Public Schools

Madison County boasts a superior public school system. In fact, the Madison County School District continues to perform above national averages. Here are some recent tidbits about Madison County schools:

• Madison Central High School has been named by Redbook magazine as one of the best high schools in the U.S.
• Rosa Scott Middle School ranked highest in the state in achievement test scores for grades 7 and 8.
• Madison Avenue Elementary School has ranked among the top five Mississippi schools in testing and number two in the tri-county area for the past three years.

Read further to discover facts and figures about these excellent school systems.

All schools are ranked on a scale of one through five, with five being the highest level.  All Madison County Schools are a Level 5 school.

Level 5             Superior-Performing School
Level 4             Exemplary School
Level 3             Successful School
Level 2             Under-Performing School
Level 1             Low-Performing School

All information provided courtesy of Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Public Schools Accountability Standards, 2006.

Madison County School District

The Madison County School District serves grades kindergarten through twelve with a 2003-2004 estimated student population of over 8,000. The District consists of twelve schools in its attendance zones.

From kindergarten to graduation day, the faculty and administrators of Madison County Schools are committed to developing responsible, productive citizens equipped to contribute to an ever-changing global society. Teachers in the district are constantly evaluating what they do, why they do it and ways to improve. Combined with a comprehensive building program, an excellent curriculum, and top ranking test scores, the Madison County School District is one of the best in the state.

The Accreditation Level and 1998-1999 Performance Index were assigned in March, 1999 and will remain in place until the implementation of the new accountability model. The District ranked as one of the top sixteen districts in Mississippi. Based upon 38 accreditation standards, the Mississippi Department of Education rated the District as "Superior" with an accreditation level of 5.0 out of a possible 5.0.

Academic standards are high in the Madison County School District with one of the highest high school graduation rates of any public school in the state. Students consistently score well above state levels on standardized tests, including the American College Test (ACT). In fiscal year 2002, the district had a 21.3 District average on the ACT. This compared to the state average ACT score of 19.8 and the national average score of 21.8.

Accountability Standards for Madison County Schools

Canton Public School District

Also located in Madison County, within the city of Canton, is the Canton Public School District. There are six schools in the district. The mission of the Canton Public School District, with full participation of parents and the total community, is to enable all students to become analytical thinkers, self-directed lifelong learners and effective communicators who are prepared to continue their education and/or to enter the workplace, and that each participates in society as a responsible citizen.