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Garrard County High School	Public	9-12	599 Industry Rd	Lancaster	40444	Garrard County	Garrard County	No	No	No	No	(859) 792-2146	792	54	14.7	57.3%	683 (86.2%)	17 (2.1%)	51 (6.4%)	3 (0.4%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.2%)	55.3	105^th of 262 public high schools	59.9%		52	114^th of 254 public high schools	55.1%	9				50.0				61.0		24.0		44.0		36.0		34.0	$14,369	$1,774	$12,405
Rockcastle County Area Technology Center	Public	8-12	1555 Lake Cumberland Rd	Mount Vernon	40456	Rockcastle County	Kentucky Technical System	No	No	No	No	(606) 256-4346	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Madison Southern High School

What schools feed into Madison Southern High School?

Madison Southern High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Kingston Elementary School
Elementary : Kirksville Elementary School
Elementary : Shannon Johnson Elementary School
Elementary : Silver Creek Elementary School
Middle : Farristown Middle School
Middle : Foley Middle School

What district is Madison Southern High School in?

Madison County

How many students attend Madison Southern High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,224 students attended Madison Southern High School.

What is the racial makeup of Madison Southern High School?

Students at Madison Southern High School are 90% White, 4% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Madison Southern High School a good school?

Yes! Madison Southern High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 10^th of 262 Kentucky high schools.

Rate Madison Southern High School!

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Latest Kentucky data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 KSA test scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 KSA test scoresOct 30, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kentucky Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.