Type Public Principal Austin Brown Gender Coeducational Mascot Jaguar Motto Truth, Honor | Established 1991 Grades 10 through 12 Phone +1 601-856-7121 Founded 1991 Color Orange and Blue | |
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Rival South Panola, Northwest Rankin, Clinton, Tupelo Address 1417 Highland Colony Pkwy, Madison, MS 39110, USA District Madison County School District | ||
Madison Central High School is a public high school (grades 10-12) located on Highland Colony Parkway in Madison, Mississippi. Madison Central is part of the Madison County School District. Madison Central has a student body of 1377, and the current principal is Austin Brown. It is one of the four largest public high schools in the state. In 2002, Madison Central was the only high school in Mississippi to host President George W. Bush. The school colors are orange and blue and the school mascot is the jaguar. Madison Central is classified as a 6A public high school by the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA).
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History
Before Madison Central was opened in 1991, Madison Ridgeland High School and East Flora served as the public high schools for Madison County.
Madison Central originally was for grades 9 through 12. However, the 9th grade was relocated to the old middle school Rosa Scott, and the middle school students were relocated to a newly constructed school, Madison Middle. The current grades for Madison Central are 10 through 12.
Athletics
As a competitor in the MHSAA 6A North Division, MCHS is the current winner of the The Clarion-Ledger's annual All-Sports award. Over the past 2 decades, Madison Central boasts 5A and 6A state titles in football, basketball, baseball, golf, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, and many other sports. Madison Central is nationally ranked for girls and boys soccer.
Madison Central was one of 32 schools in the state and 8 schools in District 6 to be reclassified from 5A to 6A by the MHSAA beginning in the 2009-10 school year. Madison Central is now a 6A school.
Academics
Madison Central High School has a well-established tradition as one of the state's best high schools academically. Based on superior test scores, Madison Central High School has earned level 5 accreditation, the highest offered by the Mississippi Accountability System. MCHS has also met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind System. Madison Central is recognized as one of the "Top Ten Best High Schools in America" by Redbook magazine, which considered such factors as superior academic and extra-curricular achievement coupled with parental and community involvement. Madison Central is the home of the State Champion Academic Competition Team, the State Champion Economic Council Team, the Academic Decathlon State Champion Team, and the MHSAA state champions in both Public Forum Debate and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. In addition to a strong college-preparatory curriculum, Madison Central offers the following extracurricular activities: 22 varsity sports, varsity band program, varsity dance, AFJROTC and over 25 clubs.
Since 2003, Madison Central has dominated the Mississippi Academic Decathlon, winning ten consecutive state championships and earning the right to compete in the United States Academic Decathlon national finals. In national competition Madison Central decathletes have won a Division II national championship (2006), a Division II first runner-up (2008), a Division II second runner-up (2012), and multiple top ten finishes both overall and in their division. Competitors from Madison Central have won 28 individual subject medals at the national competition in economics, mathematics, interview, art, music, science, social science, language and literature, and essay. At the 2012 national finals, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in April 2012, the team finished third in Division II and thirteenth overall. In the most recent national competition in 2014 held in Honolulu, Hawaii, the team placed 1st place in Division II.
Madison Central had 31 students recognized by the College Board in 2012. Twenty-one students were named National Merit Semifinalists, seven were named National Merit Commended Scholars, two were named National Achievement Semifinalists, and one was named National Achievement Outstanding Participant. Madison Central once again led the entire state of Mississippi in number of National Merit Semifinalists.
Performing arts
Madison Central High School has excellent band and choral programs. Chuck Reynolds is the director of bands at Madison Central. The school's bands have consistently rated all-superior in both marching and concert at state and regional evaluations. Madison Central has achieved many first place titles in marching competitions. The school's bands have not only excelled in marching but in concert as well. Madison Central has participated in the National Adjudicators Invitational, The Disney Honors, as well as performing in Carnegie Hall in New York City in April 2008.